

When the game gets harder, it signals to the player that the end is near and that the final scenario, the final encounter with Donkey Kong, is looming on the horizon.

The obstacles that the player must face seems challenging but the prospect of saving Pauline from the grasp of Donkey Kong continues to motivate the player to go on. The rising difficulty as the game goes on tends to make players experience a sense of urgency. This continues until the final level, where if completed successfully, will save Pauline and destroy Donkey Kong. Whenever you get up to the top of a level, Donkey Kong will snatch up Pauline and take her to the next level. Especially as the game progresses, when the obstacles get tougher and the enemies more frequent. The concept is simple enough, but it’s challenging. In the players way is a bunch of obstacles like barrels and fireballs that Jumpman has to jump over and dodge. The whole idea of the game is to get to the top of the system of ladders and platforms in order to reach Pauline and Donkey Kong. Now let’s look at the mechanics of the game. They will push in another quarter to have another go at saving Pauline and defeating Donkey Kong. The story works well in giving the players a reason to keep on coming back and never giving up, even if they get a Game Over screen. The player obviously sides with the interests of Jumpman and the player, just like Jumpman, wants to see Pauline back in the arms of her lover. Even though the story may be simple and primitive in nature, it gives the player a motivation to play the game, and to beat Donkey Kong. This may not be the most elaborate story that has ever graced the video game medium, but it does it’s job so wonderfully. Donkey Kong will throw everything (literally) in Jumpman’s path in order to stop him from getting to his prized possession, Pauline. Jumpman is then set on a quest to retrieve his girlfriend from the grasps of Donkey Kong, who has a peculiar love for barrels. Jumpman’s girlfriend Pauline (who some may identify as Princess Peach) is snatched by the evil gorilla Donkey Kong. But for our sake, we will stick with Jumpman, because that is what his name was in the game. Jumpman, as some people may know, later turned into the familiar plumber named Mario, one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. Donkey Kong is about a familiar plumber named Jumpman. However, to truly appreciate the game, it’s important to recognize that it used all four of these aspects in perfect harmony with each other.įirst we should start with the story that drives the game. Even some people could make an argument for the story.

Others may say that the technology at the time was great, or that the aesthetics of the game were unmatched for the time. Some could say that the game had great mechanics that kept gamers playing, even after the Game Over screen. It should also be noted that in many conversions of the original coin-op game for early 1980's consoles and computer-systems, Donkey Kong only used two or three of the original levels, with the cement factory most often omitted.When Donkey Kong first came out in arcades back in the early 80’s, it made a huge impact on players everywhere for many reasons. Additionally, Mario can also find Pauline's hat, purse and umbrella for additional bonus points.ĭonkey Kong is also notable for being one of the first complete narratives in video game form, told through simplistic cut scenes that advance the story. Although not as powerful as in other future games, Mario can find a hammer which allows him to destroy the barrels and fireballs for a limited amount of time. From there, the levels start over at a higher difficulty.Īlong the way, Mario must dodge a constant stream of barrels, "living" fireballs, and spring-weights.

Once the rivets are removed from the final level, Donkey Kong falls, and the two lovers are reunited. Released in the arcades in 1981, Donkey Kong was not only Nintendo's first real smash hit for the company, but marked the introduction for two of their most popular mascots: Mario (originally "Jumpman") and Donkey Kong.ĭonkey Kong is a platform-action game that has Mario scale four different industrial themed levels (construction zone, cement factory, an elevator-themed level, and removing rivets from girders) in an attempt to save the damsel in distress, Pauline, from the big ape before the timer runs out.
#FINAL LEVEL OF DONKEYKONG PC#
Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Arcade, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit, Coleco Adam, ColecoVision, Dedicated handheld, Game Boy Advance, Intellivision, MSX, NES, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PC Booter, TI-99/4A, VIC-20, Wii, Wii U, ZX Spectrum
