- Release Date: December 10, 1999
- Genre: Action
- Style: 3D Platform
- Similar Games: Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64), Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64), Rayman 2: The Great Escape (IBM PC Compatible), Rayman 2: The Great Escape (Nintendo 64), Rayman 2: The Great Escape (Dreamcast), Rayman 2: The Great Escape (PlayStation), Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64), Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64), Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64), Rayman 2: The Great Escape (Dreamcast), Rayman 2: The Great Escape (Nintendo 64), Rayman 2: The Great Escape (Dreamcast)
Roots & Influences
Donkey Kong is one of the most famous video game characters to date, only beaten in popularity by his original enemy Mario. His first adventure was in the Arcades of 1981 where he played the bad guy not dissimilar to the popular movie character King-Kong. In this original, you took control of Jumpman (who was later renamed Mario and was based upon Shigeru Miyamoto's landlord at the time) and were required navigate platforms and other hazzards that Donkey Kong would throw down at you. Your mission was to make it to the top and save a blonde female that Donkey Kong had kidnapped, who shared a similar appearance with the later named Princess Peach.Donkey Kong also caught on with the emerging home videogaming industry and was converted to a multitude of platforms including the Atari 2600, Atari 7800, CollecoVision, Intellivision, NES, Gameboy, Commodore and more. During 1982, a sequel named Donkey Kong Jr. was finally launched in the Arcades. Enjoying success similar to the original Donkey Kong games, Donkey Kong Junior allowed gamers to control the Donkey Kong Jr. character in efforts to save his father from the clutches of the evil Mario. Like Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior also became a hit among console gamers and was ported to the NES, Gameboy, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, and Collecovision.
Another sequel came in the form of Donkey Kong 3, but this game failed to keep up the series' popularity at both the Arcades and on the NES. 16-bit gamers also developed a taste for the series with the release of three titles through the Donkey Kong Country series. Broadening up the approach and turning the series into a side scrolling, more traditional 16-bit platformer, the series took off again due to its incredibly technically superior graphics, better than anything else seen on the Super NES. A popular Gameboy series also started off in 1995 to coincide with the Donkey Kong Country releases on the Super NES, and received critical acclaim through three Donkey Kong Land releases.
Donkey Kong 64 is the first starring role for Donkey Kong on the Nintendo 64 (though he also appeared in Mario Kart 64 and Diddy Kong Racing). Development of this game was heavily influenced by Nintendo's Super Mario 64 and Rare's previous 3D Platformer Banjo-Kazooie.
~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide
