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Tag Archives: Donkey Kong

Arcade, Game Port

Donkey Kong Lands on the ZX Spectrum in a Brilliant New Conversion

Posted on by Owen

Donkey Kong, Nintendo’s legendary 1981 arcade classic, has made its way to the ZX Spectrum in a great conversion by developer Artonapilos. This faithful recreation brings the barrel-dodging, hammer-swinging action of the original to the beloved 8-bit home computer, offering a nostalgic blast from the past for enthusiasts of classic games.

Credit: Indie Retro News

For those unfamiliar, Donkey Kong marks a pivotal moment in gaming history. Launched in arcades over 40 years ago, it introduced players to Mario—originally dubbed Jumpman—as he battled the titular ape to rescue a damsel in distress. The game’s simple mechanics, challenging platforming, and quirky charm turned it into an instant hit, laying the groundwork for Nintendo’s dominance in the industry. It also spawned a legacy that includes the Super Mario Bros. franchise, cementing its place among the most influential titles ever made.

The ZX Spectrum, a cornerstone of 1980s computing in Britain, is the perfect platform for this revival. With its distinctive rubber keys and vibrant library of games, it remains a fan favourite among retro gamers. Artonapilos has tapped into this affection, delivering what many are calling an “amazing clone” of the arcade original. The developer’s attention to detail shines through, with enhancements like AY sound support for Spectrums equipped with an AY chip—or external devices like the Melodik—adding richer audio. Players can even toggle background music, which plays alongside sound effects, a rare treat for an 8-bit title.

This isn’t just a straight port, either. Artonapilos has polished the experience with fixes to Mario’s animations, adjusted barrel behaviours to match the arcade version, and sped up lifts in later levels for a tougher challenge. The game now runs smoothly on a wider range of systems, including the Timex TC 2068 and TS 2068, and supports various joysticks, making it more accessible than ever. A free version, complete with these upgrades, is available now, ensuring everyone can enjoy this retro gem.

Interestingly, Donkey Kong has seen other recent conversions, like JOTD’s effort for the Commodore Amiga, proving its enduring appeal. Yet, this ZX Spectrum release stands out for pushing the hardware’s limits while staying true to the 1980s arcade spirit. It’s a testament to the passion keeping classic games alive.

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Arcade, Nintendo

Breaking the Myth: Donkey Kong’s Kill Screen Conquered After 44 Years

Posted on by Owen

For over four decades, players of Nintendo’s 1981 arcade classic, Donkey Kong, believed that the game concluded at the infamous “kill screen” on level 22. This stage was notorious for a bug that caused the bonus timer to overflow, leaving Mario with mere seconds to complete the level before an inevitable demise. However, speedrunner Kosmic has recently demonstrated that this kill screen isn’t the definitive end.

In Donkey Kong, players navigate through four distinct stages that loop with increasing difficulty. Upon reaching level five, the game’s difficulty plateaus, and these stages repeat in a set pattern. Traditionally, elite players would amass high scores up to level 22, where the kill screen would abruptly end their run due to the aforementioned timer glitch.

Kosmic’s breakthrough involves an exceptionally precise maneuver exploiting a glitch on the barrel stage—the very stage where the kill screen occurs. This stage requires Mario to ascend ladders and traverse slanted girders to reach the top. By executing a meticulous trick, Kosmic utilised a broken ladder glitch to swiftly climb to the top, effectively bypassing the constraints of the kill screen.

It’s worth noting that while this strategy was theorized as early as 2013, previous attempts, even with tool-assisted speedruns, couldn’t overcome the timer limitations. Kosmic’s success hinged on an extraordinary stroke of luck. The game’s timer decreases with each barrel Donkey Kong throws, and these throws occur at random intervals. To have sufficient time to perform the glitch, a player would need Donkey Kong to delay his initial barrel throw—a 1 in 3 chance—and then further delay subsequent throws, a 1 in 32 chance. Combined with flawless execution, the odds of achieving this are astronomically low, making such a feat exceedingly rare in actual gameplay.

This discovery not only challenges long-held beliefs about the game’s limitations but also showcases the dedication and ingenuity of the gaming community in uncovering new possibilities within classic titles. There is a supporting Pastebin technical white up on DK’s delays here.

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Nintendo

Donkey Kong’s New Look: A Sign of Things to Come?

Posted on by Owen

Nintendo’s recent unveiling of the Switch 2 brought with it a fresh design for Donkey Kong in the upcoming Mario Kart 9. This updated appearance, featuring a more relaxed and cheerful demeanour, has now extended beyond the game.

The official My Nintendo Store has introduced merchandise showcasing this friendlier version of the iconic ape, suggesting that this redesign is here to stay.  

Credit: Nintendo Store

The shift in Donkey Kong’s look has sparked discussions among fans. Some appreciate the softer, more approachable design, while others miss the classic, more intense expression. Kevin Bayliss, the original designer from the Donkey Kong Country era, supports the change, noting that the previous design limited the character’s range of expressions.  

Nintendo’s recent unveiling of the Switch 2 brought with it a fresh design for Donkey Kong in the upcoming Mario Kart 9. This updated appearance, featuring a more relaxed and cheerful demeanor, has now extended beyond the game. The official My Nintendo Store has introduced merchandise showcasing this friendlier version of the iconic ape, suggesting that this redesign is here to stay.  The shift in Donkey Kong’s look has sparked discussions among fans. Some appreciate the softer, more approachable design, while others miss the classic, more intense expression. Kevin Bayliss, the original designer from the Donkey Kong Country era, supports the change, noting that the previous design limited the character’s range of expressions.  This evolution in Donkey Kong’s appearance aligns with Nintendo’s broader strategy of updating character designs to appeal to a wider audience. As the Switch 2 era begins, it will be interesting to see how this and other character redesigns influence the gaming landscape. Protect your collection with RetroShell’s premium game display protectors, and stay updated with retro gaming news by subscribing to the Retro Gaming Weekly Substack.

This evolution in Donkey Kong’s appearance aligns with Nintendo’s broader strategy of updating character designs to appeal to a wider audience. As the Switch 2 era begins, it will be interesting to see how this and other character redesigns influence the gaming landscape.

Protect your collection with RetroShell’s premium game display protectors, and stay updated with retro gaming news by subscribing to the Retro Gaming Weekly Substack.

Gaming History, Nintendo

Donkey Kong Designer Reflects on Iconic Redesign and Diddy Kong’s Origins

Posted on by Owen

Kevin Bayliss, art director at Rare and designer of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, recently shared insights into the creative process behind these beloved characters. He revealed that Donkey Kong’s lack of a neck was due to his own difficulty in drawing them, leading to a design where “I just drew a head basically in his stomach.” Bayliss also noted that DK’s eyes, inspired by those of the Battletoads, made it challenging to convey expressions beyond annoyance.

Interestingly, Diddy Kong’s design was influenced by the Coco Pops monkey, a character Bayliss admired in his youth but was denied the cereal due to its sugar content. He emphasised that effective art design hinges on conveying ideas, not just technical skill, encouraging aspiring artists to focus on their concepts.

He also did a Twitch video where he shared some of the 3D models he is working on.

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