Donkey Kong: 2016 Remake Longplay (C64) [50 FPS]

Developed and released by Oxyron in 2016

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Foreword: the game has no ending, so I played 5 rounds to demonstrate the various levels and difficulty settings.

I decided to check out another modern C64 game for today's video, this time a conversion of Nintendo's classic arcade game, Donkey Kong. Two versions of the game were made available commercially for the C64 back during the 1980's, one by Atarisoft, the other by Ocean. I've covered both versions in separate longplay videos and reviews, and both are quite decent conversions in their respective ways.

Fast-forward to 2016 and Demoscene group, Oxyron, released their own version of the game, one that aims to be a more complete version of the game. Interest piqued, I decided to take a look.

This will be a fairly short review because it's simply Donkey Kong, and if you're unfamiliar with the game then where on Earth have you been living for the last 30 years?!

In short, the game features Jumpman (Super Mario before he was given his own game) as he attempts to rescue a damsel in distress from the titular Kong, a massive, barrel hurling gorilla who has retreated to the top of a skyscraper. Jumpman must avoid DK's barrels, lethal, sentient balls of flame and all manner of hazards as he attempts to ascend to the top of the scaffold to rescue fair lady and put an end to Kong's shenanigans.

Oxyron's version of the game opens with a fantastic title graphic showing, accompanied by a SID rendition of the title tune from Rare's Donkey Kong Country; does anyone else find that Kong bears a resemblance to Gizmo, the Mogwai from the Gremlins movies?

As for the game itself, it's a remarkably solid take on the arcade classic, that's easily as good (if not better) than either of the official C64 versions released back in the day.

Rather than settling for a straight 1:1 recreation of the arcade version, the Oxyron release features it's own graphic style (although it's closer to the Ocean release than the Atarisoft version). I particularly liked the Jumpman sprite, with this flat cap and oversized hooter and moustache.

As for the game's audio, everything from the arcade version is present and correct. From the looping background music, to the sound made by jumping over barrels, this game has got it all and sounds great to boot.

Oxyron crammed in all the levels from the arcade version, as well as the ever-increasing level of difficulty. With each increase in difficulty, the speed at which enemies move increases and the more levels you have to beat in order to reach the next difficulty.

My one criticism with the game is the slightly questionable pathing routines of the fireballs on the final scaffold level (with rivets). They tended to congregate at the end of platforms and make life difficult when trying to climb the ladders on the sides of the building.

In any case the guys at Oxyron did an excellent job in putting together a really polished version of the game that, in my opinion, passes as the definitive edition of the game available on the Commodore 64.
#retrogaming