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Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast

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7.0 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 34 critic reviews
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Based on 14 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Paon Corporation

Genre(s): Racing, Action

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: October 8, 2007

Summary

(Known as "Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race" in Japan; as "Donkey Kong Jet Race" in the UK/EU) Donkey Kong and his pals have gotten their mitts on some high-powered Barrel Jets – incredible engines that boost when struck by a pilot. By beating on the DK Bongos controller, players can make their character swoop up, bank side to side and launch attacks on rivals. (The game also can be played using a Nintendo GameCube controller.) Players challenge the Kremlings or up to three pals on five worlds, each boasting 3-D aerial maps filled with countless obstacles and powerful items. With four people beating the bongos as they battle for the skies, this game is more party than race. [Nintendo]

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

The on-rails steering mechanic will be an insult to your gaming ability. [Apr 2008, p.79]

Nintendo Power

To Barrel Blast's credit, it looks like there was a concerted effort to make the game look better--a smooth frame rate and some nice effects spruce up an otherwise mundane racer. [Nov 2007, p.99]

n-Revolution Magazine UK

Decent but unspectacular, Donkey Kong Jet Race can be fun in spite of its many flaws. Wait for it to land in the bargain bins. [Issue#19, p.76]

games(TM)

Despite all of its problems, you’ll almost certainly have a great deal of fun playing Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race. [JPN Import; Sept 2007, p.118]

IGN AU

Does the idea of a lipstick-wearing gorilla in a tight shirt and cut-offs who blows you a kiss from in front of a pink heart frame when you beat a challenge turn you on? If the answer is yes then this may be the game for you.

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NintendoWorldReport

A strange beast full of half-baked ideas and poor controls, yet it contains deceptively clever level designs.

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GameTrailers

Had Barrel Blast come out just after the Wii’s launch, it would be forgivable, if still not a very good game. But at this point in the system’s life cycle, releasing long-delayed GameCube games with Wii controls grafted onto them is a no-no, especially when said game is published by the system’s manufacturer itself.

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Cheat Code Central

While it is short and somewhat disappointing, Barrel Blast did make interesting use of the Wii's motion-sensing controls.

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GameDaily

The Wii remote and Nunchuk simply don't work well at all, forcing you to constantly build up speed and perform frustrating motions to do even the simplest of maneuvers like dodging on-track objects and jumping. Avoid this bottom of the barrel release.

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DailyGame

With poor gameplay and too-strict rules for unlocking new races, this is one game Nintendo should've let die. Instead, it'll just kill you to play it.

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Game Informer

The lack of online racing and leaderboards makes this game even more useless. If you want arcade racing on the Wii, dust off your copy of Excite Truck or just wait it out for Mario Kart.

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Video Game Talk

While it’s understandable that Nintendo would want to showcase one of their signature characters in a Wii game, it quickly becomes obvious that Donkey Kong Barrel Blast should not have made the jump from the Gamecube.

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Zentendo

After a mere couple of hours, players will feel as if they're beating a dead horse rather than a pair of bongos -- which isn't even an option in the first place despite the clear theme of drums and the obvious Gamecube controller ports.

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Gamer.nl

Jet Race isn't for everyone. There are some weak points that will irritate some players to no end, like the grading level design and lack of Bongo-controller support. There's nothing better than Mario Kart, but if you can see through the negatives, you might find some entertainment here.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

The alternative found for the lack of the bong drum support fails for being so imprecise. And the sense of speed is always missing. It’s likely will keep accelerating without realizing your already at top speed. [March 2008]

PTGamers

Not very appealing, with impractical and tiresome controls, excessive repetition of scenery and short lifespan, Jet Race is way far from Nintendo’s standards.

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IGN

If DK Barrel Blast would have released well over a year ago on GameCube like it was supposed to the title might have had a chance at being remotely entertaining. After some seriously basic motion control, the removal of bongo support (even for those that already invested in the accessory), and some quick Mii integration the game has become a garbled mess of slow racing, shallow gameplay, and an overall boring experience.

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GamePro

Controls aside, the gameplay itself is nothing to be excited about. The courses are clumsily designed, the races are repetitive, and the characters are unmemorable. In short, Barrel Blast is offensive to all the senses. It feels wrong, looks awful, and it isn't a treat for the ears, either.

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GameSpot

If the inconsistent controls aren't enough to steer you away from this fifth-rate Mario Kart clone, the frustrating AI and total lack of personality probably will.

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Gaming Target

Although Nintendo and Paon must be applauded for trying to do something innovative, a racer like this simply does not work with a rhythm based control scheme. Those Wii owners looking for a quality racing title would be better off waiting until next year for Mario Kart Wii.

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The Wiire

Judged against what's already available for Wii for those with access to the Virtual Console, it's hard to imagine anyone choosing Barrel Blast over the superior Virtual Console game.

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Gameplayer

Donkey Kong was Nintendo’s original big baddie. He’s now been reduced to an inanity-grunting, tie-wearing corporate wuss, shilling lacklustre knock-offs of games his mortal adversary in Mario aced the market with. It’s time to stand up and fight! Don’t support this emasculation of a – perhaps THE - classic arcade bad dude.

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Eurogamer

Barrel Blast is an abortive and uncannily anachronistic attempt at a character racer with impossible controls, dreadful, imbalanced AI and boring design. It's not even worth the hour of your time that it takes to get completely sick of it.

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Games Master UK

Quite simply the worst game to bear the Nintendo logo in a generation or two. [Feb 2008, p.78]

VideoGamer

The fairly generic presentation and cheating AI could be overlooked if the core gameplay was great, but it's not. The motion sensitive controls are fiddly and at times completely broken, making Jet Race mildly fun for about an hour at most.

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1UP

In plenty of cases, the system has done a great job at reducing the barrier of the controller, making it easier to interact with games thanks to simple motion controls. In a game like Barrel Blast, however, it's added a whole lot of complexity -- not to mention physical exhaustion -- to what would otherwise be simple steering controls.

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NGamer UK

A game so bad, it brings shame upon Donkey Kong and his entire family. [JPN Import; Oct 2007, p.60]

Kombo

It's impossibly hard to like Donkey Kong Barrel Blast; it's fundamentally flawed from the start. The Wii-waggle controls hope to compensate for what is otherwise a poorly designed Mario Kart wannabe, but it all backfires – they're the game's leading failure.

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PALGN

Donkey Kong Jet Race is yet another example of the uneventful consequences of uninspired motion controls.

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NZGamer

Graphically the game would have been very impressive, if it was a launch game for the GameCube.

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GameTap

Sense of speed is way too slow; items are useless; racing is clumsy.

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Play.tm

If you belong to that weird subset of racing game fans who feel their life won't be complete till there's a game that enables you to race around the sky using a control method inspired by a love of percussion instruments then you may possibly eek an evening's worth of entertainment out of this, if you're forgiving. For the rest of us there's nothing to see here, keep on walking, someone will be along soon to sweep up the mess.

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GameSpy

Level design is bland, weapons are bland, control is a novelty at best and irritating at worst. As a free Wii launch pack-in meant to familiarize people with Remote/nunchuk controls, this game might have gotten a pass. Right now the only thing it gets is a big thumbs-down.

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Game Revolution

As the slacker par excellence, Donkey Kong would seem to be more suited to the casual gaming era than any other character in the Mario pantheon. Instead, as with any aging slacker, he’s simply a frustrating bore.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jim U. gave it an8:
Personally i think game reviewers need to get off their high horses. Sometimes a game, is just that - a game! It's not all about high level graphics and "AI". These types of reviews - which is every review - are very misleading for the general public. Anyone considering this game should have a look in the store and ignire this lame reviews by so-called "gamers". These nerds only know about Splinter Cell and Halo. Donkey Kong Jet Race is fun for all.

Daniel Y. gave it a7:
This game is simply under-rated. It does not deserve the poor scores it has been given overall. Gameplay is fun and there's plenty to do. It may not offer the Wii's best graphics but, to be honest, i don't think it's trying to. It may not be a 'hardcore game' but it's a great family game and is best enjoyed with more than one player.

Russell C. gave it a7:
Actually was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. As a family game it is pretty decent, especially for those, who like me, have younger kids at home. It doesn't punish you for touching the side of the track, which makes it easier for everyone to play together. The characters were fun and the courses were probably a bit too long, but the short-cuts and helpers (mine cart, rhino, dolphin) make for a good challenge. Frame rate has some issues on the water level, which hurts the multiplayer experience. Overall, I think it is a very solid family game, but certainly not a gamer's game. Since most of the "professional reviewers" are gamers and not family people, it's worth getting a different angle. For the right group, like my family, it's a game we sunk a fun 20 hours into over the week I rented it.

cin gave it a9:
Pretty fun, easy to get started.

Alexandre B. gave it a6:
Not Good, but not bad, it'S an okay game. I had fun with this game but.. that's it.

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Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast

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What The Critics Said

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