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Entry #36

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Donkey Kong bedevils my days and nights.

Posted by Ross Mar. 13, 2008 @ 8:38 PM EDT

Ever since watching The King of Kong, a documentary with which I'm fairly obsessed, I've been playing some Donkey Kong in my spare time. They talk in the movie about how hard the game is, and they're not kidding - I've been playing awhile and still can't get very far (which may be more a testament to my own skills, or lack thereof).

However, last night I did something momentous (for me). In the movie, there's a line from former head Twin Galaxies head referee Robert Mruczek about how the average gamer will never make it past the third elevator stage (there are four types of stages - barrels, rivets, elevators, and pie factory). The third elevator stage is the 4th board of the 4th level, and last night, I made it there! I was so excited that I took a screenshot at the beginning of the level (I play on MAME).

My goals for playing Donkey Kong are:

1. Make it to the infamous third elevator stage (now completed)
2. Make it past the third elevator stage (chance of happening: 25%)
3. Make it to the Donkey Kong kill screen (chance of happening: 0.001% - the kill screen is the 22nd level, only a handful of people have ever made it there)

Donkey Kong is a brutal, unforgiving game - but last night, it got just a little closer to becoming my bitch. Look out, monkey! (And look out Mike, who has also become a devotee of the game and will probably always be better than me.)

Updated: 03/13/08 11:04 PM Log in to comment! | Share this!

The People Have Spoken

40 Comments

Mar. 13, 2008 | 8:54 PM Vndgl says:

Congratulations! I love those classic games, like tetris or space invaders. I tried DK and got way to frustrated. Good luck!

Mar. 13, 2008 | 9:02 PM LtMcMuffin says:

Yeah.... well I would never make it past the second pie factory :(
That makes me a sad panda.

Mar. 13, 2008 | 9:07 PM AlexPerson says:

Those damn springs always got me.

Mar. 13, 2008 | 9:12 PM SoulMaster71 says:

Hmm. Playing Donkey Kong was probably the best part of my vacation back in 2006; yeah, I know, not the best way to spend a vacation, but it was the first and only time I ever got to play it. I only got to the fourth screen though, before I ran out of quarters... Still, I would like to play it again sometime, preferably without worrying about financial limits.

Mar. 13, 2008 | 9:25 PM Yinyangpenguin says:

Haven't played that game in a while.

Mar. 13, 2008 | 9:26 PM Cheddar79 says:

You sir are a legend. You are setting video game goals!!!

I am in awe.

Mar. 13, 2008 | 10:13 PM jmtb02 says:

Yeah, that movie had me heading over to Twin Galaxies as well. There I found that the world record for Super Mario Bros 2 is short of 9 minutes, 15 seconds. I have been working daily to better my game, I am getting better... I used to have a 15 minute run but lately I've been able to get to the last stage in less than 12 minutes... something to definitely work on for fun.

Mar. 13, 2008 | 11:05 PM SamIam says:

Would you like me to make a video tutorial on how to pass it. The only way to beat the level is Patience.

Mar. 14, 2008 | 2:21 AM Ross responds:

I would love to see you get past the third elevator stage. I need to study the DVD of "King of Kong" a little more carefully to get the timing down - I think I'm slowly picking it up on my own, but I'm impatient. :\

Mar. 13, 2008 | 11:36 PM WritersBlock says:

Ever since I saw a review for that movie, I've wanted to watch it. It looks interesting.
I haven't really played Donkey Kong much (except for the 2 levels they put in Donkey Kong 64. I think it was that game)
Anyway, my brother's a bit of a Donkey Kong fan, playing it whenever he sees it in an arcade, and then bragging how he beat the top score for that machine. I don't think he's made it that far though, most people tend to bomb out early. =P

Mar. 14, 2008 | 3:35 AM Nuttro says:

there a part you get up to where it glitches and i cant get pass it O.o

Mar. 14, 2008 | 12:17 PM Ross responds:

That would be the kill screen on level 22 - you can actually make it there? I'm a skeptic...

Mar. 14, 2008 | 2:03 PM mongoid says:

I had the pleasure of watching KoK:FoQ in the theaters. Everyone was laughing their ass off. So much so that it made it hard to hear some of the dialogue. I'd heard about it through a friend who said she'd put a gun to my head if I didn't watch it. What an awesome show! The DVD is MINE once I get a little more cash.

We raced home after the show and played Donkey Kong on the Wii. After an hour and a half I'm happy to say that I made it to the 4th level. They weren't fucking around, that game IS hard!

I dressed up as Billy Mitchell for Haloween. Unfortunately, I have no pictures to prove this, but believe me, it was spectacular. Luka M and jmtb02 are witnesses.

Mar. 14, 2008 | 3:01 PM schtic says:

I tried playing the original D.K, but it was way too hard.
I was used to regular sidescrollers where falling two feetdosen't kill you.

Mar. 14, 2008 | 4:39 PM Ross responds:

It's all part of the game...

Mar. 14, 2008 | 5:53 PM Paper-Shadow says:

According to the 'Guinness Book of World Records Gamers Edition 2008' (Which was made with the help of Twin Galaxies, so that is a funny corincidence), the current record holder said 'Donkey Kong without question is the toughest game... The average Donkey Kong game doesn't last a minute. It's absolute brutality'...

It's also says about the movie, and about how the current record holder reclaimed his tile a few weeks before the movie was released, so that is funny too...

Mar. 14, 2008 | 10:27 PM Ross responds:

Those quotes are from the movie (where they also talk about contributing to Guiness - the whole 2nd part of it is about the competition to make it into Guiness).

Mar. 14, 2008 | 6:25 PM Nuttro says:

yer i got sick of playin this game cause every time i get through with it my guy just dies for no reason, IT SO ENOYING so i gave up donkey kong

Mar. 14, 2008 | 6:31 PM mrwinneranimator says:

When I was a kid I had this game on my game boy color, I don´t know if it was easier in that or im to good becouse I passed all the game.

Mar. 14, 2008 | 10:27 PM Ross responds:

That's a whole different (easier) game.

Mar. 14, 2008 | 8:33 PM voidshatter says:

tell us when you get the kill screen, all of NG will celebrate by dressing up in plumber suits and fighting gorillas

Mar. 14, 2008 | 8:43 PM PiGPEN says:

Once you beat the first 4 levels, beating them over and over again on the higher levels is easy.
I got to level 16 before i got bored and quit.

Mar. 14, 2008 | 10:28 PM Ross responds:

Level 16 - should've kept going for six more and made the kill screen...

Mar. 14, 2008 | 9:53 PM BillSkelton says:

I've played this game a whole bunch of times on an actual arcade machine but I'm sick of looking like a chump and wasting my money. I want to get better. Can you tell me how you got MAME to work? I can't for the life of me.

Mar. 14, 2008 | 10:28 PM Ross responds:

You download MAME, you download the Donkey Kong ROM, and you... run it? It's not rocket science.

Mar. 15, 2008 | 2:34 PM SaltshakerClock says:

I have the old fashion DK on my wii, it's impossible to play with the classic controller.

Mar. 15, 2008 | 7:41 PM RabidSquirrelStudios says:

A lot of those old MAME games are close to impossible, buut once you get the hang of it you can finish it no problem. Getting the hang of it can take a shit long time, though.

Good luck, I guess. With a few days of playing it, straight out, you might just make it. If not, you can remember yourself as being a failure.

Mar. 15, 2008 | 8:12 PM Ross responds:

See that's the thing. When you're young, you can spend three days straight playing a game. When you get old like me... not as easy. I have to fit in my DK games around other stuff (and I don't even have kids).

Mar. 15, 2008 | 8:55 PM KingKrab says:

Well thats good for you, i havent played Donkey Kong since i wus like five, and it didnt have ne color. also, is ther neway to get this game for free, like on the interweb? also, kool pic

Mar. 15, 2008 | 11:52 PM mastershake141 says:

I love that fucking monkey, seriously, donkeykong is a great game.

Mar. 16, 2008 | 6:33 AM The-Red-Jack says:

I can't even get past level 2 :(

Mar. 18, 2008 | 1:37 AM farfenwaffle says:

??? whats so hard about that game? iv passed the game through 2 times and gotten to level 8.

Mar. 19, 2008 | 10:11 AM Ross responds:

I don't think you're on board with level numbering scheme we're using.

Mar. 18, 2008 | 2:42 AM Nuttro says:

oi farfenwaffle! some ppl find this game very challenging, my bro cant do level 3

Mar. 18, 2008 | 2:52 PM ngfan14 says:

wow, you good at donkey kong, I can only get past the first level
good luck at getting to the 22nd level

Mar. 18, 2008 | 5:35 PM Circleman22 says:

Thank you buddy, now im trying to beat this thing. Im gonna need alot of energy drinks for this one....

Mar. 21, 2008 | 5:30 PM ganon95 says:

classic gaming at its best! =] just be happy it wasn't "made in china" if you know what i mean >.> <.<

Mar. 23, 2008 | 12:36 PM Ross responds:

I'm afraid I don't...

Mar. 22, 2008 | 11:56 PM JonBro says:

A documentary about the best Donkey Kong players in the world?

WHY WASN'T I INFORMED ABOUT THIS?!

Mar. 23, 2008 | 4:29 PM Theownerofnoobs says:

Goodluck man. You sure got father then I ever got.
Donkey kong arcade 4 ever.

Mar. 25, 2008 | 8:58 PM Laughingbox says:

Yeah, those games were pretty hard. I'll be sad that you're gone, Ross. :(

Mar. 25, 2008 | 9:06 PM emanhattan says:

donkey kong pwns

Mar. 26, 2008 | 3:00 PM gelgabe says:

I suck at this but it is fun.Those damn fireballs kill me always...and my brother distracts me a lot!!!

Mar. 27, 2008 | 4:50 PM killingspree2 says:

Donkey Kong is a great game!Too bad i have not played this classic game...

Mar. 27, 2008 | 4:51 PM killingspree2 says:

Donkey Kong rox

Apr. 5, 2008 | 9:04 PM puddinN64 says:

That's so awesome. I'm glad the game is getting a second life.

Apr. 8, 2008 | 3:06 AM Lunarstalker says:

When my dad discovered Donkey Kong, I was 8. (back in 92) I remember waking up every night after he'd get off work to the sound of our console's controller being smashed on the floor, or being thrown against the wall....(still don't know why the dang thing had to be in my room).

Anyways, about three weeks ago I picked up a bunch of classic games....and about 2 weeks ago they all were sold ( damn pacman, donkey kong, and pitfall made a fool of me...FPS is where I'm staying from now on.

Apr. 9, 2008 | 7:19 AM WolfBlitz2 says:

have you tried donkey john?
it like donkey kong only with john howard's face and he throw oil barrels at you and it is scored by money

Apr. 21, 2008 | 10:11 AM Nondo says:

Have you ever played Donkey Kong 64 for the N64? During that game, they actually made you play this classic Donkey Kong game. I'm not 100% sure, but I think they also made you not able to progress through the game, without beating the 4th stage. (It's been too long since I played that game, so my memory of it wasn't too great)

Apr. 30, 2008 | 3:33 PM Sterance says:

ross... I MISS YOU! rob never says anything interesting.