Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong

 Switch
  • Publisher: Hamster
  • Release Date: Jun 14, 2018
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15

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  1. JJTX
    Apr 27, 2019
    8
    Incredibly, it took almost 40 years for a legal, authorized port of one of the most important arcade games ever produced to finally come to a home console. Now that the decades-old legal battle between Nintendo and a contractor is finally settled, we can enjoy this exceptional piece of gaming history. Once you finally play the Arcade Archives version of Donkey Kong, you will realize whatIncredibly, it took almost 40 years for a legal, authorized port of one of the most important arcade games ever produced to finally come to a home console. Now that the decades-old legal battle between Nintendo and a contractor is finally settled, we can enjoy this exceptional piece of gaming history. Once you finally play the Arcade Archives version of Donkey Kong, you will realize what you were missing with the Nintendo Entertainment System port that was effectively the only legal way to pay outside of a real arcade since 1981. Not only are all the stages here, Hamster has included the Japanese version of the game, along with a second international version alongside the North American ROM that most of us are familiar with. $8 might seem steep for a nearly-40-year-old game with only four stages, but when it's as historically significant and fun as Donkey Kong, it's worth every penny.… Expand
  2. nusco
    Jun 17, 2018
    7
    Your first thought while playing Donkey Kong for the first time after 35 years is: "Damn, this game is hard". It's indeed a hard game at first, but surprisingly easy on some later levels. You can see that Shigeru Miyamoto was struggling to balance the four stages of the first platformer in history.

    Your second thought is: "Wow, Miyamoto knew right from the start how to make a character    Your first thought while playing Donkey Kong for the first time after 35 years is: "Damn, this game is hard". It's indeed a hard game at first, but surprisingly easy on some later levels. You can see that Shigeru Miyamoto was struggling to balance the four stages of the first platformer in history.

    Your second thought is: "Wow, Miyamoto knew right from the start how to make a character feel right". In my memory, this game had stiff, unforgiving movements. My memory was failing me. Mario (then "jumpman") had very good jumping and walking behavior, much better than most later imitators.

    Today, Donkey Kong is mostly valuable for hi-score freaks, game historians, and ageing nostalgics such as myself. As one of the most important games in the history of the form, it definitely deserves a 10 and a place in a museum. This specifc version for the Switch? Well, it's the original game, available for the first time in its true form on a console. If you like the idea of owning a piece of gaming history, then it's money well spent. For the typical modern gamer, it can probably be skipped.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Feb 26, 2019
    90
    Even all these years later, this is a true arcade masterpiece that absolutely holds up. [Issue #37 – January/February 2019, p. 26]
  2. Nintendo Insider
    Jul 2, 2018
    70
    Donkey Kong is a true landmark in video game history and to some, that reason alone may be enough to check out this arcade classic. Sure the game is starting to show its age but with competitive leaderboards and a number of options and versions to try out, this is easily the best way to experience Donkey Kong.
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  3. NintendoWorldReport
    Jun 18, 2018
    85
    Donkey Kong is a true classic that should be played by anyone with an interest in gaming history. It's one of the most competitive and challenging classic arcade titles even to this day and without it, I'd argue this website wouldn't even exist. Sure, Donkey Kong may show its age a bit, but the gameplay still holds up and can be very addictive.
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