Best home version of Donkey Kong

[narutofan]

Dk64 had nothing to do with the original topic.

925531[/snapback]

the thread is called best home donkey kong

[JB]

No, it's called best home version OF Donkey Kong. As in the best port of the original arcade game that bears the name Donkey Kong, with no extensions.

 

As if that wasn't clear enough, the first post makes it VERY clear they mean ports of the arcade.

 

 

You, sir, are a moron.

[narutofan]

No, it's called best home version OF Donkey Kong. As in the best port of the original arcade game that bears the name Donkey Kong, with no extensions.

 

As if that wasn't clear enough, the first post makes it VERY clear they mean ports of the arcade.

 

 

You, sir, are a moron.

925650[/snapback]

oh well soooory

[Xot]

The hammer doesn't protect you on any level. If a barrel hits you when your hammer is in the up position, you die. If a barrel comes down on your head while you have the hammer you die.

 

You realize this is the same behavior that the arcade game exhibits, right? The barrels must touch the head of the hammer to be destroyed. That's something that always bugged me about the Coleco port, is that the hammer actually makes Mario invincible.

[NE146]

The hammer doesn't protect you on any level. If a barrel hits you when your hammer is in the up position, you die. If a barrel comes down on your head while you have the hammer you die.

 

You realize this is the same behavior that the arcade game exhibits, right? The barrels must touch the head of the hammer to be destroyed. That's something that always bugged me about the Coleco port, is that the hammer actually makes Mario invincible.

926067[/snapback]

 

'Course in the arcade game the hammer does protect you... as long as you don't run with it.

[LocalH]

The Atarisoft C64 version is actualy quite close to pixel-perfect - it's just that the pixels are much wider. If you take a screenshot and make it 160x200, it looks much better.

 

Also, gotta give props to the unlicensed CoCo2 version by Tom Mix - Donkey King. It wasn't that close, but on such an underpowered machine, it was a piece of art. It was quite hard, though, but there was a "practice" mode that gave you a large number of lives. I still could only get up to L03 or so even in practice mode. It's got all four stages, too, which is always a positive point in home conversions.

Edited September 6, 2005 by LocalH

[JB]

'Course in the arcade game the hammer does protect you... as long as you don't run with it.

926148[/snapback]

Sorta like scissors, huh?

[Rugxulo]

I've read (but never played/verified) that the Game Boy Color version is the best. I think it supposedly has extended levels, too. Anyone got it?

 

 

The Gameboy version does not even ATTEMPT to port the arcade game, rapidly collapses into a puzzle game, and should not even be considered for the purpose of this thread, which seeks accurate ports.

 

Are you sure your thining of the original gameboy donkey kong and not the gameboy advance Mario Vs Donkey Kong?

Although the gameboy version has many more levels, that are puzzlelike, it also has the original four levels , they seem to be the best home version I have ever seen. How can you say it cant be considered?

923020[/snapback]

[ROBOTRON]

C 64 version was the best home port I've played...it was perfect.

Edited September 7, 2005 by ROBOTRON

[+Random Terrain]

The earlier AtariSoft version of Donkey Kong for the C64 is the "wider" (fullscreen) version. Ocean's version (released three years later) looks very close to the arcade version. You can compare the two versions here:

 

http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=749

 

http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=750

923204[/snapback]

I played the Atarisoft version. Never played the other one.

[NE146]

I've read (but never played/verified) that the Game Boy Color version is the best. I think it supposedly has extended levels, too. Anyone got it?

 

There is only the Gameboy version (with Super Gameboy Support). There isn't a native Gameboy Color one. But yeah... we all got it. It's a puzzle game and is completely different from the game we're talking about here with the exception that it has facsimiles of the original levels as it's first 4 stages.

 

People who say it's the "Best" version of Donkey Kong as in the best version of the arcade game are confused

[LocalH]

I think that SGB Donkey Kong is awesome, in it's own right. I don't compare it to the arcade game, however, even with stage 0.

 

In fact, I find it more fun than vanilla Donkey Kong. Hence, of games merely titled "Donkey Kong" with no qualification, the SGB one is the best. But, using the arcade ori as the "gold standard", the SGB one falls short due to the modified gameplay.

[NE146]

I think that SGB Donkey Kong is awesome, in it's own right. I don't compare it to the arcade game, however, even with stage 0.

 

Gameboy Donkey Kong is one of my all time favorite games. I bought it at release though and finished it so many times.. i'm pretty much done w/ the game. I mean heck.. it ends!

 

Arcade Donkey Kong I still play though for high score. For some odd reason I can only reach about 130k or so then I just can't get past that ceiling. Hopefully sometime I can play that perfect game

[DeathAdderSF]

The Apple II version of Donkey Kong was the first one I ever experienced, and it has remained my favorite through the test of time. The music+sfx aren't perfect due to the system's limited sound hardware, but the gameplay is very good.

 

It doesn't seem anyone has mentioned the Intellivision version of Donkey Kong. Well, that I'm not surprised about as it is stinkingly lame. Coleco totally screwed us on that one.

Edited September 8, 2005 by Clean Larry

[Crimefighter]

I should post here, I have played the version of Super Donkey Kong on the Colecovision (apparently a prototype), which included all four screens but the "pie factory" screen had collisons unimplemented and players could only just run up the ladders to complete the level but do nothing else. Too bad.

[Inky]

The Coleco ADAM version is the best home version. All 4 levels, all the animations and sound FX. The only problem with it is that the original level still has DK on the wrong side of the screen.

[TwiliteZoner]

I like the A800 version best, looks and plays better than those others. I also have a DK clone for the Atari ST called 'Kid Kong' that's nearly pixel perfect to the arcade (adjusted for horizontal ratio) that's great too!

923307[/snapback]

 

I will never forget having my buddy come over that has a Colecovision to play the 8-bit version when I got it, and his reaction was one of shock. We both thought overall it was better than the Coleco.

 

One of the main things the Atari 8-bit version has hands down over the rest is SPEED. It is by far the fastest version of DK on the planet. Which in turn makes it the most challenging IMHO.

[TwiliteZoner]

The Coleco ADAM version is the best home version.  All 4 levels, all the animations and sound FX.  The only problem with it is that the original level still has DK on the wrong side of the screen.

928874[/snapback]

 

The Adam version is kinda strange. On the initial screen Kong looks different then the regular kong and then once the game starts he is back to his good 'ol Colecovision self. I wonder why they did that?

[Shannon]

I tried the C64 ocean version which was far better then the atari soft version. But I still dont think it beats the atari 8-bit version. For a few reasons.

 

For one, improper placment of kong aside.. The "feel" of the game is not quite right. I'm pretty sure the girder level doesn't look right. The springy board level is not spaced out very well so alot of jumps are harder than they should be, plus the places the springs land are not the same as the arcade.

 

Lastly the music is off, and I mean Waaaaaay off.

 

I could probably find more but I only spent enough time to make it thru all the levels. Overall it was a descent port, just not as good as the atari 8-bit version.

[keitaro]

For me, the best is the amstrad cpc version

[+else]

The Coleco ADAM version is the best home version.  All 4 levels, all the animations and sound FX.  The only problem with it is that the original level still has DK on the wrong side of the screen.

928874[/snapback]

 

The Adam version is kinda strange. On the initial screen Kong looks different then the regular kong and then once the game starts he is back to his good 'ol Colecovision self. I wonder why they did that?

928964[/snapback]

 

They were probably just trying to differentiate it from the Colecovision version. After all, it's supposed to be "Super" Donkey Kong....

[Lord Helmet]

The Coleco ADAM version is the best home version.  All 4 levels, all the animations and sound FX.  The only problem with it is that the original level still has DK on the wrong side of the screen.

928874[/snapback]

 

The Adam version is kinda strange. On the initial screen Kong looks different then the regular kong and then once the game starts he is back to his good 'ol Colecovision self. I wonder why they did that?

928964[/snapback]

 

They were probably just trying to differentiate it from the Colecovision version. After all, it's supposed to be "Super" Donkey Kong....

939083[/snapback]

 

He looks like dk in dk jr. for the added stuff. The 4th board looks completely different from the other 3.

[+Trebor]

Here is the C64 Ocean's port. It includes all four levels, and almost arcade-imitated perfect animations. And yes, I also side with it being the best port. The first released port on the C64 distorted the graphics to fit the screen, and plays a little too slow. The A800 port I would vote second best.

 

Commodore 64 - Ocean Port

 

However, screenshots only do so much. Post the screenshot of the NES port - and it looks the closest and many would vote for that being the best. Ditto with the Atari 7800 port. You need to *play* the ports to decide.

 

For me, missing levels automatically throws the port to the bottom of the list. The game is not complete then. It would be similar to a Ms. Pac-Man port which jumps from the Cherry/Strawberry mazes directly to the Pear/Banana mazes. Or how about Joust without an Egg Wave? Or Popeye missing the musical note level? To me, leaving out a level or many levels really dampens the original spirit of the Arcade game. The port may still be a great game, just not a great port.

 

As for the A800 port, what really hampers it is that Mario moves way too fast. The game overall is sped up a bit as well. It makes a great game, but drives it further away from being a best port when compared to the arcade original. The Ocean version on the C64 does not do that.

 

Shannon posted a strong argument as to why the A800 port is better. Shannon feels the C64 Ocean port did not "feel" right. However, my reasoning for why I feel the A800 port falls to second place is for the same exact reasons...lol (The A800 plays too fast - Especially Mario's pace).

 

Nonetheless, what we can agree on is that there are some great ports out there. Regardless of your personal preference, I would strongly recommend everyone try all the ports. In all honesty though, I was really *blown away* by the Ocean port on the C64. I believe it is that good. At the very least, give it a try, as well as the A800 port. You'll be glad that you did

 

-Trebor

Edited October 8, 2005 by Trebor

[MaDDuck]

The Coleco ADAM version is the best home version.  All 4 levels, all the animations and sound FX.  The only problem with it is that the original level still has DK on the wrong side of the screen.

928874[/snapback]

 

 

Intresting......

It's not that DK is on the wrong side, it's that the arcade (and C-64, VIC-20, 2600) had six levels of girders whereas the A8B and most other home versions had only 5 levels due to lower screen resolution. Look at the 7800 version's screenshots vurses the 800's and you'll see what a difference a few lines of resolution make!!

Of course they cheated on the VIC-20 and 2600 version by putting no incline on the bottom girder!!!

 

Oh, and the Ocean C-64 version is screwy, the ai FEELS wrong, and it just plays bad, in my humble opinion! BUT my girlfriend LOVES it, so go figure!

 

Here look at the girders!

Edited October 14, 2005 by MaDDuck

[JB]

I see an incline in that second shot.

It's not very steep, but it's there.