Donkey Kong Classics (USA, Europe)

Donkey Kong Classics on the NES is a fantastic compilation, bringing two iconic Nintendo arcade games, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., into a single cartridge. Both titles are prime examples of early platforming games, focusing on reflex skills and strategic thinking.

In the Donkey Kong portion of the game, players control the character Mario (originally known as Jumpman) with the mission to rescue his girlfriend Pauline from the giant ape, Donkey Kong. The game takes place on a construction site where Donkey Kong continuously throws barrels, springs, and other obstacles down. Mario's task is to climb ladders, jump over hazards, and avoid enemies to reach the top of the screen where Pauline is held captive. Mario can pick up a hammer to temporarily destroy barrels or enemies. The game features four distinct screens that loop with increasing difficulty: the construction site, the cement factory, the elevator stage, and the final rivet stage.

The Donkey Kong Jr. part of the game reverses the roles, as players control Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong's son, with the objective of rescuing his father from a cage where Mario has imprisoned him. Mario, now the antagonist, releases creatures like Snapjaws and birds to hinder Donkey Kong Jr. Players must climb vines, slide down them, and jump over obstacles, all while collecting keys to unlock his father's cage. Each stage requires collecting a certain number of keys to complete. Donkey Kong Jr. also features four distinct stages with jungle, factory, and underwater settings, each presenting its own unique challenges. Both games within Donkey Kong Classics emphasize achieving high scores, overcoming increasingly difficult levels, and mastering jumping and movement skills.