Donkey Kong (1983-)

• Developer: Nintendo

• Publisher: Nintendo

• Genre: Platform

• Designer: Shigeru Miyamoto,

  Gunpei Yokoi

• Composer: Yukio Kaneoka

Donkey Kong for the Nintendo Entertainment System was developed and published by Nintendo, releasing in 1983 in Japan and in 1986 in North America. It was a home console adaptation of the original 1981 arcade game created by Shigeru Miyamoto, which had already achieved major success in arcades worldwide. The NES version sought to capture the core gameplay of the arcade release while working within the hardware limitations of the system. The game was later ported to numerous platforms over the years, including the Famicom Disk System, various compilation cartridges, and later digital re-releases.

In the game, players control a character then known as Jumpman—later officially named Mario—as he attempts to rescue a damsel named Pauline from the clutches of the giant ape Donkey Kong. The player must navigate a series of single-screen stages filled with ladders, platforms, and hazards while avoiding barrels, fire creatures, and other obstacles. Each stage requires precise timing, careful movement, and an understanding of enemy patterns. The NES version notably omitted one of the arcade’s four levels, the “cement factory” stage, due to cartridge space constraints, a point often mentioned by retro gaming fans.

Gameplay centers around climbing to the top of each structure while jumping over or dodging hazards. The control scheme is simple—limited to movement and jumping—but the challenge comes from the speed and unpredictability of the obstacles. Points can be earned by jumping over barrels, smashing them with hammers, and collecting bonus items. The soundtrack is minimal, consisting of short musical cues for level introductions, transitions, and stage completions, with much of the tension created by sound effects and the pace of enemy movement. The combination of music and sound effects mirrors the urgency of the arcade experience, even if the hardware imposed some audio simplifications.

Donkey Kong was a commercial success for the NES, helping establish Nintendo’s reputation in the home console market. It served as an early showcase for what the NES could deliver in adapting arcade hits. The game’s popularity led to multiple sequels and spin-offs, including Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong 3, and much later, the Donkey Kong Country series. Promotion for the NES release relied heavily on the fame of the arcade original, with box art and advertising featuring the familiar ape, damsel, and hero. While the NES version was not a perfect replication of the arcade, it was well-received by home audiences for retaining the core challenge and charm of the original, and it remains a key part of Nintendo’s early legacy.

Images from MobyGames