Wii Critic Reviews

The on-rails steering mechanic will be an insult to your gaming ability. [Apr 2008, p.79]

To Barrel Blast's credit, it looks like there was a concerted effort to make the game look better--a smooth frame rate and some nice effects spruce up an otherwise mundane racer. [Nov 2007, p.99]

Decent but unspectacular, Donkey Kong Jet Race can be fun in spite of its many flaws. Wait for it to land in the bargain bins. [Issue#19, p.76]

Despite all of its problems, you’ll almost certainly have a great deal of fun playing Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race. [JPN Import; Sept 2007, p.118]

Does the idea of a lipstick-wearing gorilla in a tight shirt and cut-offs who blows you a kiss from in front of a pink heart frame when you beat a challenge turn you on? If the answer is yes then this may be the game for you.

A strange beast full of half-baked ideas and poor controls, yet it contains deceptively clever level designs.

Had Barrel Blast come out just after the Wii’s launch, it would be forgivable, if still not a very good game. But at this point in the system’s life cycle, releasing long-delayed GameCube games with Wii controls grafted onto them is a no-no, especially when said game is published by the system’s manufacturer itself.

The Wii remote and Nunchuk simply don't work well at all, forcing you to constantly build up speed and perform frustrating motions to do even the simplest of maneuvers like dodging on-track objects and jumping. Avoid this bottom of the barrel release.

While it is short and somewhat disappointing, Barrel Blast did make interesting use of the Wii's motion-sensing controls.

With poor gameplay and too-strict rules for unlocking new races, this is one game Nintendo should've let die. Instead, it'll just kill you to play it.