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Donkey Kong Reviews
Professional reviews from gaming critics
First impressions can be misleading, and Donkey Kong '94 for the Game Boy is far more than just a simple sequel to the arcade game. It adds a metric ton of new features, while still managing to keep the ‘arcadey’ feel of the original. The graphics and music are outstanding for a 1994 Game Boy title, and the game itself remains incredibly fun to play, even if you do receive an overabundance of extra lives. It may not be part of the ‘main’ Mario series, but this is easily one of the best Mario games ever made.
The one depressing, discouraging caveat, though, is that disappointing lack of Super Game Boy color. It saddens me that such a pivotal part of the game's presentation has been cut away in this re-release, and upsets me even more to think that this most likely means no future eShop re-releases will include their SGB upgrades either. Donkey Kong is incredible, a phenomenal game that's worth replaying. I just wish I didn't have to replay it in black and white, because, to me, that's getting its nostalgia wrong.
Donkey Konga is an excellent music game for beginners, though those experienced in the genre will most likely find it lacking in the difficulty area. Still, the game manages to be a lot of fun with its unique Donkey Kong theme and conga drum controller. Donkey Konga does manage to pull in those who normally wouldn’t play a rhythm game, and its smooth difficulty curve is responsible for this casual appeal. Nintendo and Namco have done an outstanding job at crafting a rhythm game that will appeal to gamers of almost all skill levels. It also makes an exceptional multiplayer title to just sit b…
Donkey Konga lacks depth, and is pretty much destined to remain something you bring out for a quick go at parties forever after; this, however, doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't own it.
For $0.30 Donkey Kong is a fun trip down nostalgia lane. Once the price bumps back up to the $6.50 or whatever Nintendo is charging for NES Virtual Console games in your region, it stops being worthwhile.