Mendon Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Pulled out and tried to play Donkey Kong Jr. for the first time the other night. I very frequently see E.T. and Pac-Man mentioned as the worst games for the 2600, but after trying this sucker I don't know why DK Jr. isn't on more lists. On the title screen, Mario looked pretty good and I was pleasantly surprised at the tune that played. So I hit reset and then attempted to play my first round of the game and was shocked at how terrible the control was on this sucker. I can't begin to count the times I died just trying to get the brown blob off the rope onto the first ledge. Navigating the pits in E.T. is pure bliss compared to the ropes in DK Jr. After many, many, many frustrating deaths, I finally cleared the first screen. Only three lock's on Screen Two? Birdies at the bottom of the screen instead of the top? Birdies don't navigate the screen but just fly straight across the bottom? Oh my! But if nothing else it was a snap to clear compared with Screen One and I accomplished it on the first attempt. Screen 3 pleasantly surprised me in that it was even included. I had figured that Jr. would be a two screen game like DK itself and thought it was cool when it appeared. But after attempting to just move Jr. from the left side of the screen to the right, I wished they hadn't included #3 at all. If I thought trying to navigate around Screen One was bad, this was even worse as I couldn't even seem to drop off the poles at all except by accident. After 30min of playing(?), Donkey Kong Jr. is back in its box and will join those few games that are part of my collection but that are never to be played again. Anyone else have comments on the game? Mendon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisper Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 At first I thought it was just me, but I'm sort of pleased to hear other people have trouble playing this game too At least now I can blame the game and not myself. I only tried to play it once... I don't have much spare time to play Atari games and when I do I pick the ones that are worth my time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortly Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I kinda like DK Jr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azrael Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Hurray - it's not just me! God this game annoys me. When you turn it off and look at the static, I find the gameplay improves!! The control is THE worst, gimme Keystone Kapers any day. So if this game is the pits, which is tops? Lets balance the universe with worst and best. I'm goona go with SI. No wait, Asteroids. Nope Atlantis. Oh well - I tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Never made it to screen 2 (or 3), so maybe someone could post some screenshots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mendon Posted April 21, 2004 Author Share Posted April 21, 2004 Never made it to screen 2 (or 3), so maybe someone could post some screenshots. Try this link, Thomas: DK Jr. Mendon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azrael Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Hurray - it's not just me! God this game annoys me. When you turn it off and look at the static, I find the gameplay improves!! The control is THE worst, gimme Keystone Kapers any day. So if this game is the pits, which is tops? Lets balance the universe with worst and best. I'm goona go with SI. No wait, Asteroids. Nope Atlantis. Oh well - I tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I recentally talked to the programmer of DK jr. (who admits was not his best work). He put an easter egg in the game, but was forced to take it out by management. His initials *May* still be in the game though. Some skilled at disassembling code (Thomas, I'm looking in your direction) should see if they're still in there. Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I've never made it past the first screen. I'm pretty bad at the arcade version too. -S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic George 2K3 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I'm surprised that the Intellivision version of DK Junior is more faithful to the arcade original than the 2600 version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidbrit2 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I actually like this game. I don't see why you're having trouble with the controls; I easily get to the 4th or 5th loop through the game. At that point, the Snapjaws in the 3rd screen pretty much become too fast to avoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZylonBane Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I'm surprised that the Intellivision version of DK Junior is more faithful to the arcade original than the 2600 version. Well you shouldn't be. The Intellivision supports an arbitrarily tiled display, which means it doesn't have any problem reproducing the playfield. All the fine vertical detail in the first two screens of DK Jr. fly in the face of how the 2600 likes to build its playfields. It's a wonder they were able to implement them in a relatively flicker-free fashion at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hepcat Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 My scorn for Donkey Kong Jr. has been well documented in this forum. http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...ighlight=karate It's at the top of my Atari 2600 shit list despite some fierce competition. And yes, the controls also suck; I neglected to mention that in my previous tirades. --Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candiru Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 No you're not alone. I find the control in this game frustrating too. There are people that like it, so I'm sure it has it's merits, but I don't play it very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atariboy Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I have no trouble with control here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Slocum Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Yeah, I don't have any problems with the control either. I've always kinda liked dkjr. -paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophero Sly Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I like DK jr. I don't have any problems with the control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candiru Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Well LAAA DEEEE DAAA.... Maybe I'll have to try a different joystick and give this game another try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shining slade Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I think it should be the next game to play in the High Score contest!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris-in-NJ Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 If there's no fruit, how do you score anything on the first screen? I've been playing 7800 DK Jr., and can't get past the second screen. Never did like DK or DK Jr. in the arcades to begin with; my 7800 Jr. came as part of a 10-game lot off eBay. I betcha the 2600 version sounds better than the atrocious sounds of the 7800! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inextremis staple Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I kinda like DK Jr. Me too. It was in my first batch of games and I quickly mastered it and still enjoy whipping it out for a good rumble now and then when I'm home. One of the classic joys I'll cherish. is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adams_ale Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I've had this game for a long time, but have never played it. I saw this thread today and popped it in and I have to say that I enjoy it as well. I have no problems with the two vine levels, but the third level I can't get yet. On the third level you can't move Jr. to one side of the rope only and thus he always seems to get hit right when you are trying to jump off onto the blue platform. It's a pattern to it I see and I'll eventually get the hang of it(I don't think the controls are a problem, just my playing). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARIPITBULL Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I like to play DK jr on the Atari 2600 and yes its on were near as good as the Coleco version, but look at the amount of power they were working with at the time and how Atari management wanted the games made a certain way and that was it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert M Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 Just a quick tip on the controls: You have to double tap to get off of a vine. Once I figured that out, the game wasn't too bad. Screen 2 with the locks on ropes is too easy though, and screen 3 is too hard. IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 I think it should be the next game to play in the High Score contest!! Yikes, I'd certainly tank at that. -S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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