Don Doko Don (Japan)

Don Doko Don is a classic arcade action game developed by Taito, offering a simple yet addictive entertainment experience. Players take on the role of one of two brave dwarves, Bon or Don, tasked with rescuing the princess and the kingdom from evil monsters. The game unfolds on single-screen levels, where players must eliminate all present enemies to advance to the next stage.

The core gameplay mechanic of Don Doko Don is unique and engaging. Instead of shooting or jumping on enemies, Bon and Don use their large hammers. When an enemy is hit by a hammer, they become stunned and immobile for a short period. This is when the player must quickly approach, pick up the stunned enemy, and throw them. Thrown enemies can collide with other enemies, causing a chain reaction and eliminating multiple opponents at once, yielding large bonus points. If a stunned enemy is not picked up in time, they will recover and resume movement.

Throughout the stages, players will encounter various types of enemies, each with their own movement patterns and attacks. To assist players, several power-up items appear after defeating enemies or destroying special blocks. These items can include increased movement speed, extended hammer range, or score-boosting items to achieve higher scores. Collecting all the letters spelling "DON DOKO DON" scattered throughout the level also grants significant bonus points and can trigger special effects.

The game offers a single-player mode or a cooperative two-player mode, where Bon and Don can fight together, creating synergistic moves to clear the screen faster. The two-player mode is especially fun as players can assist each other or even "rescue" teammates from danger. The graphics of Don Doko Don are bright and colorful, along with cheerful music, creating a friendly and appealing atmosphere. Although seemingly simple, the game requires agility, precise timing, and sometimes strategy to complete more challenging stages and confront boss battles.