It's still the same addacitve arcade game that started the rivalry between Mario and DK, but it seems a bit primitive.
The story is simple. Donkey Kong captures Mario's girlfriend, Pauline, and takes her up to the top of a building, and Mario has to rescue her. Enough said.
The gameplay has one goal, get to the end of the level and climb up to the platform Pauline is on alive. Your only defense: jumping. The first stage has you dodging barrels rolling down platforms and ladders, with "living" fireballs hot on your trail. In the second stage, you must jump off of stationary or moving platforms to get to the end, dodging springs and avoiding the fireballs. In the third and last stage, you must remove, um, "bolts" (the yellow things) while dodging fireballs to make DK fall down into the ditch below. Play repeats until you lose all your lives. It's highly addactive, but if you play for a long period of time, it gets repitive.
Now for some items. In the first and third stages, you can grab hammers to so you can smash enemies in your path, which lasts for a few seconds, but there is a drawback: you can't jump. In the second and third stages, Pauline's umbrellas are availible to increase your score.
The sound is the same classic beats Donkey Kong is, and they are a great throwback to the Atari and NES days.
The controls, well, it's simple. The D-pad moves, and A jumps. Pressing up when you are standing below a ladder makes you climb it. I have no complaints for the controls anyway.
The graphics are pure 8-bit. They will remind you of the NES, and it's hard to believe such primitive graphics can actually rival modern day gaming, but hey, that's just nostalgia talk.
THE VERDICT!!!
Pros:
Same arcadey gameplay we know and love for being addacting (+7.0)
Nostalgic sound to remind you of the NES (+1.0)
Perfect controls (+0.5)
Cons:
Gets repitive after a long period of play (-0.5)
Showing it's age (-1.0)
Overall, this game is the same game that started the Mario and DK rivalry, but it's starting to show it's age. But if you like pure arcade action, this game is for you.
Final score:
7.0 (Good)