The new Nintendo toys

It has been confimed today that you will need a microphone to play Mario Party 6. This microphone comes with the game, which apparently helps speed up the game, and interact more with how you play it.

Another new game from Nintendo, Donkey Konga, is a very innovative game. With the game, comes a set of Bongo drums. You need to hit the drums in order to make Donkey Kong perform various actions.

What do you think of these two ideas?

Concepts that were based on contepts that existed already? That’s kinda what I think.

I believe MMM has already played Donkey Konga, and his first opinions are positive. I’m interested to find out what his opinions are now on the matter.

I’m somewhat fond of the drums, but not so of the mic.

Originally posted by MogKnight
Concepts that were based on contepts that existed already? That’s kinda what I think.
What concepts are the Bongo Drums based off?

The bongos are basically just two, really big buttons. Think about it.

Microphone in gameplay? Think Counter-Strike. Somehow though, i’m thinking Nintendo will implement something like Sony’s SingStar, but with better results.

Originally posted by Raidenex
The bongos are basically just two, really big buttons. Think about it.
I never thought about it that way. But still, I like the fact that Nintendo is actually doing this.

<B>Microphone in gameplay? Think Counter-Strike. Somehow though, i’m thinking Nintendo will implement something like Sony’s SingStar, but with better results.</B>
Well, I knew the mic wasn’t something revolutionary or anything like that, hence me not asking about it in my earlier post. But, Nintendo is heading down a path to making innovative items and gadgets to experience video games, and I have all the faith of the world in them.

Originally posted by Smokey

What concepts are the Bongo Drums based off?

Taiko no Tatsujin.

Originally posted by rezo

Taiko no Tatsujin.

I was going to say that.

Except instead of two drums and a clap, there were 2 hit areas and they were pressure sensitive.

MK… Mambo A GoGo?

which is what the congos reminded me of, ’cause that’s a game that uses congo drums.

ps
real taiko drumming is painful and hard. >.>

Donkey Konga is pretty freakin hot. I played it endlessly at my EB for a few days straight, but it was more of one of those temporary grabs.

Think of it as DDR for the hands. . .with the konga drums. . .yeah

you got your red drum, your yellow drum, your purple drum, which is just a simulatanious hit of the red and yellow drum and a clap.

mix this shit together with various songs from Blink 182’s "All the Small Things" to oh, say the Mario theme and you got for some hot action, with varying degrees of difficulty adding more drum hits and of course the all seeing all knowing omnipotent mode where you get no beat symbols and must just do it right as the song plays.

Oh the countless lunch breaks spent on this game after the PS2’s Burnout 3 disc burned out.

Originally posted by Deus Immortale
Think of it as DDR for the hands. . .with the konga drums. . .yeah

Then take out most of the skill, most of the difficulty, a great deal of the variety, and you’re pretty much there. Donkey Konga is good fun at first, when the novelty is alive and well inside you.

The game also lacks anything to keep you going. There’s no great reward for the (barely memorable :() songs, and it lacks the feeling of accomplishment you get from songs in DDR, or Beatmania.

After an hour or two, to me, it just felt like another hollow cash-in on a genre that really doesn’t need it. Yes, the omnipotent mode is difficult, but…not if you have a decent sense of rhythm :/

Compare it to gitaroo man, or beatmania. Seriously, it just doesn’t stand up to them. And don’t even think about comparing it to DDR – you’re beaten before you even start there.

Another new game from Nintendo, Donkey Konga, is a very innovative game.
Drum Maniacs was there before them.

Samba De Amigo already has the monkey side of the rhythm action genre covered. DK needs to keep himself to platformers.