Donkey Kong Arcade Machine is a 1981 arcade platform video game released by Nintendo. Competitive video gamers stress the game’s high level of difficulty compared to other classic arcade games.
Donkey Kong is considered the earliest video game with a storyline that visually unfolds on screen. It showcases the first occurrence of the damsel in distress scenario in a video game. With its four unique stages, Donkey Kong Arcade Machine is the most complex arcade game of its time. And it is one of the first arcade games with multiple stages.
This arcade machine is the Classic Retro 1981 Donkey Kong Arcade Machine.
Objective:
The player takes the role of Mario to rescue his girlfriend Pauline who has been kidnapped by Donkey Kong. In addition to the goal of saving Pauline, the player has a score.
Gameplay:
The player receives three lives with a 1-up awarded for the first 7,000 points. Donkey Kong requires the player to jump between gaps and over obstacles or approaching enemies.
After each level, the stages repeat with increased difficulty. For example, Donkey Kong begins to hurl barrels faster and sometimes diagonally. Fireballs also speed up. The victory music alternates between levels 1 and 2. The fourth level consists of 5 stages with the final stage at 125 meters.
Points are awarded for the following:
- leaping over obstacles
- destroying objects with a hammer power-up
- collecting items such as hats, parasols, and purses
- removing rivets from platforms
- completing each stage according to a steadily decreasing bonus counter
Characters:
- Donkey Kong: the villain
- Mario: the hero who is a carpenter
- Pauline (aka Lady): Mario’s girlfriend
