Donkey Kong 64 isn't very true to the original Donkey Kong games.
Why: Well, first off, all of the addictive platforming that made Donkey Kong a great game for the SNES is basically gone. Sure you still climb trees, swing on ropes, collect bananas, and jump from platform to platform, but the game has taken a new direction. Donkey Kong 64 is an RPG. Now, for fans like me, this was disapointing, I was hoping to see a 3-D version of my favorite simians, but instead I get an RPG with a story that makes no sense, and characters that I don't recognize (Save for Donkey and Diddy).
The multiplayer is perhaps the best feature of the game. Once your finished going through mazes and grabbing keys and other junk so that you can continue in your quest to defeat King K. Rool and save your banana-fairy-ridden island (yes, fairies. Dumb eh? What happened to the bannana birds?) you can go on a simian slug-fest with up to three friends and plaster each other with food, using each character's unique weapon. And, of course, every character gets the orange grenades.
Overall, though, Donkey Kong 64 didn't live up to it's proud history.
Graphics: 8
Why: Not the best seen on an N64, but they sure were good at the time.
Sound: 7
Why: Well, at least SOME of the original Donkey Kong jingles are still around. Was dissapointed in the music overall though, plus, the game has no dialog save for some grunts, whines, and laughs.
Value: 6
Why: This game will definately keep you busy. There's so much to do, and so many annoying puzzles to get through in order to git 'em. Unfortunately, you'll spend more time screaming at the TV because of some stupid puzzle, then you will spend jumping through the jungle defeating baddies.
Reviewer's Tilt: 5
Why: A good game, but not great, and definately not true to the original Donkey Kong games. For those of you who liked Banjo Kazooie, apparently you'll like this game although I never tried Kazooie on account that it looks so ugly. Anyhow, rent it first.