Donkey Kong

"A HORRIBLE Port of a Great Game"

WARNING: This game is old. If you are expecting a modern-day game with 3D graphics, may I suggest that you look to another platform. I am rating this game based on nostalgia factor, as well as its level of fun today.

And So It Starts...

Nintendo's first released arcade game, Donkey Kong was the template for many arcade games to come. Miyamoto's first venture into video games, he introduced Mario (so named after his resemblance to a janitor) who is still going strong 20+ years later.

You play as Mario, who is trying to free his girlfriend from the clutches of "Donkey Kong", a large barrel-throwing gorilla. From the first girder-based level, this game has a fun feeling of action not present in many of its contemporaries.

Control

The play control is where this game really falls short. Having played this game in the arcade and other consoles (e.g. Colecovision, NES), this is the worst port. The character on screen is slow to react to the movement of the disc, and pressing diagonally (4pm or 2pm) will sometimes register as horizontal movement, sometimes it will not.

The jump button does not register in a timely manner, if it registers at all. More often than not, the jump response is ill-timed and you die. I first thought it was my Intellivision, but I tried it on a friend's and had the same problem. I have since purchased a new console and a different cartridge, and have continually had the same problem. It makes the game virtually unplayable, except for masochists.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics are on par with other games of this era, as is the sound. What is interesting is how they are used to tell the "story" (something lacking in other games). The gorilla and "girlfriend" are very articulated compared to other pixelated games. It is interesting to hear Miyamoto talk about how Mario has a mustache because it was one of the only ways to articulate a mouth in so few pixels!

Will This Gather Dust?

If I weren't a collector, I would probably have sold this game at a yard sale by now. I am still tempted to throw it away because of its complete lack of playability.

Overall Recommendation:
Don't buy this game ever.

Reviewer's Score: 1/10, Originally Posted: 04/18/05