Donkey Kong
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Critic Reviews 69% add missing review
Video Game Critic, The (A-) (91%)
Perhaps I've just become a Donkey Kong whiz over the years, but I was able to clear the first few sets of screens without much trouble. This NES translation has it quirks but ultimately succeeds in bringing the arcade experience home.
Jul 26th, 2004 · NES · read reviewRetro Game Reviews ( ) (90%)
Donkey Kong is a superb port of the Arcade classic and it's the sort of game you can play for hours due to the solid core mechanics. It's possibly the best home version out there and just tops the excellent port on the Amstrad CPC (1986) which is also missing the Conveyor Belt stage.
Nov 23rd, 2015 · NES · read reviewTilt (16 out of 20) (80%)
Techniquement cette cartouche est irréprochable. Les dessins s'avÚrent fort bien réalisés et d'une fidélité à toute épreuve. L'animation, modÚle de douceur et de précision, n'est jamais prise en défaut et l'écran ne présente pas de problÚmes de scintillement dûs, par exemple, à la présence de trop nombreux objets en mouvement. Bref, du grand art !
Dec 1987 · NES · read review
NES Archives (B) (75%)
This one started it all for Nintendo so if you are a big Nintendo fan then this game is a must have. Also if you like early games or are curious about early video games then you should pick it up. Of course, you might as well just pick up Donkey Kong Classics, which contains Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong, Jr. in one Game Pak.
Nov 4th, 2007 · NES · read reviewPixel-Heroes.de (7 out of 10) (70%)
Donkey Kong ist, auch wenn auf jedem System etwas anders, immer gleichwertig gut und sollte jedem Retrospieler bekannt sein.
Mar 2004 · NES · read reviewJeuxvideo.com (14 out of 20) (70%)
Donkey Kong ralliera tous les fans d'arcade, qui pourront avoir le plaisir d'une borne Ă domicile sans dĂ©penser une fortune. Les joueurs occasionnels ou Ă la recherche de quelque chose avec un minimum de profondeur devront l'Ă©viter, sous peine d'ĂȘtre déçus.
Jun 16th, 2011 · NES · read reviewUltimate Nintendo: Guide to the NES Library ( ) (70%)
Itâs a competent port of a revolutionary game that unfortunately does not include one of the arcade levels (cement factory), which hurts this otherwise nice title a bit.
2016 · NESQuesticle.net (B-) (67%)
Iâm grateful for the existence of Donkey Kong even if I donât feel that it has aged well. It put Nintendo on the map, and without Nintendo, many of my and millions of othersâ greatest gaming memories would not have been created. For that, I can only give the maddest of props.
Oct 2011 · NES · read reviewVideo Game Den ( ) (60%)
So here you have it, Donkey Kong is definitively a highly-regarded arcade classic (praise that it rightfully deserves), and this port is incredibly faithful to the original game (despite the missing screen). But I feel that it just doesn't really hold up when placed against the rest of the Famicom library.
Sep 19th, 2012 · NES · read reviewNintendo Land (60 out of 100) (60%)
The limited numbers of courses (3) (The arcade version had 4) makes this a dull game that you will get tired of after only a few days. One good thing is that, once you have completed the 3 courses, the game goes back to course number 1 but now it is in game B, which means that the game is more difficult. A breakthrough in itÂŽs day but not so good anymore. For die hard Mario fans only.
2003 · NES · read reviewGĂ©nĂ©ration 4 (58 out of 100) (58%)
Les graphismes sont similaires Ă l'arcade, qui date tout de mĂȘme de 1982. Ce n'est donc pas vraiment une rĂ©fĂ©rence. DONKEY KONG se rĂ©vĂšle assez rĂ©pĂ©titif mais il est distrayant. Il reprĂ©sente une vĂ©ritable piĂšce de musĂ©e. Je le conseille plus particuliĂšrement aux jeunes enfants, ou aux inconditionnels de la sĂ©rie.
1987 · NES · read review.jpg){kind=link}
1UP! (40 out of 100) (40%)
Au final, Donkey Kong est un bon p'tit jeu compte tenu de son grand ùge mais qui passe quasiment inaperçu dans la riche logithÚque de la NES, au milieu des centaines de jeux plus longs, plus riches et plus intéressants. Et forcément, la note s'en ressent. Toutefois, pour les nostalgiques ou les plus jeunes désireux de découvrir les racines de leur passion, Donkey Kong est un incontournable, une pierre angulaire de l'histoire des jeux vidéo qui permet de mieux en comprendre l'évolution.
Dec 15th, 2001 · NES · read reviewIf you really like Donkey Kong, this doesnât cut it. If you donât⊠I mean, this version is quite easy? And you know what, I was surprised by how well it played despite being cut down. Itâs fine. I played it.
Jun 2nd, 2021 · NES · read reviewPlayer Reviews
One of the first platform games out there, still popular to this day
The Good
My first glimpse of Donkey Kong was playing it on a miniature arcade machine that you placed on the kitchen table. Its design mimicked that of the original coin-op, but the graphics and sound were inferior, with simple beeps and tiny sprites. It was the sort of mini arcade that you could take to the bathroom with you and have a game or two while you were doing your business, but I declined to do this as the smell would make its way inside the machine.
The game was released at a time when shoot-em-ups were popular in the arcades. But what makes Donkey Kong stand out from the others is that it is considered one of the first platform games. It was also a first for Shigeru Miyamoto, who went on create the legendary Super Mario series. Donkey Kong was quite popular that the game was ported to virtually every machine that existed at the time, with the NES being the first to get a version.
This version of the game is pretty much faithful to the arcade game. Most of the animations are there, and the sounand music is the same (except for that musical piece on the menu screen). While it's easy to criticize the NES version for lacking several features, such as the âHow High Can You Get?â screen and the cement factory, you have to keep in mind that there is limited storage space on the cartridges the games are d stored on. (I believe that NES cartridges only hold 4MB, while the coin-op holds much more than that.)
Donkey Kong was one of the first games where it is easy to get a really high score that no one can achieve, if you know the strategy to beat the more difficult levels later on. Although you get points by rescuing your girlfriend from the big ape, there are a lot more bonus points to be gained by getting her belongings and smashing obstacles with a hammer. The more levels you advance, the higher these items are. So far, the furthest I got was level three.
The Bad
I can't think of anything bad about the game.
The Bottom Line
Donkey Kong is considered one of the first platform games, and the NES received one of the first ports. Aside from a few differences, it is very much faithful to the original coin-op in terms of graphics and sound. The game can be used to top your previous high score every time, or it's good to have a blast at it after you get home from work.
by Katakis | ă«ăżăăč (43057) on Jul 8th, 2017 · NES
The Good
The Famicom version is probably the best portage of the arcade game. The graphics and musics are pretty similar to the original and it is really funny to play, especially if you tried the Atari 2600 and Intellivision versions. If you always use your 8-bit console, or if you are a collector, this is definitely the cartridge you need.
The Bad
The game contains only three levels instead of five.
The Bottom Line
This is the adaptation of the arcade game Donkey Kong Super Famicom. A very fun and original game, but unfortunately incomplete.
by Wave Magatama (3) on Apr 17th, 2016 · NES
Contributors to this Entry
Critic reviews added by Big John WV, Alsy, RhYnoECfnW, Riemann80, Alaka, Patrick Bregger, Lampbane.