# The Mash Up I Never Expected – Memory Card #6 I "beat" *Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat* last night. Of course, the run I win was the run I decreed would be my last "bongo attempt." The lack of precision was getting me in those last two levels of the "J" barrel (if you know, you know). All of the sudden a *moon* barrel appears with a single boss fight? A boss fight, mind you, that is a more traditional DK platformer boss fight? It felt so unceremonious, which was odd, especially given the fact the title has many in-game ceremonies. Barrel "B" pops up after the credits and I jumped in this morning to check it out. Then I looked up the requirements for the "true" ending and knew my time with the bongos had come to an end. It'd require 1,200+ banana runs and I don't think I have the finesse or patience to master the beat. I watched some speedruns and marveled at the absurd fluidity of movement you can create in this game. It's quite [stunning](https://youtube.com/watch?v=TZ-_EImK2Es&t=88). A single sentence review/pitch might be > "*Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat* is the mash up of *Sonic* and *Tony Hawk Pro Skater* controlled by bongos I never anticipated" If you want to see my fuller notes and thoughts on the game, you can [check them out](https://maxfrequency.net/game-notes/dk-jungle-beat). I'll be starting *Galaxy* next and I am *excited*. I listened to the [soundtrack](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoqOgJJaN57YiiY-JrdSvBVCprMPednXl) on the way to pick up my kid from school yesterday. *chef's kiss* I've also been watching old *Galaxy*-focused videos. Needless to say, the hype train (space ship?) is coming in hot. It has been a decade since I last played. 🫠 - [Super Mario Galaxy (dunkview)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=eak2dTkR3Ck) by videogamedunkey - [Super Mario Galaxy - An Impossible Masterpiece](https://youtube.com/watch?v=9hAJVq0vCjY) by Liam Triforce - [Super Mario Galaxy | Ten Years of Bliss](https://youtube.com/watch?v=zpjnjKbCcg0) by Scott the Woz - [Is Mario Galaxy a Good Mario Game?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=IxCyq4c07hI) by Barry Kramer I had a few more bits I wanted to write about in this letter (new essay ideas, questions for this one), but I need to go cook some pork tacos for dinner. I'll save all that for the next one. > [!email]+ Memory Card Newsletter > This letter is one block from the newsletter **[Memory Card](https://buttondown.com/MaxFrequency)** by [Max Roberts](https://www.maxfrequency.net/about). Thoughts? Send *me* an email at [email protected]. > > Max is the writer and producer behind [Max Frequency](https://www.maxfrequency.net), a place where he cultivates and curates curiosity—both for himself and for others—by delighting in the details and growing greatness from small beginnings. > > He's written a [[Chasing the Stick - The History of Naughty Dog during the PS4 Era|rich history and dive on the making of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II]], celebrated the [[MFP23 - “A Passion for Smash” – Celebrating 15 Years of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with Peter Spezia|15th anniversary of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with the voice behind its hype]], and examined how [Zelda "stole" Fortnite's best mechanic](https://youtu.be/kc2l_9Fdpek). > > **Memory Card** is a real-ish time, raw, drip feed newsletter of his creative process for telling these stories. It’s *how* The Thing™ gets made. You can sign up below. (Look down) > > It's all powered by [Max Frequency](https://www.maxfrequency.net) and [patrons](https://www.patreon.com/maxfrequency). > > Wanna see The Thing™? [Check it out on YouTube](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxCxW3Sbhy5ZzVOkvmfo4Rme41g6KzJOk). Read it on [The Blog](https://www.maxfrequency.net). > <iframe scrolling="no" style="width:100%!important;height:220px;border:1px #ccc solid !important" src="https://buttondown.com/MaxFrequency?as_embed=true"></iframe>