Donkey Kong Jr.
a game by | Nintendo |
Genre: | Platformer |
Platform: | NES |
Editor Rating: | 8/10, based on 1 review |
User Rating: | 8.4/10 - 11 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Donkey Kong Games, King Kong Games |
The original Donkey Kong game is possibly one of the most important games of all time, in every sense of the word. Not only is it one of the most memorable ones, but its influence also impacted the entire gaming industry. That legendary arcade machine released in 1981 changed the world forever. But now we'll talk about Donkey Kong Jr. a game released just one year after the original game came out. But is it as great as the original Donkey Kong? Well, let's check it out.
About the game
All things aside, there's a really special thing about Donkey Kong Jr. and that is that it's the first and only game in all these years, to feature Mario as the villain. Mario is usually the good guy, and it has been like that in pretty much every single game he's featured in. But we have to remember that in the first game, Mario is trying to save the princess from Donkey Kong, And after all that effort, he managed to get back at Donkey Kong, locking the gorilla in a cage. Now is up to Donkey Kong Jr. to go out and save his father.
Do keep in mind that Donkey Kong is actually the grandfather of the current Donkey Kong, so Donkey Kong Jr. is the actual Donkey Kong. But it’s best not to think about it.
Gameplay
The gameplay is a bit similar to the original Donkey Kong, but it's adapted to work in a more monkey way. While Mario had to get to the top of the levels in ramps and stairs while dodging barrels and fireballs Donkey Kong Jr. had to climb ropes and cables. However it turns out that Mario is an incredibly efficient villain, he even has different levels that change when you progress.
On some levels, you might find electric enemies or weird insects, and for some reason, Mario commands the birds here as dozens of flying birds will try to attack you. Luckily Donkey Kong Jr. is quite agile, so you can dodge real fast and keep on moving to save your dad.
As fresh as new
It was released just a year after the first Donkey Kong game, and even though it had most of the same characters, it was a completely new experience. It actually manages to be really original and fresh. Sure, maybe it didn’t have as big of an impact as the original Donkey Kong in a popular culture level, but it’s probably a better game.
The visuals are great, and the animations are much better than in the original Donkey Kong game. Donkey Kong Jr. even has facial expressions, and it makes it look just like a cartoon. Even though nowadays it might not seem like it, this game had great graphics and animations for its time.
And while it didn’t make it to be nearly as popular as the first Donkey Kong game, it’s actually a better game in many aspects. So if you enjoy classic, retro games, then this is one you really have to try out.
Pros
- Great visuals
- Fun gameplay
- Nice original character
- Great design
Cons
- It’s too short
- Sound could be better
Download Donkey Kong Jr.
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
- P-200, 32 MB RAM