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Donkey Kong 64
Nintendo 64
Released On: Nov 24, 1999
90
8.4
All Platforms
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 14 Critic Reviews
90
100% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 14 Critic Reviews
90
100% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
The range of gameplay features is truly expansive beyond belief and one minute you may be charging around as a rhino, the next you may be riding in a slot car or mine cart or even a jet ski as part of the bonus games.
Though some view this as just Banjo-Kazooie with some minor improvements, take it from me, it is far from that. Definitely a candidate that is well deserving of being this years "Game of the Year".
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 432 User Ratings
8.4
80% Positive
344 Ratings
344 Ratings
17% Mixed
73 Ratings
73 Ratings
3% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 432 User Ratings
8.4
80% Positive
344 Ratings
344 Ratings
17% Mixed
73 Ratings
73 Ratings
3% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
Aug 2, 2025
As far as 3-D platformers go, few, if any have been more polarizing, and have been reevaluated as much as Donkey Kong 64. The sheer quantity of collectibles and built-in backtracking via switching characters can frustrate some, but for any avid fan of the genre, what you get is even more platforming magic from Rare at their peak. A must-finish, but not necessarily a must complete.
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Nintendo 64 Apr 5, 2024
BEST GAME EVER I loved a lot this game. Even i wish this for Nintendo Switch remastered or a remake
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Nintendo 64 Very intriguing, but nothing new. The game is fun, but unless you have time to collect every single object in the game, it can get old fast.
While it's still not as good or creative as the original Super Mario 64, if there's one true claim to fame it can make, it's that you'll get your moneys worth if you really do try and complete the game 100%.
It's DK64's length that really sets it apart from any other competition in the genre. This is Rare's War and Peace, it's that simple.
The real problem is that right to the end, it's just more of the same. There isn't the sharp contrast that DKCountry brought to the SNES as most hoped and expected. While no major ground is broken from Banjo Kazooie, Donkey Kong is still all there as a 3D platform game.
As cranky as DK64 made me, I can ill refute the fact that the game is still remarkable. Had this title come from any other game developer in the world I'd be doing back flips raving about how great it is.
Oct 12, 2024
I recently played it again, and the truth is that I thought that nostalgia had altered my perception, since I remembered the game too good to be true, but when I lived the worlds again, got all the collectibles and got the 101%, I realized that indeed I was facing a very polished and good game for its time, highlighting how fun the worlds are, the soundtrack and the characteristic difficulty that many people do not like, but that I personally love.Translated with **** (free version)
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Nintendo 64 Mar 2, 2024
Uno de mis juegos de la infancia, lo amo muchísimo, pero lamentablemente no es perfecto, el hecho de restringirte demasiado en la recolección de objetos, qué solo se pueden conseguir con cierto personaje, el cambio constante de Kong, la mayoría de minijuegos frustrantes, hace qué la experiencia no sea tan pulida, pero aún y con todos sus defectos, me encanta Donkey Kong 64, tiene una gran banda sonora, mundos preciosos, un nivel de carisma característico de Rare, en general sigue siendo un buen juego, pero no a la altura de sus otros hermanos como Super Mario 64 o Banjo Kazooie, mi calificación es un 7.0/10, pero si juegas su Hackrom (Tag Anywhere), aunque siga teniendo defectos, es mucho más agradable ya qué puedes cambiar de personaje en cualquier momento, entonces la nota sube a un 8.5/10.
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Nintendo 64 Apr 4, 2023
Solid gameplay utilizing a colorful cast of apes and monkeys that all play extremely unique. Really solid level design as well as incentive to reexplore areas of the world with each Kong that opens up the level design in different way depending on their abilities and specialties. The only pain points of the game have to do with most Nintendo 64 era games, that being the camera. Multiple times I can recall precise platforming being made either more difficult or tedious via the camera.
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Nintendo 64 Jun 17, 2025
While this game has gotten a lot of praise over the years, it's received just as much backlash. And after playing the game for almost thirty hours it's not hard to see why. Thematically, the game has a ton of charm, with well animated cutscenes, great sound design, sprite work, and plenty of ambitious game design. Even with its flaws, DK 64 had so much personality that many of its iconic elements would be carried on to future Donkey Kong games. Like Diddy Kong's Jet Pack and Donkey Kong's Bongos. Is it enough to excuse the poor level design? No, but it was interesting to learn about the positive impact this game had on people, despite at times being very frustrating. As a collectathon, the game can be pretty enjoyable with plenty of secret areas to explore and puzzles to solve. Most of the time, feeling like a slower paced Super Mario 64. It's very satisfying to collect Golden Bananas and explore every nook and cranny of the world. Unfortunately, most of these Golden Bananas are hidden behind bland mini games that really hurt the pacing of the main adventure. Slot machines, tricky vehicle sections, stealth, the list goes on. I don't mind variety, but platforming should be the main focus. This Donkey Kong not Raving Rabbids, why can't I just run around and explore the world? I gave the game a chance and I kept playing up until Level 8, Hideout Helm. Easily the worst level in the game. I figured that if the majority of the game was mini games, maybe finally, I'd get to play a level that was nothing but raw platforming. But no, their's more mini games to complete. With a stressful time limit to boot. If you can't beat all of the mini games in time, it's an automatic game over. And even if you manage to win, you have to complete both the original Donkey Kong arcade game and the Jetpac Arcade game in order to press on. It's not fun, the Jetpac game isn't too tricky but the classic Donkey Kong game requires to beat all of the levels on a single life. I wouldn't mind if these mini games were quick distractions, but requirements to beat the game? This is unacceptable. It's a shame, because the final boss fight is really well designed. I won't go into spoilers, but out of all the King Kong. Rool fights, it's easily the best one. If you can find the game for a cheap on virtual console, you might have a good time playing through Jungle Japes, since it has a large focus on platforming. But as for the rest of the game, it's got way more negatives than positives. I'm still a huge Donkey Kong Country fan, but when it comes to designing 3-D platformers, I think Rareware did a far better job designing Banjo-Kazooie. If you're a big Rareware fan, I suggest seeking out that game instead.
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Nintendo 64 Mar 5, 2017
For the Nintendo '64 gaming system, the two pre-eminent adventure games were Mario and Zelda. Those games enthralled players with their tight gameplay and interesting stories. Unfortunately, DK '64 doesn't have that same tight gameplay, and the story was never the strong suit of the series. The problem with this game is obvious after about 30 minutes: It's all about collecting items, and very little else. Whether it is coins, tokens, or bananas, this game quickly devolves into little more than a scavenger hunt for miscellaneous items. Making matters worse is the fact that EACH CHARACTER needs to collect each item to unlock certain features. The game is tedious enough playing just as a single character, but add in the four others and it becomes ridiculous. The music in this game is engaging (the DK Rap might just be the highlight of the whole experience!), but other than that nothing really stands out. If you don't mind collecting item after item, you'll like this game more than I. If you prefer a developed plot, however, than stay away at all costs.
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Nintendo 64 Summary K. Rool has kidnapped the Kongs! Can Donkey Kong rescue his friends, reclaim the Golden Bananas and save his homeland from certain doom? Take out some Kremlings with Chunky's Pineapple Launcher or Lanky's Trombone. Float through the air using Tiny's Ponytail Twirl. Even rocket to the sky with Diddy's Jetbarrel!
Rated E for Everyone
Platforms:
- Nintendo 64
Initial Release Date: Nov 24, 1999
Genres:
