Donkey Kong Barrel Blast

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
North American box art
Developer(s)	Paon
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Series	Donkey Kong
Platform(s)	Wii
Release date(s)	JP June 28, 2007 NA October 8, 2007 EU January 25, 2008 AUS February 7, 2008
Genre(s)	Racing, Action
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: A ESRB: E
Media	Wii Optical Disc
Input methods	Wii Remote, Nunchuk

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (ドンキーコング たるジェットレース, Donkī Kongu: Taru Jetto Rēsu^?, lit. Donkey Kong: Barrel Jet Race), known prior to E3 as Donkey Jet and DK: Bongo Blast and known in Europe and Australia as Donkey Kong Jet Race, is a racing game for Nintendo's Wii video game console, announced on May 9, 2006, and that year's E3 convention for the Nintendo GameCube under the title of DK: Bongo Blast. This version was ultimately cancelled for the GameCube in favor of a Wii release. The game was released for the Wii in Japan on June 28, 2007. ^[1] Donkey Kong Barrel Blast was released on October 8, 2007, in North America. ^[2]

Gameplay

The game was originally developed to be controlled using the DK Bongos for the GameCube; the left and right drums would steer in their respective directions, and rolling both drums accelerated. When the game was moved to the Wii, the DK Bongos were replaced with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, having the player shake the controller in place of hitting the drums. The player can also raise the remote and Nunchuk to jump, and use the motion sensing to punch opponents and obstacles, and to use items.

Characters

• Donkey Kong
• Diddy Kong
• Dixie Kong
• Lanky Kong
• Tiny Kong
• Funky Kong
• Wrinkly Kong
• Cranky Kong
• Kritter
• Kip
• Kass
• Kopter
• Kalypso
• Kludge
• Klump
• King K. Rool

References in other media

Several assets are used in the Wii game Super Smash Bros. Brawl.^[3]

Reception

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast received a generally negative response. Based on 30 reviews, Barrel Blast garnered a Metascore of 45 out of 100 according to Metacritic ^[4]. A number of reviews lamented the decision to replace the bongo control scheme with that using the Wii Remote, as well as the blatantly last-generation visuals (despite it's being initially developed for the GameCube, hence the game's graphics).

It was criticized for "slow racing, shallow gameplay, and an overall boring experience" by IGN.^[5] Gamespot labeled this game a fifth-rate Mario Kart clone.^[6] The highest rated Metacritic review, by Nintendo Power, called it a "mundane racer". GameTrailers criticized the game for its imprecise controls, lack of online mode, and the fact that the Bongo Controls were left out of the game despite the fact that GameCube controllers are fully compatible with the Wii. Gamepro was the harshest on this video game and placed it #1 on their Top 10 Worst Video games of 2007.

See also

• Diddy Kong Racing
• Donkey Kong Racing

References

External links

• Official Site
• Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast at Nintendo
• Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast at Wii.com