Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong

 Switch
  • Publisher: Hamster
  • Release Date: Jun 14, 2018
Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong Image
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

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  • Summary: Can you save Mario's girl from the clutches of Donkey Kong? Donkey Kong has kidnapped Mario's girlfriend Pauline and taken her to the top of a construction site. It's up to you to help Mario save Pauline before time runs out. But it won't be easy. Donkey Kong will do everything in his powerCan you save Mario's girl from the clutches of Donkey Kong? Donkey Kong has kidnapped Mario's girlfriend Pauline and taken her to the top of a construction site. It's up to you to help Mario save Pauline before time runs out. But it won't be easy. Donkey Kong will do everything in his power to stop you. He'll throw barrel bombs, flaming fireballs and anything else he can get his hands on. So if you're looking for action, don't monkey around. Get the original Donkey Kong from the Nintendo Arcade Classics Series!… Expand

Critic Reviews

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]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. 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.
  3. Nintendo Life
    Jun 18, 2018
    80
    Arcade Archives Donkey Kong is something of an ultimate release. Three versions of it with a few display options and HAMSTER's usual array of modes and online leaderboards make this a great choice for fans of high score chasing games.
  4. 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.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  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 aIncredibly, 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 atYour 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