#9 - Donkey Kong
By 1994, Donkey Kong - the game in which Mario made his debut - was 13 years old. Mario was himself much better known by this time for the Super Mario Bros series, and his arcade origins were growing increasingly obscure. DK himself was also little but a distant memory: he had been usurped by Bowser in the Super series and only DK Jr. had managed to make an appearance in Super Mario Kart.
1994 changed that in a big way: by the end of the year, Donkey Kong would be the name on everyone's lips. Today, everyone remembers the classic Donkey Kong Country that saw Rare bring computer-rendered graphics onto the humble Super Nintendo with spectacular results, but the other big DK title that came out that year is not quite so well remembered. And that's a crying shame.
Donkey Kong GB (or Donkey Kong '94 as it's also known) initially seems to be a port of the original arcade game: all four levels are present and accounted for (which is more than the NES port can claim) but the game has an obvious problem: it's quite broken. Mario has developed a new move - the handstand and backflip - which makes the platforming elements of the game incredibly easy, and you'll rescue Pauline with nary a worry.
But then...
DK springs back to life, snatches Pauline, and heads on the run, opening up the real game - 97 levels of platforming challenge and the true sequel that Donkey Kong and DK Jr. truly deserved all those years ago.
The game starts off as a fairly simple continuation of the pre-existing Donkey Kong level mechanics, with the introduced element of picking up and throwing objects as well as being able to 'ride' certain enemies (a la Super Mario Bros 2). The levels are short - the game has a certain 'time trial' element that emphasises its arcade roots - and it's as much puzzle as it is platform: each level has a solution that you've got to find. New mechanics are introduced as the game goes on, such as blocks that extend into platforms or ladders that Mario has to place correctly to open up new parts of the levels. These mechanics are shown to the player via between-level cut-scenes which, with no words, still manage to effortlessly explain everything you need to know.
Aside from the gameplay, which is excellent, the presentation is also superb. On the handheld itself, this game looks and sounds perfectly nice - everything is clear and sharp, and the soundtrack is simple and catchy. But this game was truly designed to show off the Super Game Boy - a Super Nintendo based adapter that allowed you to play GB games on your TV - and show it off it does. From its border - based, obviously, on the original arcade machine - to the enhanced graphics and sound, Donkey Kong was the peripheral's showcase, and while many excellent games followed it that made use of the SGB's powers, none did it quite so well.
For a game that took many by surprise and initially appears to be a remake, Donkey Kong is a classic in its own right. While not uncommon, it can be a little hard to come by at times, so keep your eyes peeled, or pick up a copy on the 3DS Virtual Console. If you enjoy platformers in their purest form, there are few greater examples on the Game Boy.
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