Donkey Kong (Game Boy)

Donkey Kong (also known as Game Boy Donkey Kong in the game) is a Game Boy game released in 1994. The game is partly a remake of the original Donkey Kong arcade game, and the first four stages of this game are the same as the stages found in the arcade game. In addition, however, Donkey Kong features another 97 stages for the player to beat, making it more than an enhanced remake of the original game. Donkey Kong also was the first game in the Mario series to support colored graphics when played on the Super Game Boy peripheal of the Super Nintendo.

Story
The player plays as Mario, who is a construction worker instead of a plumber in this game. The giant ape Donkey Kong kidnaps Mario's girlfriend Pauline, and carries her of to a construction site. Mario follows him up to the highest point and makes Donkey Kong fall of the platforms by pulling out the rivets on a height of 100m. But Donkey Kong stands up again, takes Pauline and escapes with her into Big-City. Mario pursuits the two.

What follows is a chase throughout many different locations. Mario fights and defeats Donkey Kong at the end of each world, but Donkey Kong always stands up again and takes Pauline to the next location. Donkey Kong is aided by many of his friends as well as his son Donkey Kong Jr. who try to hinder Mario's progress. In the end, Donkey Kong escapes to the Tower in Rocky-Valley, where he and Mario have a confrontation on the top. After being defeated for the first time, Donkey Kong falls off the tower, but he then takes many Super Mushrooms to gain a giant size. Mario faces the Giant Donkey Kong in the final battle. After the ape's final defeat, Mario and Pauline are reunited and the credits roll. The ending of the game shows Mario, Pauline, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. posing in front of Rocky-Valley for a holiday photo.

Gameplay
The game starts out with four relatively simple levels that Mario must scale in order to reach Pauline. These four levels are identical to the original Donkey Kong. After reaching the top of the structure, Donkey Kong flees with Pauline into the city beyond, and the next few stages consist of puzzle levels as well as more showdowns with Donkey Kong.

Each stage has a varying amount of puzzle levels in which Mario needs to work against time to bring a key to a door to unlock it, thus advancing to the next level. The puzzles consist of building platforms and ladders and using them before they disappear, flipping switches, jumping on moving platforms, avoiding enemies and utilizing conveyor belts. Sometimes, Donkey Kong Jr. will get in Mario's way by flipping switches or throwing poisonous mushrooms at him to shrink him. There are also three items left behind by Pauline in each level (a hat, an umbrella and a handbag); picking all three up before finishing the level will unlock a bonus stage in which the player can pick up extra lives.

As well as the puzzle levels, each stage has at least two battles with Donkey Kong; one takes place part-way through the stage, and involves Mario reaching Pauline while avoiding the debris falling on him as Donkey Kong causes an impact. The second takes place at the end of each stage, and involves avoiding the barrels that Donkey Kong throws at Mario, picking them up and throwing them back at him.

In the final 'Tower' stage, each level consists of chasing Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. to the top of the tower, avoiding their attacks, eventually trapping Junior in a cage, and defeating a giant Donkey Kong in the final battle.

Enemies
Donkey Kong features the enemies from the original arcade game Donkey Kong and many individual enemies of its own that are only found in this game. It does not feature any enemies from the Super Mario Bros. series. Many enemies in the game have a different appearance, but the exact same behaviour. The appearance usually depends on the current world.

Objects and Obstacles
(50m) (75m)
 * Ladder
 * Oil Drum
 * Barrel
 * Cement Pie
 * Conveyor belts
 * expandable ladders
 * Springs
 * Elevators

World 1
(1-1) (1-2) (1-3)
 * Locked Door
 * Rope
 * Moving platform

World 5

 * Cannon

References to Other Games

 * Donkey Kong: All four stages from the original Donkey Kong, as well as the hammer, and Pauline's dropped items appear in the game.
 * Donkey Kong Jr.: The character, as well as many enemies and gameplay elements from the game itself, were featured in the game.
 * Super Mario Bros.: The Super Mushrooms were featured in the game, and Donkey Kong used several of them to turn into a giant during the final battle. Also, during the ending, there was a Warp Pipe, as well as three ? Blocks. Additionally, the 1-Up Mushroom sound effects were also included in the game.
 * Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels: Poison Mushrooms were featured in the game.
 * Super Mario Bros. 2: The ability to pick up and throw items, as well as using keys to open doors, originated from this game.

Influence on Later Games
Ten years later, a successor to Donkey Kong '94, called Mario vs Donkey Kong was released. It reused many gameplay elements from its predecessor, such as:
 * The basic moveset, such as the ability to use handstands, kick items, etc.
 * Having to find keys to open locked doors.
 * Many enemies from Doney Kong '94 made a return.
 * The concept of collecting three certain items to access a bonus stage.
 * Boss battles against Donkey Kong at the end of each world.
 * Jungle stages, which included many Donkey Kong Jr.-esque elements.

Trivia

 * This is the first title in the extended Mario series to have Super Game Boy compatibility, followed by the Donkey Kong Land series, as well as Wario Land 2.
 * All the screenshots below feature the game on the Super Game Boy, and its exclusive border.