I can’t avoid it; one of my favorite video games of all time is Donkey Kong. Specifically, the one that was released for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1994. This game has everything you could want from a game and more. It amazes me that it gets so little recognition. Even the inferior sequel has already received a full-fledged remake on the Nintendo Switch! Here are ten reasons why you should play Donkey Kong ’94 today.
Donkey Kong ’94 is an Expanded Remake of the Game That Started It All
Nintendo could have easily chosen the simple route by making a straightforward remake of the original. However, they opted to create an entirely new game, which is greatly appreciated. While the player is tricked into thinking it’s just the first four levels, after these levels, a world of possibilities and challenges suddenly opens up.
Donkey Kong ’94 Contains a Whopping 101 Levels
An impressive 101 levels in a handheld game is an incredibly high number for a game back then. This number also ensures that replaying this game is no chore, as you’re unlikely to encounter the same level you’ve already played.
The Levels Are Perfect for Short Play Sessions
The 101 levels in Donkey Kong ’94 are perfect for quick play sessions. Most levels take just a minute or two of your time. And that’s how the game is meant to be played, as handheld games are often picked up for a quick session.
Donkey Kong ’94 Is the Perfect Example of ‘Easy to Play, Hard to Master’
The first few levels of the game will be easy for you, and perhaps even the first few worlds. Additionally, you’ll collect extra lives fairly easily, so experienced players won’t break a sweat too quickly. However, the difficulty level increases significantly later on, and occasionally, there will be a level that requires you to sacrifice quite a few lives. Challenging!
The Perfect Mix Between a Platformer and a Puzzle Game
Part platformer, part puzzle game. That’s the best way to describe Donkey Kong ’94. Just like in regular Mario games, you’ll need some solid platforming skills, but not without figuring out how you’re going to achieve your goals first. And that can sometimes be quite complicated.
Donkey Kong ’94 Was the Killer App for the Super Game Boy
The Super Game Boy was a somewhat failed experiment to play Game Boy games on your television. However, Donkey Kong ’94 was one of the first games to take full advantage of this. The support added more color to the game and displayed a border around the game that resembled the classic Donkey Kong arcade cabinet.
Takes 6 Hours to Complete; A Lot for a Handheld Game
Handheld games from the mid-nineties often worked with a password system. But Donkey Kong ’94 doesn’t! The game has an internal battery, allowing you to save your progress. And that’s necessary because playing the game for six hours straight is practically impossible. You’ll at least need to change your Game Boy’s batteries once.
Every Level Is Different!
Of course, every level is different. But Nintendo ensured that each level introduces a slightly different mechanism, gameplay element, or enemy. This keeps the levels fresh and prevents you from getting bored quickly. And with 101 different levels, that’s quite a lot of new elements.
Donkey Kong ’94 Is Relatively Cheap
Naturally, we’re all waiting for the moment when this game is offered on the Nintendo Switch Online platform in the Game Boy section. But until then, you can hunt down a second-hand copy for just twenty dollars. Not much money for such an incredible classic.
Much Better Than Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Recently, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the 2004 Game Boy Advance game, received a full-fledged remake for the Nintendo Switch. Yet Donkey Kong ’94 is a far superior game. The puzzles and levels are much more cleverly designed; the art style is more beautiful, and the soundtrack—don’t even get me started. Why was this original game overlooked when it came to the remake treatment? Couldn’t Donkey Kong ’94 have been included as an extra in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong remake? Apparently not 🙁
Read more about all things Mario!