Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong is a classic that pretty much set the stage for platformers and introduced the world to Mario, (yes, Mario it's actually a spin-off). The premise is simple but effective: a giant ape kidnaps your girlfriend, Pauline, and you gotta climb your way up a series of scaffolding levels to save her. Each stage throws obstacles at you, from rolling barrels to fireballs, and the controls are tight enough to make every death feel like your fault (even when it totally isn’t). The game’s got that perfect "easy to learn, hard to master" vibe, where the first level feels like a breeze until you hit the later stages and realize how brutal old-school arcade design could be.  

The level variety keeps things fresh, even if there are only four stages. You’ve got the classic construction site, the elevator level with its annoying bouncing springs, the conveyor belts that mess with your timing, and the final stage where you remove the rivets to drop Donkey Kong. It’s a short ride, but the difficulty curve makes it feel way longer than it is. And yeah, the game loops after you beat it, getting faster and more chaotic each time, because back then, games weren’t about endings, they were about seeing how long you could survive.  

Now, you can tell the pics I’ve been posting aren’t the OG Donkey Kong. Nah, we’re talking about Donkey Kong Redux, a romhack that gives the NES version a full visual glow-up while keeping the classic gameplay intact. And man, does it look slick. This isn’t just some lazy upscale: every fucking tile, every sprite, even the little UI details have been redrawn or touched up to make the game feel fresh without losing that retro charm. Donkey Kong’s fur has more texture, Mario’s overalls pop with better colors, and the stages look crisper while still feeling like the same old death traps we know and love.  

What’s cool is how faithful the upgrades are. The hack just polishes everything to modern pixel-art standards. The barrels look more detailed, the fireballs actually look like real enemies now, and even Pauline’s animations got a little extra flair. The best part? The gameplay’s untouched. Same brutal difficulty, same tight controls, just with visuals that don’t feel like they’re fighting the NES’s limitations. Now if only it could make the game any easier… Nah, kidding! Where’s the fun in that?

Now, the big ape’s waiting, and Pauline ain’t saving herself, so grab your hammer and JUMP IN! Whether you’re rolling with the OG 1994 Game Boy classic, the hardcore Arcade original, or the slick Redux remaster, I’ve got the version that’ll make your thumbs ache (or rage). Scan those QR codes, and in no time, you’ll be dodging barrels, hopping girders, and shaking your fist at DK’s smug face like it’s 1981 all over again.

The timer’s ticking. The music’s speeding up. So what’s it gonna be, champ? Game Boy, Arcade, or Redux? Pick your poison, fire up your Remote Install, and let’s see if you’ve got what it takes to climb to the top!