DK: King of Swing

“Clu Clu Land with gravity” is one of the most frustrating premises I can imagine, so it’s something of a miracle that DK: King of Swing attempts it and isn’t completely unplayable. It’s still not enjoyable, though. Its shoulder-button-only control scheme is much less intuitive than the developers must have believed, so most stages require a level of precision that’s simply not available to the player. Combined with an impotent attack maneuver, unpredictable physics, and obligatory vertical level design, the experience is akin to playing Getting Over It without the metatextual sense of humour. When the pace slows and allows for more meticulous climbing or the use of other features like machinery and projectiles, it’s considerably more satisfying, but these scenarios are only a fraction of the content. There’s a decent amount of content, too – most levels have unique gimmicks, and there’s even 4-player multiplayer – but it’s wasted on such a flawed concept.