![]() Other abilities Mario can perform include swimming, climbing ropes in a similar fashion to Donkey Kong Jr. There are also several blocks that allow the player to add bridges, ladders and springs anywhere on the screen for a short amount of time. The classic mallet item can be thrown upwards and can be used again if Mario catches it, allowing him to bring it to different parts of the stage. At any point, Mario can flip over onto his hands, which allows him to catch falling barrels, and can also perform higher jumps by timing his jumps from flipping, or by performing a jump while changing direction. If the key is left alone for a certain amount of time, it will return to its original place. 2, he is able to pick up and throw items or certain enemies, which he will need to use to carry the key over to the door. Mario will also lose a life if he hits an enemy or obstacle, though some instances allow Mario to withstand the hit, such as being hit while carrying an item. Mario is able to survive falling from certain distances, though will lose a life if he falls further. The game features various gameplay enhancements from the original game. Extra lives can be earned via mini-games, unlocked by collecting three special items in each level, or at the end of each set based on the total unused time from that set. At this point, players are allowed to save their progress, including their time for each level or for the total set. After the fourth level is cleared, a cutscene is shown depicting a player's abilities that may be needed for the upcoming levels, or to introduce new kinds of traps. Every fourth level is a "battle level" in which the player must either try to reach Pauline, like in the original levels, or defeat Donkey Kong by using his own barrels against him. He must pick it up and carry it to a locked door elsewhere in the stage. The subsequent levels follow a completely different game mechanic in which the player must guide Mario through each level to locate a key. The player is then presented with 97 additional stages spanning nine worlds, for a total of 101 stages with the very last one a fight against a mutated, larger Donkey Kong. After these four initial stages are completed, the usual arcade ending begins, but after a few notes of the "victory theme" Donkey Kong revives, grabs Pauline again, and takes off with her, with Mario giving chase. If you have any retro-themed projects or scoops you’d like to send my way, please contact me.The Super Game Boy border used in the game was based on the actual arcade cabinet of the original Donkey Kong.ĭonkey Kong begins with the four levels found in the original arcade game, in which Mario must reach the top of the level and save Pauline. The RetroBeat is a weekly column that looks at gaming’s past, diving into classics, new retro titles, or looking at how old favorites - and their design techniques - inspire today’s market and experiences. The more people who discover this surprising, inventive game, the happier I’ll be. ![]() I hope we somehow see it on the Switch soon. If you want to play it today, you’ll either need to track down the original cartridge (and preferably a Super Nintendo and a Super Game Boy) or you can also buy it on the 3DS Virtual Console. ![]() ![]() But Donkey Kong ’94 is one of the best games the company has ever made. Nintendo makes so many fantastic games that it’s reasonable for some to fall through the cracks. The most obvious solution is often not the most efficient, especially once you master those back flips. And Nintendo did all of this with the Game Boy’s two face buttons.ĭoes it sound a little silly to compare a Game Boy Donkey Kong game to one of the most important titles in history? What if I compare it to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? We all love the way that open-world game has multiple solutions for its puzzles, encouraging us to flex our imagination. Donkey Kong ’94 gives you the same opportunity. This game expanded Mario’s acrobatic abilities, giving him his first versions of his soon signature triple jumps and back flips. But Donkey Kong ’94 is also, amazingly, a precursor to Super Mario 64. appears in some levels, and you pick up and throw items in a way that’s familiar to anyone who’s played Super Mario Bros. The vine climbing-based gameplay of Donkey Kong Jr. The meat of the game comes from finding paths and avoiding obstacles so you can get the key safely to the door.ĭonkey Kong ’94 is like a mix of the original Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Super Mario Bros. It sounds easy, but if you drop the key and leave it alone for too long, it warps back to its original point. The goal in every non-boss level is to find a key and then take it to a locked door. At this point, Donkey Kong ’94 becomes a puzzle platform game. But these new stages aren’t just slight variations on the established Donkey Kong levels.
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