Donkey Kong 3
It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: Identify differences between the Japanese and international arcade versions.
- This article is about the arcade version of Donkey Kong 3. For the Game & Watch game based on it, see Donkey Kong 3 (Game & Watch). For the microgame from WarioWare: Twisted!, see Donkey Kong 3 (WarioWare: Twisted!). For the microgame from WarioWare: Touched!, see Donkey Kong 3 (WarioWare: Touched!).
- "DK3" redirects here. For information about the third installment in the "Donkey Konga" series, see Donkey Konga 3: Tabehōdai! Haru Mogitate 50 Kyoku. For the microgame from WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase, see DK 3.
| Donkey Kong 3 | |
|---|---|
 Art of the arcade cabinet For alternate box art, see the game's gallery. | |
| Developer | Nintendo Research & Development 1 |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Release date | Arcade: October 21, 1983[1]  November 1983  1983 Famicom/NES: July 4, 1984 June 1986 September 15, 1987 e-Reader: April 21, 2003 Virtual Console (Wii): July 14, 2008 July 23, 2008 January 9, 2009  January 9, 2009 Virtual Console (Nintendo 3DS): March 27, 2013 December 5, 2013 December 12, 2013 December 12, 2013  July 6, 2016 Virtual Console (Wii U): September 26, 2013 October 24, 2013 October 24, 2013 November 6, 2013 Nintendo Switch (Arcade Archives): April 5, 2019 April 5, 2019 April 5, 2019 April 5, 2019 Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online: July 17, 2019 July 17, 2019[2] July 17, 2019 July 17, 2019  July 17, 2019 July 17, 2019 |
| Language(s) | English (United States) |
| Genre | Retro/Platform Fixed Shooter |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players, alternating turns |
| Cabinet | Upright and cocktail |
| Monitor | Raster, standard resolution |
| Input | Arcade: Joystick NES:
Wii:  Wii Remote (Horizontal)Wii U: Wii Remote (Horizontal)Nintendo Switch: Nintendo 3DS:
|
Donkey Kong 3 is the third game in the Donkey Kong arcade series. Unlike its predecessors, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., it does not feature Mario and instead stars Stanley, having been designed with the Game & Watch game Greenhouse in mind.[3] The game's approach is closer to a shoot 'em up rather than a platformer, further distinguishing it from the previous Donkey Kong games.
Hudson Soft developed a semi-sequel to Donkey Kong 3, titled Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū, featuring new levels and gameplay. Donkey Kong 3 was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System under the Arcade Classics Series of games, came out for the e-Reader as part of Series Three, along with seeing a Virtual Console release for the Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U. The Japanese and international arcade versions were released under Hamster Corporation's Arcade Archives brand on the Nintendo Switch's eShop on April 5, 2019.[4] In addition, an emulation of the NES port exists as an obtainable item in Animal Crossing.
Story[edit]
Donkey Kong breaks into Stanley's greenhouse and goes to hang in the rafters where he stirs up nests of bugs, which will destroy Stanley's flowers in revenge. Armed with a Sprayer, Stanley must destroy the bees and chase Donkey Kong away before he eats all five of his flowers. If Stanley is defeated, the insects immediately eat him, though this is removed in the NES port.
Gameplay[edit]
The game is very simplistic, requiring the player to gather points as the object rather than have any specific long-term goal in mind. There are three screens per level, and once the player completes all three, they return to the first. Throughout the screens are scattered various enemies: Buzzbees, Creepies, Super Bees, Vine Eaters, Beespies which shatter into stingers when destroyed, Attackers, Kabutomushi, and Butterflies. Buzzbees and Butterflies attempt to steal Stanley's flowers, and must be destroyed before reaching the plants. Donkey Kong himself hangs from two vines at the top of the screen. Spraying him drives him upwards and eventually off the screen to win. In the arcade version, defeating him in the yellow greenhouse causes his head to be pushed into a beehive. Stanley automatically moves out of his way as Donkey Kong falls, where the beehive splits in half. He becomes stunned, and Stanley does a victory dance.[5] In the NES version, the beehive falls on his head, but the rest of the cutscene is absent.[6]
The gray greenhouse never appears in the first round. The yellow greenhouse directly follows the blue greenhouse, but the gray greenhouse is included in all rounds following the first. The blue greenhouse is repeated from the 159th screen to the 255th screen. The game then loops back to the first round which skips the gray greenhouse.
In some stages, a Super Sprayer can be found, attached to the vines Donkey Kong hangs by. When he is pushed up to its levels, it falls, allowing Stanley to equip it for a limited time. It turns his insecticide yellow and it becomes more powerful, even being able to defeat Creepies.
Characters[edit]
| Character | Name | Information |
|---|---|---|
 
|
Stanley | The player character, who must use his spray to get rid of Donkey Kong and the insect pests. With the Super Sprayer, he gets more power. |
|
Donkey Kong | The troublesome gorilla. Defeating him is the main objective. |
Enemies and obstacles[edit]
| Enemy | Name | Debut | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Beehive | Round 1 | The source of all the troublesome insects, Donkey Kong's head must be knocked inside one to stop them. |
|
Coconut | Round 1 | Hard fruit thrown by Donkey Kong. |
 
|
Buzzbee | Round 1 | The most basic insect enemies, which toss spears and try to steal the flowers. After round 12 (9 on NES), their appearance changes. |
 
|
Creepy | Round 1 | Inchworms that crawl along vines. Yellow ones go after flowers, but gray ones simply block shots. |
|
Super Bee | Round 1 | Speedy, aggressive bees that are the result of a Buzzbee grabbing a flower. They are absent in the NES version. |
|
Vine Eater | Round 1 | Strange insects that bite through Donkey Kong's vines if Stanley takes too long. They are absent in the NES version. |
 
|
Beespy | Round 3 | Buzzbee queens that take two hits to defeat and are sometimes escorted by standard Buzzbees. Upon defeat, four spears rain forth. |
|
Attacker | Round 6 | Thin blue bees that charge at Stanley horizontally. |
|
Kabutomushi | Round 18 Round 12 (NES) |
Rhinoceros beetles that act as quicker Attackers. |
|
Butterfly | Round 24 Round 15 (NES) |
Erratic flyers that go after both Stanley and the flowers. |
Greenhouses[edit]
Staff[edit]
- Main article: List of Donkey Kong 3 staff
Reception[edit]
| Reviews | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release | Reviewer, Publication | Score | Comment |
| Wii | Lucas M. Thomas, IGN | 6/10 | "Fans of arcade shooters like Galaga should be the first to consider the 500 Wii Point investment that it would take to download Donkey Kong 3, as, though it's part of the original DK series, it plays more similarly to the alien-invading blaster designs of the early '80s. This VC download is also a more compelling digital purchase than the Virtual Console versions of the first Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., as well, because it's a more replayable design and didn't lose any content in its transition from the arcade to the NES." |
| Wii | Pedro Hernandez, Nintendo World Report | N/A | "If you are able to look past the different style of gameplay and strip yourself of the notion that you are playing a "Donkey Kong" game, Donkey Kong 3 is a really fun fast-paced game that provides a nice breath of fresh air when it comes to classic gaming. But those who have been raised on the idea that Donkey Kong doesn't deviate from its first iconic arcade release will see this as being a fun but brief diversion. That's why this is a release best recommended for fans that enjoyed the game during its initial release on the arcade and NES and who are able to enjoy it without letting the different game style be a bother." |
| Nintendo 3DS | Morgan Sleeper, Nintendo Life | 6/10 | "It's not a timeless classic like the original Donkey Kong, but the great ape's third outing still has plenty to recommend for retro fans. It's very simple fun, with a unique shooter/platformer gameplay mix that feels different from any other DK to date, and quick play sessions that encourage high-score chasing and honing your skills. It's dated and silly short by modern standards, but for old-school arcade fans not bugged by a challenge - and anyone looking to get in on the ground floor with a forgotten Nintendo character before the inevitable Year of Stanley - Donkey Kong 3 is worth a shake." |
Sales[edit]
According to The Ultimate History of Video Games, the arcade version of Donkey Kong 3 moved 5,000 units in North America, representing a steep decline from the previous installments (which sold 60,000 and 30,000 unit respectively, according to the same book).[7] Unlike earlier titles, Donkey Kong 3 never had dedicated cabinets, but was sold only as Nintendo-Pak conversion kits to Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Popeye cabinets. This foreshadowed the VS. System, the Nintendo PlayChoice-10, and the Nintendo Super System.
Nintendo eShop description[edit]
Based on the third game in the enormously popular arcade series, Donkey Kong 3 introduces an exterminator named Stanley as he desperately tries to protect the flowers in his greenhouse from Donkey Kong.
Armed only with a can of bug spray, Stanley must force Donkey Kong higher and higher into the greenhouse rafters until Donkey Kong is off the screen and the next stage is reached. But not surprisingly, Donkey Kong isn’t going to move without a fight, so he sends wave after wave of bugs, bees, and other creatures toward Stanley.
Not only must Stanley repel the insects in order to save the flowers, but he’ll have to keep an eye out for projectiles thrown by Donkey Kong himself. If Stanley is good enough, he’ll be able to grab a can of more powerful bug spray and really get Donkey Kong moving.
It all adds up to frantic fun that anyone can enjoy!
Gallery[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Donkey Kong 3.
Group art
Media[edit]
Arcade[edit]
 Game Start Theme | File info 0:04 |
| Blue and Gray Greenhouse Theme | File info 0:26 |
| Blue and Gray Greenhouse Clear Theme | File info 0:04 |
| Yellow Greenhouse Theme | File info 0:12 |
| Yellow Greenhouse Clear Theme | File info 0:05 |
| Super Sprayer Theme | File info 0:26 |
| Game Over Theme | File info 0:02 |
Famicom/NES[edit]
| Title Theme | File info 0:05 |
References in later games[edit]
- WarioWare: Twisted!: The microgame Donkey Kong 3 is based on this game.
- WarioWare: Touched!: The microgame Donkey Kong 3 is based on this game.
- NES Remix: Several challenges are based on this game.
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: A recreation of the blue greenhouse appears in the background of Fruity Factory.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドンキーコング3 Donkī Kongu Surī |
Donkey Kong 3 |
Trivia[edit]
- The back of the United States NES boxart for the game has two misspelled words back-to-back, saying "Donkey Kong has plenty og cocnuts to hurl at you."
- The background music for the blue and gray greenhouses comes from "Flight of the Bumblebee."
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Game Machine. November 15, 1983 issue. Page 22.
- ^ Wrecking Crew and Donkey Kong 3 for Nintendo Switch
- ^ An interview with Shigeru Miyamoto from The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, transcribed on ZeldaDungeon As for the Donkey Kong 3, because the game was designed with another game called "Green House" for Game & Watch (Nintendo's early 80s handheld game series) in mind, we decided not to use Mario.
- ^ Brian. (April 2, 2019). Arcade Archives Donkey Kong 3 coming to Switch this week. Nintendo Everything. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ Gameplay of the arcade version.
- ^ Gameplay of the NES version
- ^ The Ultimate History of Video Games: from Pong to Pokémon and beyond...the story behind the craze that touched our lives and changed the world. October 2, 2001. Page 352.
| Donkey Kong 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong • Stanley | |
| Enemies | Buzzbee • Creepy • Super Bee* • Vine Eater* • Beespy • Attacker • Kabutomushi • Butterfly | |
| Greenhouses | Blue • Gray • Yellow | |
| Other | Gallery • Staff | |
| *Only appears in the arcade version of the game | ||
