
	Platform Colecovision Genre Barrel-jumping Developer Nintendo Publisher Nintendo Year released 1982
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Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong marks the origin of two of the most popular video game mascots around -- Mario and Donkey Kong. Besides that, Donkey Kong (DK) also brought the barrel-jumping genre to popularity and just about every twenty-something can remember DK as the game they grew up playing.

DK boils down to three levels repeated ad nauseum in various orders. The first level has Mario tasked with running across steel girders and climbing ladders while avoiding barrels (or whacking them with the hammer) rolled from the top of the structure by Donkey Kong. The next level is in a pyramid shape with the objective to jump over six "locks" and avoid the three enemies to save the princess. Level number three is probably the most interesting of all the levels. Mario’s task here is navigate the various elevators and separated platforms to get to the top and once again liberate the princess. Even though the only thing that changes is the level

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order, it’s strangely engaging. After hours of simple jumping and climbing ladders, it still manages to pull you in, even with no end in sight. And don’t forget about the little secrets. Remember the level one warp? Climb the first ladder, go down, go to the left a bit then jump right. Remember now? The tricks require finesse to pull off, just like most of the game. Jumping and landing have to be perfect. Too high and you’re dead. A little off and you’re dead.

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Sometimes I jumped from the highest points in level three to see what would happen. ("Hey, look at that! I died.")

The graphics are crap by today’s standards but they still manage to evoke warm feelings of misspent youth. The sound’s not much better. The same tune plays over and over, changing only when you grab the hammer. But they are memorable. Years later and for no apparent reason I started humming the tunes as I helped my uncle demolish a retaining wall with a sledgehammer.

One can speculate how much gaming owes to DK. Just like some TV shows, DK spawned an industry around Mario and Donkey Kong, and helped to establish Nintendo as a powerhouse. And both are alive and well. Truly a mustard seed.

- Omni


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