It was a great first stage to get into the swing of things. Fun story when I was a kid the storm part used to creep me out because I was afraid of flashing lights and darkness. (I was raised on nightmare on elm Street so sleep was also hard) But now 25 years later that feeling makes me feel so silly.
I had a game curfew when I played this game (20 min a day) and honestly it made this game feel enormous. I actually really appreciated just how much Jungle Japes taught new players and ingrained lessons into them. It helped when me, being new to games, could get one or maybe two golden Bananas a session. I wish it didn't feel so arbitrary (there's so much stuff that just feels like it's there to be stuff) but this first world really made for a fun romp to set the tone.
For me personally, I find the golden bananas of jungle japes more fun when you backtrack to them as tiny/chunky, and not the first time around as dk and diddy (although the cart golden banana is fun). Exploring the shell and the cave below the X mark is pretty fun. My favorite part of this world is that little section of the map where the shell you enter as tiny with is located, I've always felt that place has some mystic and chill vibes.
Well said! Perhaps Rare was aware that players would have to return to this world with the other Kongs, and made those golden bananas more easy going and fun.
The first level feels like the Jungle feelings and fit the DK world, one advice after watching this video, return after unlock the kongs and their abilities.
Love the different little Jungle zones and caves. Charming vibes throughout. My only real gripe is something I take issue with about DK64 generally; there's a sense of just arbitrariness. I'm not asking for a full plot or narrative here, but even Mario 64 & Banjo have this logic organizing their worlds. A lot of DK64 levels wind up feeling like a few rooms strung together with corridors (not All, Creepy Castle is an excellent counterexample). It's never explained Where this jungle is or What's happening there. One could have fixed it with a few simple changes. Like imagine if a few more Golden Bananas were tied to undermining the mining operations the Kremlings were doing: like Rambi knocking out crates of their supplies & equipment instead of random grass huts. They could have at least made DK & Diddy's bananas here around that & let the revisits be about random extra stuff.
I totally hear you! I'd say Angry Aztec and Crystal Caves are pretty guilty of this. I love the idea of Rambi interfering with the Kremlings! It would really tie things together more
I still remember first time i got Rambi on this level back on 1999. I could not believe that section was running so smooth on N64 with all those effects. There is something special on DK64's character models as well. Very round, not blocky at all.
Being at that closed gate, peering at the giant trees and shell, wondering what could be in there... People call it backtracking but as a kid, it just filled me with an excitement to return to Jungle Japes
Oh, you want a fun detail for giant chunky? If you do the body slam down attack when you're directly above an enemy while giant, you squash them flat. The hit detection for this is super specific, so it's hard to do reliably, but it is very fun.
I honestly love Jungle Japes. As you already said, it’s the tutorial based world that’s trying to teach all the main mechanics the game is going to throw at you throughout the entire game. With the exception of candy, of course. I still really like it. All the bonus barrels here are super easy and can be gotten on your first try most of the time. It’s an easy world that I just can’t help but love. I can’t say that for every world going forward though… A little teaser for my future comments.
I find it the most enjoyable world out of all of them. Its reasonably sized, your first time going through it it short and fun, and it doesnt really overstay its welcome. While i love the rest of the worlds i def wish they were as condensed as japes is
It's also great for foreshadowing future kongs abilities, and tunneling you into your main objective. Tinys feather gate and fairy camera, lankys handstand hills, and chunkys boulder and his heavier slams. It's genuinely perfect introduction design
The first world of DK 64 is such an Iconic first world I wouldn't want to change anything about it. Also fun fact in the room below the 'X' square the shooter switch is bugged and can be activated by any of kong's shooter not just Chunky's.
@@superjoebros64 Yeah I assume it has a programming error since they likely would expect you to use Chunky there. I discovered this while messing around in the game. This is in the room in Jungle Japes below the rock you get the first Golden Banana for the Chunky.
I am currently replaying DK64, but never played it as a kid. The first level is a great way to introduce all the systems. Even the backtracking and switching of the kongs is shown off without players having it shoved in their faces. Hell, like you said, you can't even complete the first world 100% at first, silently teaching you that it's okay and even encouraged to exit a world and visit a later or earlier one.
Absolutely! For the early worlds, it's kind of a nice way to appreciate the level. A few months ago I live streamed the DK64 randomizer. Having access to all the Kongs from the start was cool. But I completely all of JJ immediately lol. I didn’t really get to appreciate the world!
Jungle Japes is great. I wish it was longer but i also know that it being shorter and smaller is part of its charm. No bad challenges here. It really feels like you're on your way to the big leagues when you first come back with all 5.
I hope that when you reach Crystal Caves, you mention Stop n Swop. There's been a recent two hour documentary by Ben Rai that covers just about everything. It's pretty cool to see that Donkey Kong 64 and Banjo Kazooie were once connected.
I never minded the backtracking. Its the same thing you do in metroidvanias so I never got the hate for it. Like that moment of "oh Lanky can climb slopes.....Oh MAN THATS how I get up that slope back in lvl 1. Whats up there?" I liked this first level. Its compact, easy to navigate and is a great starter lvl for new players. But still has a few dangers for more advanced players. And getting Diddy this early is good as they could of not had Diddy here and had the first visit be DK only but I appreciate them giving you the 2nd Kong right away. I do love this game. I wish I still had my old copy of it but it was stolen from me. Great vid btw.
That's what I'm talking about!! It's so cool to have that lightbulb moment! If Diddy was unlocked in Angry Aztec instead, that would be roooough. I'm so sorry your game was stolen 🙁 that really sucks. Just another reason for this game to hit NSO!
@ I hope it hits the NSO. I would instantly play that to 100% (something I never got to do....196 was as far as I got) The entire game would have to be restructured if Diddy was gotten in Aztec. I think its fine with when you get the Kongs as it is now. Gotta love those moments. Times when your like "oh I'm such an idiot. THIS is how you do it, not what I was doing" haha Yeah I hate that all my N64 games got stolen. All except my version 1.0 of Ocarina of Time (with the fire temple chant, symbols, and red blood still in tact) Still have that cart with the box and manual too lol
Middle of the road level. took a while when i was 8 to realize that i was supposed to climb the vine. Then, once i got diddy and did his and donkeys stuff that was available, i was lost. Wasnt used to exploring much, coming from 2d games prior to this. Classic dk vibes tho. Not bad!
I have a lot of issues with DK64 but Jungle Japes was the most fun part of the game for me. Unfortunately what makes it so good ends up being the rest of the game's undoing. Impressive scale, really large variety, things that you can't access at first but get to come back to later as you get more kongs and abilities. It's all a lot of fun when you're encountering it for the FIRST time.
I think it's a great first world myself. It shows you the right amount of stuff without being overwhelming and keeping it at only two characters to start with was a good call in my opinion. Don't want the player to have to master five characters right away after all.
Seeing the video about doing Donkey Kong 64 with as few barrel tags as possible got me thinking about how Jungle Japes was mostly streamlined for singular characters to go back and collect all their exclusive collectibles in one go if you set them up right.
@@superjoebros64 If you read the entire game like a book where you rip out all the pages and line them up next to each other, you can remember every single spot where you require other Kongs to get past certain obstacles and unlockables, but if you forget some, and forget who you need to switch to, you might end up using the Tag Barrel more times than you need to. A notepad and some screenshots for reference are DEFINITELY required for this run.
DK64 may have a serious within level backtracking issue as part as it's main identity but Jungle Japes is a showcase of how in between level backtracking can be a good thing. If the devs are going to give players more content after getting new abilities from future worlds, mind as well make it worth returning to earlier ones with a bunch of new content. Usually the issue I have with in between level backtracking is the payoff is usually underwhelming with not much surprise behind it making it feel more pointless.
Absolutely! I agree. It works pretty well for Jungle Japes. Instead of being under or overwhelming, it feels like a part of the world has been unlocked!
@ I totally understand it’sfaults though. But for me it helped me a lot when I was depressed as a kid I mean, what else did you do when your parents fought?
The rambi huts all have pads under them that open gates. I think it's lazy game design and boring. That's the one thing I would change about Jungle Japes. I'd remove those pads and replace it with something more creative and Rambi-focused.
Dang, I can't disagree. If feels pointless when you consider the fact that most of those pads are for Kongs not yet unlocked. Kind of wasted potential!
I think you struggle with the vines because you haven't worked out that the lower you are on teh vine, the further you jump. But I have only one example that you show to judge by, so who knows.
Hmm I don't know! I figured the lower on the vine, the further the jump. Which is why I went so low. I literally only struggle with that vine, lol it's weird
@@superjoebros64 I don't remember ever having trouble with it. It seems the vines have built in physics specifically for them, as every jump is identical in my memory, as long as you do it from the same spot on the vine. Maybe, are you holding down the move stick when you jump? Because unless I remember wrong, you don't have to, the jumps are automatically managed otherwise.
![TOP 10 Secret Bonus Rooms in Donkey Kong Country | Super Nintendo [Original SNES Capture]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vB5hUK47GgA/mqdefault.jpg)
What are your thoughts on the first world of the game? 🍌🐒
It was a great first stage to get into the swing of things. Fun story when I was a kid the storm part used to creep me out because I was afraid of flashing lights and darkness. (I was raised on nightmare on elm Street so sleep was also hard) But now 25 years later that feeling makes me feel so silly.
Rambi goated, Armadillo boss goated, mine cart goated, freeing diddy (no diddy) goated
@@benjamincounter7099 can we also talk about the music as well. Grant GOAThope at his best
Iconic to sum it up, the song, the vibes and the rough intro into the game. I wish I could experience it for a first time again.
@dragonMaster24921 Gloomy Galleon spooked me for similar reasons! You weren't alone haha
GOAThope 😂 perfectly said
I had a game curfew when I played this game (20 min a day) and honestly it made this game feel enormous. I actually really appreciated just how much Jungle Japes taught new players and ingrained lessons into them. It helped when me, being new to games, could get one or maybe two golden Bananas a session. I wish it didn't feel so arbitrary (there's so much stuff that just feels like it's there to be stuff) but this first world really made for a fun romp to set the tone.
WOW 20 minutes?! Getting a single golden banana must have felt like a huge achievement!
@@superjoebros64 It sure did!
This feels like an updated version of Mumbo's Mountain from Banjo-Kazooie, especially the music.
Just started playing Banjo a month ago and I fully agree! I got the same vibes
This world made DK 64 just magical for me, its the perfect first world
Yes! You get it dude haha. A banger first world
Hopefully this series continues, would love to watch them all 🤞
Oh there will be more, don't you worry 😁
I do a playthrough of the game once per year and it's always great to get to this world. Gets the mood up I guess
Me too! 😁 everything just feels right
For me personally, I find the golden bananas of jungle japes more fun when you backtrack to them as tiny/chunky, and not the first time around as dk and diddy (although the cart golden banana is fun). Exploring the shell and the cave below the X mark is pretty fun.
My favorite part of this world is that little section of the map where the shell you enter as tiny with is located, I've always felt that place has some mystic and chill vibes.
Well said! Perhaps Rare was aware that players would have to return to this world with the other Kongs, and made those golden bananas more easy going and fun.
Geez, it really is Mumbo's Mountain 2, the termite tower is right there, and as we all know, Diddy Kong moonlights as a shaman
It really is 😅 no complaints here though
The first level feels like the Jungle feelings and fit the DK world, one advice after watching this video, return after unlock the kongs and their abilities.
I always return and collect everything 😁 it feels wrong not to!
@@superjoebros64
Same here, it dosen’t feel like a chores but instead fun to play.
@@mattiasolsson1523 fun to play and to experience more with the unlocked Kongs!
Love the different little Jungle zones and caves. Charming vibes throughout.
My only real gripe is something I take issue with about DK64 generally; there's a sense of just arbitrariness. I'm not asking for a full plot or narrative here, but even Mario 64 & Banjo have this logic organizing their worlds. A lot of DK64 levels wind up feeling like a few rooms strung together with corridors (not All, Creepy Castle is an excellent counterexample). It's never explained Where this jungle is or What's happening there.
One could have fixed it with a few simple changes. Like imagine if a few more Golden Bananas were tied to undermining the mining operations the Kremlings were doing: like Rambi knocking out crates of their supplies & equipment instead of random grass huts. They could have at least made DK & Diddy's bananas here around that & let the revisits be about random extra stuff.
I totally hear you! I'd say Angry Aztec and Crystal Caves are pretty guilty of this. I love the idea of Rambi interfering with the Kremlings! It would really tie things together more
Dk 64 is very underrated
So underrated. It deserves some love!
@superjoebros64 it's a great game for collectors i 💕 dk 64
DK64 is my childhood game back in N64 era.
i love how this also references the first world in dkc looking all jungly and stuff :)
Truly an incredible reference! 😄
This game was my introduction to the DK franchise so this level is super nostalgic, and I love the bgm!
It was an introduction for me too! Some banger music of course
I still remember first time i got Rambi on this level back on 1999. I could not believe that section was running so smooth on N64 with all those effects. There is something special on DK64's character models as well. Very round, not blocky at all.
It's such a big moment in the game! A shame there's only so many animal buddy moments.
Fully agree with the models! They look great
Being at that closed gate, peering at the giant trees and shell, wondering what could be in there... People call it backtracking but as a kid, it just filled me with an excitement to return to Jungle Japes
THANK YOU! It left us curious, which is a magical experience. Thank you for saying it! 😁
Oh, you want a fun detail for giant chunky? If you do the body slam down attack when you're directly above an enemy while giant, you squash them flat. The hit detection for this is super specific, so it's hard to do reliably, but it is very fun.
MEMORY UNLOCKED! I completely forgot about this aspect of his ability. Wow. Thank you for reminding me!
I honestly love Jungle Japes. As you already said, it’s the tutorial based world that’s trying to teach all the main mechanics the game is going to throw at you throughout the entire game. With the exception of candy, of course. I still really like it. All the bonus barrels here are super easy and can be gotten on your first try most of the time. It’s an easy world that I just can’t help but love. I can’t say that for every world going forward though… A little teaser for my future comments.
Haha I have a feeling I know where your head is at 😅 but agreed! JJ brings great vibes for the first world. Well done Rare!
I love the Diddy Kong Cave in this world, easily the best part of it.
It's such a chill cave too haha
The music in said cave is fire too lol
I find it the most enjoyable world out of all of them. Its reasonably sized, your first time going through it it short and fun, and it doesnt really overstay its welcome.
While i love the rest of the worlds i def wish they were as condensed as japes is
That's a wonderful way to put it! It doesn't overstay it's welcome.
If every world was this size I think it would mean adding more worlds to the game!
It's also great for foreshadowing future kongs abilities, and tunneling you into your main objective.
Tinys feather gate and fairy camera, lankys handstand hills, and chunkys boulder and his heavier slams. It's genuinely perfect introduction design
@@Redvox57 exactly! It's kind of teaching the player how to play without being an annoying tutorial
I think this level is a nice call back to the intro worlds/stages of the original DKC
A good and nice intro level
Absolutely this! It's very on brand for DK
The first world of DK 64 is such an Iconic first world I wouldn't want to change anything about it. Also fun fact in the room below the 'X' square the shooter switch is bugged and can be activated by any of kong's shooter not just Chunky's.
wait really?? I did not know this!
W world!
@@superjoebros64 Yeah I assume it has a programming error since they likely would expect you to use Chunky there. I discovered this while messing around in the game. This is in the room in Jungle Japes below the rock you get the first Golden Banana for the Chunky.
I am currently replaying DK64, but never played it as a kid. The first level is a great way to introduce all the systems. Even the backtracking and switching of the kongs is shown off without players having it shoved in their faces. Hell, like you said, you can't even complete the first world 100% at first, silently teaching you that it's okay and even encouraged to exit a world and visit a later or earlier one.
Yeah you not completing the first 2 levels on the first go since you don't get the last member until the 3rd level
Absolutely! For the early worlds, it's kind of a nice way to appreciate the level.
A few months ago I live streamed the DK64 randomizer. Having access to all the Kongs from the start was cool. But I completely all of JJ immediately lol. I didn’t really get to appreciate the world!
Jungle Japes is great. I wish it was longer but i also know that it being shorter and smaller is part of its charm. No bad challenges here. It really feels like you're on your way to the big leagues when you first come back with all 5.
Absolutely! When you collect everything in this world, you start to feel the need to do the same with the others haha
I hope that when you reach Crystal Caves, you mention Stop n Swop. There's been a recent two hour documentary by Ben Rai that covers just about everything. It's pretty cool to see that Donkey Kong 64 and Banjo Kazooie were once connected.
As someone who is JUST getting into Banjo (started streaming it a few weeks ago) Stop n Swop is still out of my radar 😅
Awesome video, just showing love and support
Thank you!! Appreciate it 🍌🐒 gotta love and support this lovely game!
I never minded the backtracking. Its the same thing you do in metroidvanias so I never got the hate for it. Like that moment of "oh Lanky can climb slopes.....Oh MAN THATS how I get up that slope back in lvl 1. Whats up there?"
I liked this first level. Its compact, easy to navigate and is a great starter lvl for new players. But still has a few dangers for more advanced players. And getting Diddy this early is good as they could of not had Diddy here and had the first visit be DK only but I appreciate them giving you the 2nd Kong right away.
I do love this game. I wish I still had my old copy of it but it was stolen from me. Great vid btw.
That's what I'm talking about!! It's so cool to have that lightbulb moment!
If Diddy was unlocked in Angry Aztec instead, that would be roooough.
I'm so sorry your game was stolen 🙁 that really sucks. Just another reason for this game to hit NSO!
@ I hope it hits the NSO. I would instantly play that to 100% (something I never got to do....196 was as far as I got)
The entire game would have to be restructured if Diddy was gotten in Aztec. I think its fine with when you get the Kongs as it is now.
Gotta love those moments. Times when your like "oh I'm such an idiot. THIS is how you do it, not what I was doing" haha
Yeah I hate that all my N64 games got stolen. All except my version 1.0 of Ocarina of Time (with the fire temple chant, symbols, and red blood still in tact) Still have that cart with the box and manual too lol
Love your narration, very informative. Keep crushing it Joe 🤟🏻😎🔥🍌
Haha thank you! 😄 I'm glad people can tolerate my voice 😂
Middle of the road level. took a while when i was 8 to realize that i was supposed to climb the vine. Then, once i got diddy and did his and donkeys stuff that was available, i was lost. Wasnt used to exploring much, coming from 2d games prior to this. Classic dk vibes tho. Not bad!
Ooh that's interesting! The transition from 2D must have been jarring at times
I have a lot of issues with DK64 but Jungle Japes was the most fun part of the game for me. Unfortunately what makes it so good ends up being the rest of the game's undoing.
Impressive scale, really large variety, things that you can't access at first but get to come back to later as you get more kongs and abilities. It's all a lot of fun when you're encountering it for the FIRST time.
Well said! That FIRST time hits different when replaying it!
I think it's a great first world myself. It shows you the right amount of stuff without being overwhelming and keeping it at only two characters to start with was a good call in my opinion. Don't want the player to have to master five characters right away after all.
100% this! Having 5 playable characters right away would be so overwhelming.
Seeing the video about doing Donkey Kong 64 with as few barrel tags as possible got me thinking about how Jungle Japes was mostly streamlined for singular characters to go back and collect all their exclusive collectibles in one go if you set them up right.
I've been meaning to watch that video! It sounds like a hectic time 😂
@@superjoebros64 If you read the entire game like a book where you rip out all the pages and line them up next to each other, you can remember every single spot where you require other Kongs to get past certain obstacles and unlockables, but if you forget some, and forget who you need to switch to, you might end up using the Tag Barrel more times than you need to. A notepad and some screenshots for reference are DEFINITELY required for this run.
@Boomblox5896 oh woooow. That's hardcore. I think one day I'll take on this challenge and live stream it
@@superjoebros64 The important part is to think ahead and plan carefully. Not necessarily rush it. Also I would look forward to such a stream.
That's brilliant! I've officially written it down, I want to live stream this experience 😁 look for early 2025!
cant wait for Frantic Factory and Fungi Forest ❤
Some of my favorite worlds 🤩 I had a good time reviewing those!
You and me both!
And I still get lost in this 2 Worlds, since they feel like a big Maze: In a good way.
Thank you for answering a question It was on my mind a few minutes ago.
The question was "From which DK game is the Jungle Japes stage from Smash?"
I kind of feel like "Jungle Japes" is a vague name for the DK universe, but I could be wrong! Still a great connection to Smash!
2:01 Did you mean distinguishable features?
WHOOPS. I sure did 😅
Came to say this too lol
DK64 may have a serious within level backtracking issue as part as it's main identity but Jungle Japes is a showcase of how in between level backtracking can be a good thing. If the devs are going to give players more content after getting new abilities from future worlds, mind as well make it worth returning to earlier ones with a bunch of new content. Usually the issue I have with in between level backtracking is the payoff is usually underwhelming with not much surprise behind it making it feel more pointless.
Absolutely! I agree. It works pretty well for Jungle Japes. Instead of being under or overwhelming, it feels like a part of the world has been unlocked!
I really liked the first world.
A fantastic start to the game!
As the only Gloomy Galleon enjoyer I'm looking forward to the world's review
Love you GG enjoyers 😁 I will fully admit that the world has grown on me!
Make it 2
This is a based review
Hell yeah, you know it 🫡
Jungle Japes is jungle great!
You Jungle know it!
Way to cool other people love this game as much as I do
It's underrated and deserves to be praised!
@ I totally understand it’sfaults though. But for me it helped me a lot when I was depressed as a kid I mean, what else did you do when your parents fought?
Anyone else remember it being called "jungle jinx"? Possible Mandela effect?
You might be thinking of Jungle Hijinx from DKC?
Jungle WHAT?!
OH japes..... Ok
No hijinx here! 😂
dk december day iii 🎉
Oh man you get the honorary "first" comment!
The rambi huts all have pads under them that open gates. I think it's lazy game design and boring. That's the one thing I would change about Jungle Japes. I'd remove those pads and replace it with something more creative and Rambi-focused.
Dang, I can't disagree. If feels pointless when you consider the fact that most of those pads are for Kongs not yet unlocked. Kind of wasted potential!
I think you struggle with the vines because you haven't worked out that the lower you are on teh vine, the further you jump. But I have only one example that you show to judge by, so who knows.
Hmm I don't know! I figured the lower on the vine, the further the jump. Which is why I went so low. I literally only struggle with that vine, lol it's weird
@@superjoebros64 I don't remember ever having trouble with it. It seems the vines have built in physics specifically for them, as every jump is identical in my memory, as long as you do it from the same spot on the vine.
Maybe, are you holding down the move stick when you jump? Because unless I remember wrong, you don't have to, the jumps are automatically managed otherwise.
@cheezemonkeyeater I recall pushing in the direction I wanted to jump and not pushing the stick at all 🤷♂️ I just have bad luck lol
@@superjoebros64 Weird.