Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Peter Jackson’s King Kong on the Nintendo DS delivers a surprising amount of content packed into a handheld cartridge. The game splits neatly into two distinct gameplay styles: Jack Driscoll’s HUD-less first-person shooter missions and King Kong’s third-person brawling segments. When playing as Jack, you traverse Skull Island’s dense jungles and ominous caverns armed with a variety of period-appropriate firearms. Enemies range from swarms of giant insects to deadly dinosaurs, and the touch screen doubles as a trackball for aiming, giving you direct, tactile control over your shots.

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Switching to Kong’s levels transforms the experience into a robust action-puzzle hybrid. Kong can punch, grapple, and throw enemies with satisfying weight, while environmental obstacles—such as crumbling ruins and giant vines—require you to plan your path or manipulate objects in the world. Traversal is key: Kong can swing from place to place and scale walls, making exploration feel dynamic as you climb tall cliffs or bash through wooden barriers in your quest for Ann Darrow.

The balance between these two styles keeps the pacing tight and varied. Jack’s stealthy, ammo-conscious encounters contrast nicely with Kong’s all-out brawls. The DS’s dual screens are put to good use: your health, ammo count, and a quickmap appear below, freeing the top display for an uncluttered field of view. While occasional touchscreen sensitivity quirks can throw off your aim, the overall control scheme feels intuitive once you settle in.

Graphics

Graphically, the DS hardware sets clear limitations, but Endemol’s developers squeeze every bit of horsepower out of the little handheld. Environments are richly detailed for the platform, from lush, overgrown foliage to the dank, shadowy interiors of Skull Island’s underground tunnels. Texture work may appear blocky up close, but the art direction captures the moody, atmospheric look of the film’s jungle set pieces.

Character models for Jack and Kong are surprisingly well-realized. Jack’s ragged shirt and khaki gear are distinct enough to read on the top screen, and Kong’s massive frame is conveyed with chunky polygons that still swing and punch with convincing heft. Enemy designs—from ravenous crabs to massive raptors—are varied and recognizable, though they can turn into low-resolution sprites in the distance.

Special effects, such as muzzle flashes, explosions, and dust clouds from Kong’s stomps, use clever sprite layering to mask the DS’s polygon limits. Cutscenes are rendered in real-time engine footage, giving a slightly grainy but cohesive visual style that ties back to Peter Jackson’s cinematic aesthetic. For a portable title, the game looks impressively faithful to its Hollywood counterpart.

Story

The narrative sticks closely to the core of the 2005 film: Jack Driscoll follows filmmaker Carl Denham and actress Ann Darrow to Skull Island, expecting only to shoot a movie—and instead discovering a prehistoric nightmare. As Jack, you witness Denham’s single-minded pursuit of capturing Kong on camera, while Ann finds herself kidnapped by the mighty ape. The game’s plot beats mirror the movie’s structure, providing enough exposition to make each mission feel meaningful.

Dialogues and text interludes fill in character motivations without disrupting the pacing—a smart move on a handheld where long cutscenes can become tedious. While voice samples are sparse due to cartridge space, the written dialogue does a solid job of conveying tension and urgency. Key moments—like Ann’s rescue attempts or Kong’s rampages—are highlighted by quick narrated captions and short, punchy animations.

Although the DS version omits some side characters and subplots from the console releases, it retains the emotional core: the bond between Kong and Ann, Jack’s reluctant heroism, and Denham’s obsession. Fans of the movie will appreciate how the game underscores these relationships, even if some minor story threads are streamlined for portable play sessions.

Overall Experience

Peter Jackson’s King Kong on the DS delivers an ambitious adaptation of a blockbuster film, tailored for on-the-go action and exploration. Its dual gameplay styles ensure that neither mode overstays its welcome, and the touch-screen integration—while occasionally finicky—adds a fresh dimension to both shooting and puzzle-solving. The pacing moves briskly between tense stealth sections and exhilarating brawls, making it easy to jump in for a mission or two during short breaks.

Graphically and aurally, the game punches above its weight. Familiar jungle vistas, roaring dinosaur encounters, and the echoing drums of Skull Island’s unknown threats all come alive within the DS’s constraints. Although simplistic sound effects and minimal voice clips may leave some players craving more cinematic flair, the overall atmosphere remains engaging and true to the movie’s spirit.

For fans of Peter Jackson’s remake or anyone seeking a portable action-adventure with varied gameplay, this DS title is a solid pick. Its strengths lie in its faithful storytelling, inventive use of the touch screen, and surprisingly robust visuals. While it doesn’t quite match the scope of its console siblings, it stands on its own as a compelling handheld adventure through the perilous wilds of Skull Island.

Retro Replay Score

4.4/10