Congo Bongo Longplay (C64) [1985 Version] [50 FPS]
16Developed by Sega and published by US Gold in 1985.
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Despite a release two years previously, someone evidently felt that the original release of Congo Bongo on the C64 didn't live up to expectations. In many ways they were right, so I suppose that this "deluxe" version of the game was made to try and right the wrongs of the original.
Unlike the 1983 version, this version contains all of the levels from the arcade version. The graphics have been completely redrawn and look very attractive when compared with it's predecessor and I particularly liked the incidental vulture perched high above the play-field in stage two. However, the main sprite looks less like the Great White Hunter and more like Eugene the Jeep.
The sound is still very basic, but is an improvement over the original.
The obvious question to answer is, is this the better version of the game? Having now played both I can say yes, this is the better version, although it still doesn't represent decent value for money. Sure, the game has more stages, but they can all be completed within a minute or two and there is virtually no replayability. The game's level counter ticks over and I think I saw the addition of one more snake on the first level, but that was the extent of the change.
If I'd bought this for £1.99 or £2.99 then I'd feel reasonably happy with the purchase, especially as there are plenty of games worse than this. However, Congo Bongo was never going appeal in the same way as Nintendo's Donkey Kong did and will forever be overshadowed by his fellow ape.
#retrogaming