Donkey Kong 64
He's big. He's bad. He's back.
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The only gorilla savvy enough to sport a tie is scheduled to swing onto the N64 this fall, in an amazing
3-D adventure that lives up to DK's large reputation. Accompanied by a pack of primate pals, Donkey Kong
will once again be charged with the task of overthrowing the piratical Kremlings.
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If Kong doesn't look good, we don't look good.
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.Just as the Donkey Kong Country series made a radical leap forward on the Super NES with ACM fully-rendered
graphics, Rare hopes to set a new standard for Nintendo 64 games with the size and depth of DK 64. To
accomplish this goal, Donkey Kong 64 will be the first game to require the use of the N64 Expansion Pak.
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The extra four megs of memory has allowed the code junkies at Rare to create spectacular multi-colored
lighting effects and rich textures, without cutting any corners in the size or design of the massive
worlds. Spinning lights and explosive special effects deliver delicious morsels of eye candy, rounding
out a tasty visual package.
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It wouldn't be monkey business without Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, but this time three new characters
are thrown into the mix. Tiny, Chunky and Lanky complete the five-monkey team, and players will have
to perfect the individual moves of each character to complete the game.
Each member of the DK
crew will have to travel through the game's eight baffling worlds seperately. Since each monkey has a
unique set of moves and abilities, players will explore different areas of each world depending on which
character they are controlling.
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There are 109 special moves available in Donkey Kong 64, and you'll have to master them all before you
reach the end of the adventure. Power-ups like peanut pistols, pineapple launchers and fruit grenades
add a frantic shoot 'em up quality to DK 64, which is already crammed with diverse gameplay.
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Even though Donkey Kong 64 is crawling with fresh ideas and innovation, Rare hasn't strayed too far from
DK's roots. DK 64 is a 3D adventure game, but there are obvious elements of old-fashioned platform action
in the gameplay. Each stage presents an obvious task to be accomplished, and it's up to the player to
jump, swing, shoot or roll to the goal.
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Rare pays a tribute to classic Donkey Kong Country gameplay elements with fast-paced mine cart stages
and first-person barrel-cannon blasts. Controlling the Kongs is frustration-free thanks to Rare's knack
for producing games with intuitive and responsive play control.
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Backtracking is an important aspect of DK's adventure, and often players will be tantalized with items
or areas that cannot be reached until a new character has been unlocked. In addition to re-exploring
the eight worlds with different Kongs, players will have to find a way to defeat the bosses using the
special abilties of each monkey.
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Variety is the spice of life
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You'll find something new behind every barrel in Donkey Kong 64, because Rare plans to include between
30 to 40 mini-games throughout the adventure. Boat races, slot car competitions and the Kremling target
shoot shown here are just a few examples of the games available. These mini-games will be featured in
an ususual multiplayer mode, where up to four players can compete cranium-to-cranium.
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Donkey Kong is the perfect character for Rare to color with its off-beat sense of humor, which is obvious
even in early versions of the game. Donkey Kong is a seasoned vet of the video game industry, and unlike
bananas, he gets better and better with age.
Rare hopes to launch Donkey Kong 64 on November
22, and Nintendo Power Source will provide more coverage as the gorrilla frenzy grows.
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