The DK Bongos are an accessory specifically designed and used for every Donkey Kong game on the Nintendo GameCube.
Description[]
The DK Bongos are a symmetrical accessory made in the likeness of actual bongo drums, although each side is shaped like a Barrel with a rubber drum skin fastened on top. The DK Bongos have a Start/Pause button in the center, and below it is the DK emblem, although only for aesthetic. The DK Bongos have a built-in microphone intended to detect clapping, although the microphone can pick up on loud noises in general. The left and right drums correspond to the respective direction of the Control Stick on a Nintendo GameCube Controller, so in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, this is used to move Donkey Kong left and right respectively.
Compatible games[]
The DK Bongos were first used for Donkey Konga, but was also used for Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Donkey Konga 2, and the Japan-exclusive Donkey Konga 3 JP. All of these games are also compatible with a standard Nintendo GameCube Controller, but the DK Bongos were marketed as the standard way of playing the games. Some releases of these games came bundled with a pair of DK Bongos.
The DK Bongos were originally planned to be compatible with Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, back when it was being developed as a Nintendo GameCube game titled DK Bongo Blast, but this was dropped when it became a Wii title and instead made use of the motion controls. Similarly, the New Play Control! release of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is incompatible with the DK Bongos, even if connecting it to a Nintendo GameCube Controller port on top of the Wii, and instead uses motion controls.
Trivia[]
- Donkey Kong uses a pair of bongos for his Final Smash, Konga Beat, in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U. The bongos are directly based on the DK Bongos, while hitting the beats in a rhythm is derived from the main gameplay mechanic of the Donkey Konga series.