.... Atari.... 16k
ROM.... 1/2 players....
This
is the second part in what might be termed `the exploits of Mario'. In
case you did not know the story began with 'Mario the Mad Carpenter'
rescuing his girlfriend, or trying to, from an even more mad gorilla
called Kong.
In the second part of this delightful tale, Mario completely flips his
lid, kicks out his girlfriend and imprisons Kong in a cage. Fortunately
for Kong, his little lad, Kong Junior, finds out what sadistic Mario has
done and sets out to the rescue. Mario, having experienced Kong's
defence system creates one of his own. Thus the scene is set for our
intrepid hero Kong Junior.
Mario's defences are very 'ape-oriented' with lots of ropes to climb and
delicious fruit including, inevitably, bananas to grab. There are four
different screens in all and they require practice to complete.
The first screen requires Kong Junior to climb ropes and jump chimney
pots while avoiding Mario's deadly pets, the Snapjaws! Looking rather
like oversized crocodile clips these come in two varieties, purple and
blue. Purple Snapjaws move up and down the ropes whilst the blue ones
slide down the ropes very quickly and drop off the end. Both types can
be destroyed by dropping fruit on them. Kong is chained up in his cage
at the top of the screen and when Junior finally reaches him, Mario
pulls the cage out of reach off the screen.
The
second screen is totally different Now Kong Junior has to push several
keys up their ropes to the scaffolding at the top. He is hindered by the
Snapjaws and a squadron of geese who flap across the screen at different
heights trying to dislodge him. When all the keys have been pushed home
there is a delightful animated scene of Kong Jr. rescuing his dad and
Kong kicking Mario who goes spinning into the sky.
All
this fun is, however, short-lived for in screen three Kong is imprisoned
again and Kong Junior has to climb ropes and ladders, travel across
moving platforms and jump on a trampoline all while avoiding the geese
who now drop eggs on him!
It is beyond my power (and sanity!) to reach the fourth screen which
apparently is the most difficult of all! As in Donkey Kong the screens
are split up and run in the order 1,2,1,3,2,4 and the game has one or
two player options, choice of difficulty level and a freeze option.
Donkey
Kong Junior is the best of the series with good graphics - colourful,
detailed and original - and with good sound. The game is highly
addictive and the expression on Kong Junior's face when he gets killed
just has to be seen!
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