Donkey Kong--Delightfully Simple!
Written: Jun 27 '04 (Updated Jun 27 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fun, simple, classic, great price
Cons: Some may find it too simple, some may feel it's not worth the money
The Bottom Line: Can't go wrong with a classic. This game is awesome! I mean, can you remember way back when Mario was just Jumpman? Not me!
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| debjacso's Full Review: Classic NES Series: Donkey Kong for GameBoy Advanc... |
In this day and age, games can be overwhelmingly complicated. We lose sight of our humble beginnings. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a slight bit, but you get my point, right?
My point is, games can be too tough and we sometimes need to relax with a purely fun, simple-yet-tough game, like Donkey Kong.
The Donkey Kong I'm reviewing is from the Classic NES Series for GBA.
What Is It All About?
Donkey Kong has four choices when you open up to the main menu after inserting the Game Pak into your GBA and powering it on. You have Single Player A, Single Player B, 2 Player A, and 2 Player B. The "A" choices are the easier ones. You can do two player with a friend. I am not sure if the friend will require a DK (Donkey Kong) Game Pak or not, but you will need a GBA link cable.
When you make your game selection (to scroll down the list of modes you will need to use "select" button, and to begin the game you will need to hit the "start" button), you will start with Level One, which is harder than it seems. DK is at the top, dropping barrels every which way, and you are at the bottom of this structure with tilted floors and ladders, some of which are broken. You play as Mario/ Jumpman (believe it or not, it took me quite awhile to figure out just who I was playingas at first!). At the very start, watch out for the Oil Spill! You must make to the top by climbing the unbroken ladders, to the Princess, who has been kidnapped by the "stubborn gorilla" himself, without being hit by a barrel. The hammers are very helpful.
Level Two is harder, and more complex as it includes "elevators" and I haven't made it to Level Three yet. Beware: you can't fall too far without expending a precious life! But it's basically the same principle; get to the top, don't get hit, progress. Oh, and by the way: you have "delightfully" few lives to expend!
Graphics & Sound
The graphics are delightfully simple (my review's theme) and so is the sound. I mean, this is 8-bit classic stuff!
The game has a dark setting, so a Wormlight for GBA could help, and the SP's backlight is truly helpful here! The only revision I think may be the color, but maybe NES may have had that...I don't know! Mario ("Jumpman" at this point in time) makes a funny "ding-dong-dung-ding" varying sound when he walks, and there are various other simple sounds that don't hurt the ears and aren't too noticeable, really.
Let's Wrap It Up
There's not much to say about this game, as it is quite simple, but oh so much fun! Old school gamers may find it remains true to NES (I don't know; I'm not old school!). Some gamers may think you're not getting enough for your $20 or so bucks, but I think you are. Maybe it's just me, but I can't just "zip" right through any of the levels.
All in all, this is definitely a game I can just pick up and happily play, but I do get a bit angry on my fifth attempt at the second level...but try, try again I guess!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: debjacso
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Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 0 members
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