Quite honestly, I disliked it. I hated most of the songs, I thought the drums were too small, and for whatever reason, I didn’t like the game mechanics, although I hardly remember what they are anymore.

My European friends enjoyed the game and I was surprised that it didn’t find a bigger audience. I didn’t expect to be a big hit, but I thought it would have a bigger reaction from the more hardcore Nintendo fanbase.

I grant you it was better than Samba de Amigo.

Donkey Konga was a fun music game with some cool remixes of Nintendo themes, classical music, and modern stuff. I suppose it’s like Beatmania or (whatever it was you mentioned) where you could Freestyle and hear the music, unlike Guitar Hero where missed notes caused plunks and wails. With Donkey Konga, you hear the drums even when you’re off, and even when there’s no cue to drum. (Donkey Konga 2 even had a Freestyle Mode for the hell of it). You could even purchase different sets to make your drums sound different. For example, you could get a Big Band set, so your drums would sound like different instruments, or a Zelda set, where they’d make Zelda sound effects.

Plus, there was more sensitivity then just hit or miss. Each beat was recorded as either, Miss, Bad, Good, or Perfect. Or something like that. That’s one thing that disappointed me about Guitar Hero, having played Donkey Konga first. It was hit or miss.

Then there was Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. This was a sidescrolling Donkey Kong game that used the Bongo Controller. You moved left by drumming the left drum, right by right, jumping by both, and attacked by clapping. My God, that game was fun. Just couldn’t be played when anybody in the house is trying to sleep.

Konami is seeking monetary compensation, as well as a court order prohibiting Harmonix from continuing to sell the allegedly infringing products. Harmonix is reportedly extremely surprised by Konami’s actions and is preparing itself to defend the claim.