Donkey Kong

"Bring back some memories with this game."

The game Donkey Kong is one of the most known video games in history. It’s right up there with pong and Space Invaders. It consisted of 4 levels, which keep going on and on forever. However, in the 1994 release for the GameBoy, Nintendo decided to give you more than one level, added more story and the chase of Donkey Kong and Mario’s love interest, Pauline. I fact, the new levels are almost completely different from the original levels, except for the final level in each stage. By doing this, and being one of the first game to work on Super GameBoy (a thing that make you able to play GB games on your SNES) It became a part of Nintendo’s Million Sellers. The game was simple controls, good graphics for the time, and great playability.

You are Mario, trying to get your girlfriend Pauline away from the clutches of Donkey Kong, the biggest, badest ape on the planet. The only way to get threw a level is by getting close enough to him to make him move; getting rid of his supports so he will be stunned; and the new way, you must find the key that unlocks the only door in the level. DK wiggled his pale behind threw that door and locked it, and they hey is usually far away from the door. You can use ladders, instant bridges and ladders (they have a item that creates them) or clothes lines, which can send you flying into orbit. You can also jump, do a hand stand, and use THE HAMMER, which is a force to be reckoned with. Any time you hit someone with it, they will perish into a poof of smoke. However, watch out when you use it. You cannot climb with it, and you may get yourself into a sticky situation when it runs out. This game is one of the more original games for the GB, having parts adventure/puzzle elements in each level.

Graphics: 8
These are very clear and defined on the GB, and the sprites don’t flicker at all. They look as good as its arcade counterpart, which is great because the arcade DK looked pretty dang good. If you play the first levels, it seems like you are playing in an arcade without color. The levels are full of detail and look nice in front of the playing part. The enemies could of used some work though, they do not look as good as Mario or the backgrounds. They also fit it that when Mario climbs a ladder, it looks like he is really holding onto it. It must of took a lot of time do get the ladder just right. The frame rate is steady, no flicker at all. Anyway, the graphics were pretty good for the time, but with the newer GB games that came out, they might look out dated.

Gameplay: 9
The game pulls off each genre flawlessly. The part of action/adventure and puzzle elements brought together work well together. The way that you solve the main puzzle level are quite simple in theory: You must find the big key inside the level, and unlock the door that DK and Pauline went threw. However, it becomes so hard it could make your head spin. The higher levels took me some time to figure out, mostly which using your enemies (which you were able to jump on and ride) to get to the key which keeping the ladder open so you do not die when falling. This game could be trail and error with the aspects of trying to get the key back to the door. Once I was stuck for 2 hours trying to figure out this puzzle, which I have beaten before in my previous game. The gameplay isn’t all as good as I have said though. I Do have some complaints about the falling system. In DK, you can fall for a certain amount of meters before you die form the fall. Some time you will fall to the ground and roll, coming out find, while sometimes you would be stunned, leaving you open for attack. I find that this system does not work well. The line of error can easily be stepped over, while standing over one jump I got stunned while I tried it a 2nd time and I got killed. Make sure that you only try to jump when you are sure that you would make it. The extra life game is daunting when you play it. The way to get it is you need to get those 3 items in the level. Then, it sends you to a slot machine or circle. This is a horrible way to get lives because it always seems to stop at something good and then move on more time so you get jack. Otherwise, great gameplay, bringing back an old school feeling.

Sound: 6
The sound sounds exactly like the arcade version, but, you know that arcade sound wasn’t that good in the early 80s. In fact, it was kind of like a grinding of two rust encrusted lead pipes. So the sound is not that good, and it could be called close to normal GB sound, but it isn’t, and I will shut the door on the sound and play this game with no sound at all.

Fun Factor: 8
If you play this game for the first time, you would think to yourself, wow, it’s like playing the arcade game in your hand! However, once you get about an hour into it, you would think; This is one imaginative and new game! That what was I was thinking. Also because this was my 2nd Gameboy game ever and I was getting tired of Dr. Mario. If you would like a nice platformer, Donkey Kong is for you. It should provide you with enough enjoyment to last you until you go back to playing Golden Sun.

Buy or Rent?
I would get the game, it would only be like 50 cents American. You could also try to find a Super Gameboy and play it on your SNES, and that would bring some old Nintendo memories into your heart.

Graphics: 8
Gameplay: 9
Sound: 6
Fun Factor: 8

Reviewer’s Score: 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/26/02, Updated 05/26/02