Donkey Kong (game)

Donkey Kong was Nintendo's first big hit in America. It also marked the first appearances of Mario and Donkey Kong.

In this game, Donkey Kong had kidnapped Mario's girlfriend, Pauline. As Mario, your job was to get past Donkey Kong's obstacles to save Pauline.

When the game was first released, the hero was simply known as Jumpman and was a carpenter. Jumpman was later changed to Mario, supposedly because of a resemblance to Nintendo's landlord.

In addition to the arcade version, Donkey Kong was ported to the NES, Famicom Disk System, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, ColecoVision, and IntelliVision.

The game sold well and is considered a classic among classic game enthusiasts. It is one of four to the Nintendo Hall of Fame!

The original arcade version has four screen levels, but the NES version only has three (Screen Level 2 was cut from this version).

Official Story Quoted From Nintendo of America
"HELP! HELP!" cries the beautiful maiden as she is dragged up a labyrinth of structural beams by the ominous Donkey Kong. "SNORT. SNORT". Foreboding music warns of the eventual doom that awaits the poor girl, lest she somehow be miraculously rescued. "But, wait! Fear not, fair maiden. Little Mario, the carpenter, is in hot pursuit of you in this very moment".

Throwing fate to the wind, risking life and limb, or worse, little Mario tries desperately to climb the mighty fortress of steel, to save the lovely lady from the evil Mr. Donkey Kong. Little Mario must dodge all manner of obstacles - fireballs, plummeting beams and a barrage of exploding barrels fired at him by Donkey Kong. Amidst the beautiful girls' constant please for help, your challenge is to maneuver little Mario up the steel structure, while helping him to avoid the rapid-fire succession of hazards that come his way.

As little Mario gallantly battles his way up the barriers, he is taunted and teased by Donkey Kong, who brazenly struts back and forth, beating his chest in joyful exuberance at the prospect of having the beautiful girl all to himself. It is your job to get little Mario to the top. For it is there, and only there, that he can send the mighty Donkey Kong to his mortal doom. Leaving little Mario and the beautiful girl to live happily ever after. "SIGH. SIGH".



Interesting Facts

 * Donkey Kong was the second platformer ever made, Space Panic being the first in history.
 * Donkey Kong's original engine was actually a heavily edited engine of Space Panic.
 * Pauline, according to the manual for the game, had blond hair. However, in the newer Mario Vs. Donkey Kong games, Pauline has brown-maroon hair.