by Cuthead on Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Actually, Ironman is wrong - only 3 of the original 4 arcade levels are in this cartridge. Making an already brief game even shorter. I'm a huge fan of point-based arcade classics like Ms. Pac-Man, Pengo, Galaga, etc. but Donkey Kong doesn't really hold up as well because a lot of it's appeal was in things that have been surpassed to the point that they have made the mechanics in DK dreadfully boring. Donkey Kong had a point system, but the real fun was in advancing in the levels, and a lot of it's initial appeal was it's realism (at the time). Given the length of it, not to mention the fact that most of us have adjusted to much more realistic (and fun) game mechanics and longer 'adventure'-type platformers, it's just dry now. Ms. Pac-Man may be primitive in presentation, but it's gameplay is timeless and addictive, not just based on the consumers amazement at the technology, as much of Donkey Kong's excitement was. It's still kinda fun and holds great nostalgic value to me, but it's not nearly as addictive as it's peers and Mario's later platformers on the NES immediately blew it out of the water.
-Cuthead
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