C&VG


Donkey Kong
By Ocean
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #65

Donkey Kong

Good grief! I don't believe it, after all Tony Takoushi said about the games industry, Ocean has the gall to release a Kong game. Well!

Yes, folks, it's true. Ocean, one of the biggest and best software houses, has dug up a game that should be left to rest in peace. Kong games are older than the C64 and that's saying something!

As if that wasn't bad enough, on tracing Ocean's roots, I discovered that one of their first games on the Spectrum was a Kong game. Just because it sold well in 1983, doesn't mean it'll do well today.

Donkey Kong

Now, I always have to do this. For those of you who don't know what the Kong game is, I will tell you.

In the game you play a guy called Mario, who has a very difficult task ahead of him. He must rescue his girlfriend from the clutches of a terrible ogre - Kong!

Kong is not so daft, and with captive in hand proceeds to climb a very tall building. You must follow Kong, using various platforms and ladders to help you on your heroic way.

Donkey Kong

Should you reach your girl, Kong grabs her and climbs even higher up the building. So again you follow.

Kong can go up three times, which means there are four screens. The first is pretty straightforward, but can be a little difficult if you get too many barrels chasing you. Barrels? I forgot to mention that in all Kong games, that nasty ape will throw barrels at you. Just for fun, you understand.

Screen two is so simple, it's a crime. This is a Pie factory where conveyor belts move you along. If anyone dies on this sheet, shame!

Screen three is slightly harder, consisting of more ladders and platforms. It also has lifts and fireballs. And just to make it interesting, Kong now throws steel girders!

Screen four is the last one and Kong is now at the top getting a little bit worried. Your task on this creen is to remove the locking pins from the scaffolding, making Kong fall to the ground.

While this is all happening, the graphics are faithful to the original arcade, if a bit small.

I don't know why Ocean released such a game, but if you are looking for a good Kong game on the C64, try another Ocean release Kong Strikes Back.