Donkey Konga

This article is about the video game. For the series with the same name, see Donkey Konga (series).

Not to be confused with Donkey Kong.

Donkey Konga
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer	Namco
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Nintendo GameCube
Release date	Template:Release[?]
Language(s)	English (United States) Japanese
Genre	Rhythm
Rating(s)	ESRB: - Everyone PEGI: - Three years and older CERO: - All ages ACB: - General USK: - All ages
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Format	Nintendo GameCube: Optical disc
Input	Nintendo GameCube: DK Bongos
Serial code(s)	DOL-GKGJ-JPN (Japan)

Donkey Konga is a Donkey Kong video game for the Nintendo GameCube. It was developed by Namco and published by Nintendo in 2003 in Japan and 2004 overseas. It is the first installment of the Donkey Konga series, and it is notable for being the first game to be compatible with the DK Bongos. A year later, a sequel to the game was released, Donkey Konga 2, followed by Donkey Konga 3 JP, the latter of which never received an international release.

Story

The opening sequence

Donkey Kong realizes the potential to become famous from playing bongos.

Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are strolling across a beach and suddenly find a mysterious pair of barrels. DK attempts to open it but is stopped by Diddy, who believes it is a trap from King K. Rool.

Following Diddy's advice, the duo take the barrels to Cranky Kong. Cranky chuckles and explains that they are bongos. DK decides to call them the "DK Bongos", and he plays on them. Diddy comments that DK is bad at the bongos, and he tries the bongos. DK, in turn, laughs and claims that Diddy plays the bongos poorly. He claps, which cause the bongos to glow. Cranky explains that the instrument glows and makes noises from detecting clapping.

In response, Donkey Kong and Diddy perform and clap with the bongos more. After they make a lot of loud noise, DK becomes discouraged and admits that he and Diddy are not good at playing the bongos. Cranky explains that nobody starts out as a professional, and their performance gradually improves from practicing. DK initially mentions his dislike of practicing, but suddenly realizes that he might achieve fame if he becomes good at the bongos, which Cranky believes to be a possibility. DK and Diddy then daydream about becoming rich and owning lots of bananas, causing Cranky to sigh and remind them to practice; the pair head out to get some training in as the scene ends.

Gameplay

The main menu.

The main gameplay is largely identical to the Taiko no Tatsujin games, which were also designed by the same developers. The player has the option to utilize the DK Bongos or a standard GameCube controller. During gameplay, the player controls Donkey Kong, whose goal is to hit scrolling notes, known as beats. They must hit it with accurate timing when it moves under a cursor on the far left. There are four types of beats (red, light blue, yellow, and purple), and are each associated with a different button. A word appears on screen for every passing note, and the displayed word is based on the accuracy of the player hitting the beat. A combo is displayed if the player hits two or more consecutive beats, but it vanishes if the player misses a beat.

Variant	Button
Left drum beat	Bongos: Left pad Controller: or
Right drum beat	Bongos: Right pad Controller: , , , ,
Clap	Bongos: Clap Controller: , ,
Both drum beats	Bongos: Both pads Controller: Simultaneously hitting a button representing each a yellow and red note

Modes

All four gameplay modes (except Challenge) have three levels of difficulty modes, from lowest to highest: Monkey, Chimp, and Gorilla. The second player plays as Diddy Kong in multiplayer modes. Every song has a varying number of beats, which is indicated from the number of barrels next to their titles on the selection menu.

Image	Name	Description
	Street Performance 1 player	Based on the concept of street performance, Donkey Kong can perform songs and earn Coins, which he can use to purchase unlockables at DK Town. During gameplay, Donkey Kong earns two coins for every beat that he hits with perfect timing, or one coin for regularly-timed beats. A coin counter appears next to Ellie at the bottom-left with a self-explanatory purpose of keeping count of the number of collected coins. A bar at the top-right corner tracks how many notes the player hit. A "CLEAR" label appears in the center, and it divides the bar into two color-coded segments, red and yellow, which respectively represent poor and good performance. The bar gradually fills up for every note hit by the player, but it contrarily decreases for every missed note. The results are calculated after the song ends; Donkey Kong wins if the bar fills past the Clear label and keeps the Coins that he obtained on the way. If Donkey Kong loses at a challenge, he does not keep the coins.
1-2 players	Challenge	A mode where the player performs an endless number of songs to see how many they can clear. The song number is displayed on a counter in front of two Steel Kegs.
2 players	Battle	A multiplayer mode where Donkey Kong and Diddy competitively perform a song with a goal for the highest score.
1-4 players	Jam Session	In this mode, DK and Diddy can practice their performance on songs. A displayed scoreboard counts by accuracy (Great, OK, and Bad) along with the number of missed beats.
1-2 players	Ape Arcade	DK and Diddy can play the mini-games here if they purchased them from DK Town.
1 player	DK Town	DK Town is the only mode to solely take place on the main menu. Here, the player has the ability to purchase unlockables, including songs with on Gorilla difficulty level, mini-games, and sound sets. They can also view Street Performance, Challenge, and mini-game high scores in the Hall of Records. The former two options have individual charts per difficulty level. Lastly, the player can access the Electric Hut to change a few settings: Stereo/Mono, Volume Balance, and DK Bongo and Controller. The second option, Default, resets each setting to their default value.

DK Town unlockables

Jungle Jams

The player can purchase individual songs to perform on Gorilla (expert) difficulty.

Bongo Sets

The player can purchase alternate sounds for the bongos to make during gameplay. They cost the following amount of coins:

• Electric Drum Set: 25,000 coins
• Konga Crew Set: 64 coins
• Toy Set: 14,900 coins
• Quiz Set: 912 coins
• Mario Set: 4,599 coins
• Dogs Set: 11 coins
• Kirby Set: 2,599 coins
• Latin Percussion Set: 1,900 coins
• Zelda Set: 4,599 coins
• Big Band Set: 88 coins
• Laser Space Set: 77 coins
• Car Set: 66 coins
• Country Set: 49 coins
• Barnyard Set: 1,050 coins
• Classical Orchestra Set: 2,220 coins
• Cold Set: 460 coins
• Whip It Set: 707 coins
• Jungle Set: 333 coins

Monkey Shines

The player can purchase three mini-games to play in the ape arcade, two of which have a 2-player competitive (Vs.) mode.

Image	Name	Description
	100M Vine Climb Cost: 4,800 coins	Single player: "Climb vines and collect fruit to set records!" Multiplayer (Vs.): "Climb vines and collect fruit to be the king of the Jungle!
	Banana Juggle Cost: 5,800 coins	Single player: "Juggle bananas and set records!" Multiplayer (Vs.): "Compete at juggling! Only one ape can win!"
	Bash K.Rool Cost: 5,800 coins	"Slam King K.Rool back into the ground. Go for high scores!"

List of songs

Donkey Konga features around thirty songs, most of which differ between regional release. Every region has songs that originate from other Nintendo titles along with traditional music, including kids' medleys, pop and classical. Almost every traditional song was made into a shortened cover for the North American release.

Song		Difficulty			Jungle Jams Cost	Ordering
Artist	Song Name	Monkey	Chimp	Gorilla		NA	EU	JP
	Diddy's Ditties	★★	★★	★★★★	365	1
	Bingo	★★★★★	★★	★★	25	2
	Campfire Medley	★	★★★	★★★	580	3
	Pokémon Theme	★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	250	4
	Kirby: Right Back at Ya!	★★★	★★★★	★★★★	848	5
Queen	We Will Rock You	★	★	★★★★	69	6
Leslie Carter	Like Wow	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★★	1898	7
The Troggs	Wild Thing	★★	★★★	★★★★★★	580	8	20
The Partridge Family	I Think I Love You	★★★★★★★	★★★	★★★	99	9
Richard Berry	Louie Louie	★★	★★★★★★	★★★★	1990	10	12
Little Eva	The Loco-Motion	★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	2060	11	4
Earth, Wind, & Fire	Shining Star	★★	★★★	★★★★	1005	12
Blink-182	All the Small Things	★★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★	1313	13	10
Stray Cats	Rock This Town	★★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★	644	14
The Supremes	You Can't Hurry Love	★★★	★★★★	★★★★	3399	15	9
Jesus Jones	Right Here, Right Now	★★★	★★★★	★★★★	1200	16
Martha and the Vandellas	Dancing in the Street	★★★★★	★★★★★★★	★★★★★★★★	1745	17	5
The B-52's	Rock Lobster	★	★★★★★	★★★	980	18
Neil Sedaka	Stupid Cupid	★★★★★	★★★	★★	1599	19
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones	The Impression That I Get	★★★★★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★	1399	20	14
The Romantics	What I Like About You	★★★★★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★	590	21
Devo	Whip It	★★★★	★★★★★	★	707	22
The Crystal Method	Busy Child	★★★	★★★★★★★★	★★★★★★★★	800	23	15
Tito Puente	Para Los Rumberos	★★★★★★★★	★★★★★★★★	★★★★★★	380	24	6
Louis Prima	Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)	★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★★★	12	25	7
Tito Puente	Oye Cómo Va	★★★	★★★	★★★★★★★★	2250	26	11
Willie Nelson	On the Road Again	★★	★★★★★★★	★★★★★★	1600	27
Johannes Brahms	Hungarian Dance No.5 in G Minor	★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	1848	28	23	29
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Turkish March	★★	★★★★	★★	331	29	24	28
	DK Rap	★★★	★★	★	6800	30	31	31
	The Legend of Zelda Theme	★★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	4900	31	27
	Super Mario Bros. Theme	★★★★	★★★★★★★★	★★★★★	4900	32	25	30
	Donkey Konga Theme	★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	100	33	30	32
Supergrass	Alright	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★★★	250		1
Jamiroquai	Canned Heat	★★★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★★★★	25		2
Queen	Don't Stop Me Now	★★★★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★★	1777		3
Chumbawumba	Tubthumping	★	★★★	★★★★★	69		8
Nena	99 Red Balloons	★★★★★★★	★★★★★★★	★★★	99		13
The Jackson 5	I Want You Back	★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★	1898		16
Jamiroquai	Cosmic Girl	★★★	★★★	★★	980		17
Supergrass	Richard III	★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★★★	111		18
Labelle	Lady Marmalade	★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★★★	365		19
Earth, Wind & Fire	September	★★★★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★	930		21
Take That	Back for Good	★★	★★★	★★	707		22
	Donkey Kong Country Theme	★★★	★	★★★	1600		26
	Rainbow Cruise	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★★★★	1200		28
	Super Smash Bros. Melee Opening	★★★★★★	★★★★★★★	★★★★★★★★	644		29
	Mori no Kumasan	★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★★★★★	903			1
	Clarinet o Kowashichatta	★★★	★★★	★★★★	1001			2
Haydn Quartet	Okina Furodokei	★★★	★★★★	★★★	969			3
	Hyokkori Hyoutanjima	★	★	★	8			4
Akira Kushida	We are the One (Bokura wa Hitotsu)	★★	★★★★★	★★★★	1200			5
	Hamtaro Tottoko Uta	★★	★★★★	★★★★★★	868			6
GARDEN	Advance Adventure	★★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★	1300			7
Hiroko Asakawa	Kirby!	★★	★★	★★★★	1260			8
	Densetsu no Starfy	★★★	★★★★★	★★★	1000			9
Strawberry Flower	Ai no Uta	★★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★	1000			10
Yuzu	Mata Aeru Hi Made	★★	★★★	★★★★	1293			11
Mai Kuraki	Kaze no La La La	★★	★★★★	★★★★★	1000			12
Aya Matsuura	Momoiro Kataomoi	★★★★★★★	★★★★★★★	★★★★★★★	1020			13
Mini-Moni	Mini-Moni Jankenpyon!	★★★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★★★	1020			14
Re:Japan	Ashita ga Arusa	★★	★★★★	★★★	23			15
Morning Musume	Koi no Dance Site	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	1020			16
Ayumi Hanasaki	Fly High	★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★★★★★	1365			17
SMAP	Shake	★★	★★★★	★★★	971			18
Akina Nakamori	Desire (Jōnetsu)	★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★★	1986			19
Hikaru Utada	Colors	★★★	★★★	★★★★★	1100			20
I Wish	Asu e no Tobira	★★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★★★★	1223			21
Maxi Priest and Yūji Oda	Love Somebody	★★★★	★★★	★★	110			22
Godiego	The Galaxy Express 999	★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	999			23
Jorge Ben	Mas que Nada	★★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★★	777			24
Ritchie Valens	La Bamba	★★★	★★★★★★	★★★★★★★	666			25
Pérez Prado	Mambo No. 5	★★★★★★	★★★★★★★★	★★★★★★★	555			26
	Oklahoma Mixer	★★	★★★	★★	4900			27

Regional differences

Aside from a different set of songs, Donkey Konga's North American logo is different from the European and Japanese logo. This change is reflected both in-game and on each region's box cover. The Japanese logo has a subtitle, which western versions do not have.

North America

Europe

Japan

Every title screen depicts a scene of the beach, but the North American one displays a different scene from the European and Japanese versions. The latter two depict a straight view of the beach, which is partially obscured by the game's logo. The North American title screen shows Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong partying at the shore, complete with a pair of bongos and a boombox in the scene.

North America

Europe/Japan

The logo on the GameCube menu banner is also different between regions.

There is a start-up warning advising players to be wary of vibrations, the sound, and the time of day they play, though this message does not appear in international releases. A health and safety warning is featured in every regional release of Donkey Konga 2, but this exact warning was also featured in the Japanese version of the sequel.

Browser game

An interactive microsite to promote Donkey Konga was developed by Lightmaker and published by Nintendo in 2004. The microsite allows the player to explore Konga Island to find information about Donkey Konga, and contains four levels of an Adobe Flash version of the game, where the player must control the DK Bongos with the arrow keys and space bar. Konga Island features four areas:

• Beach: The starting area, where each of the levels of the Donkey Konga training session are played.
• Waterfall: Unlocked after completing level 1. It features an "About Donkey Konga" section, as well as a minigame where Donkey Kong must throw coconuts at barrels to release 6 music notes. Collecting them reveals the opening theme from Donkey Kong.
• Jungle: Unlocked after completing level 2. It allows the player to view 20 screenshots of Donkey Konga, as well as play a minigame where Donkey Kong must collect 16 falling notes to create a wildlife melody.
• Konga Island Outdoor Cinema: Unlocked after completing level 3. It allows the player to view a commercial for Donkey Konga.

Completing the first three levels unlocks the fourth and final level, which unlocks a downloadable Donkey Konga wallpaper and screensaver upon completion.

Reception

“As an executive, I hated Donkey Konga[...] The first game actually sold reasonably well, but boy was I not a fan.”

—Reggie Fils-Aimé

Reviews
Release	Reviewer, Publication	Score	Comment
Nintendo GameCube	Tom Bramwell, Eurogamer	6/10	In the end, Donkey Konga is just too short-lived, even in multiplayer, to be worth the sort of outlay it represents. Nintendo has been surprisingly generous in its pricing here - most people will sell you the game and a set of bongos for £30 as far as we can see, and extra sets run to just £20 - but with the songs already shortened (and covered by a fairly decent bunch of impersonators, rather than licensed, curiously) Donkey Konga just doesn't have the legs. We appreciate the simplicity of the idea, but in the absence of the hidden depths we normally expect from this sort of game - or the ritual humiliation we now demand - it ultimately wears thin far too quickly. And for that reason we can't see it becoming the eBay legend that Samba was, although we've little doubt that you'll be able to find it on there all too quickly.
Nintendo GameCube	Juan Castro, IGN	8.5/10	Donkey Konga packs hours of fun. It's a good single-player experience and a great multiplayer one. If you can round up four buddies and four bongo controllers, you're set for the evening. All that's missing in a room with this game (and four bongos) is booze and a bowl of Tostitos. A somewhat limited song selection is the only thing keeping the multiplayer aspect from being the greatest thing EVAR, so to speak. The graphics, while bland and lacking several layers of polish, get the job done without causing too much of an eye-sore. The mini-games offer a little fun, but your best still sits in Kongo's primary game modes.
Aggregators
Compiler		Platform / Score
Metacritic		76
GameRankings		77.67%

In a 2022 interview, Nintendo of America executive Reggie Fils-Aimé confessed to hating Donkey Konga, stating he had "pushed back" against the Japanese office regarding the game, finding it unfun to play and that it might hurt the Donkey Kong brand.

Staff

Main article: List of Donkey Konga staff

Hiroyuki Onoda was the director of this game and would later reprise his role for its sequels. Koji Kondo and Toru Minegishi are credited as sound support. Along with Masanori Sato, prominent Super Mario franchise illustrator Yoichi Kotabe served as graphic support.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Donkey Konga.

• 

  Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong

• 

  Cranky Kong

• 

  Rambi

• 

  Ellie

• 

  King K. Rool

Media

"Donkey Konga Theme"

File infoMedia:Donkey Konga Main Theme.oga 0:30

"DK Rap"

File infoMedia:SSBM Kongo Jungle.oga 0:30

"Donkey Kong Country Theme"

File infoMedia:SSBM Jungle Japes.oga 0:30

"Super Mario Theme"

File infoMedia:Donkey Konga Super Mario Theme Ground.oga 0:19

"The Legend of Zelda Theme"

File infoMedia:Donkey Konga The Legend of Zelda Theme.oga 0:30

Help:Media • Having trouble playing?

References to other media

• Donkey Kong - When choosing whether to display the screen in 50Hz or 60Hz, Mario (as he appears in Donkey Kong) acts as a cursor, and Donkey Kong (also as he appears in Donkey Kong) stands to the left. The "NES" Bongo Set use sound effects from this game. The left bongo plays Mario's jump sound effect and clapping plays the sound effect of Mario jumping over an obstacle.
• Donkey Kong Jr.: In the "NES" Bongo Set, the right bongo plays the sound effect of Donkey Kong Jr. getting hit by an obstacle.
• The Legend of Zelda series - The Legend of Zelda Theme is featured on the North American, European and Australian versions of the game.
• Donkey Kong Country - The track "Donkey Kong Country Theme" is the Super Smash Bros. Melee arrangement of "DK Island Swing" from this game.
• Pokémon (anime) - The North American release includes the anime's theme song.
• Donkey Kong 64 - Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong's voice clips are recycled from this game during the mini-games. Also, the Super Smash Bros. Melee version of the DK Rap appears in the game.
• Super Smash Bros. Melee - The tracks "Donkey Kong Country Theme", "Rainbow Cruise", "Super Smash Bros. Melee Opening", and "DK Rap" are taken from this game.
• Kirby: Right Back at Ya! - The Japanese and North American releases both include the anime's theme song.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes

External links

• Official website
• British English website