Donkey Konga 2 - GameCube

Nintendo reminded us why we loved them when they released the first Donkey Konga game. Novelty peripherals are no, er, novelty in this age of cheap manufactured plastic, but be it maracas or dancemat, guitar or EyeToy, they never fail to bring a smile to our faces. So it was with the free bongo drums included in Donkey Konga. The game sucked you in quickly, the pace of it leaving you no choice but to get stuck in, and the daringly simple three inputs and pleasingly tactile nature widened the title’s accessibility and appeal. Before you knew it, you’d be slapping the skins and clapping your hands with an abandon that organisers of corporate motivational events would sell their yellow sweatshirts to be able to achieve.

But there was more. Going - as usual - one step further, Nintendo unveiled a new game, Jungle Fever, in which Donkey Kong himself could be controlled via judicious slaps of the drum. Further longevity is gifted to the inspired device with the follow up to the game that started it all: Donkey Konga 2: Hit Song Parade. Donkey, Diddy, Dixie and Cranky decide to go on tour. Rock, Pop, Hip hop and R’n’B songs from the charts feature, each with - as before - three levels of difficulty. As the symbols move across the screen you must slap and clap as appropriate. You’ll be rewarded for your accuracy and rhythm, or ridiculed for your lack of it. There are five game modes, and you can play against the computer, compete with up to four friends, or just jam. Street Performance Mode gives you the chance to busk for stars, which you can use to unlock some neat new mini-games. Tunes featured include Shiny Happy People, Boombastic, La Bamba and Rock the Boat, so if you could do with a change from the ones on the original it’s worth snapping this one up, with or without extra bongos. more