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Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:11 am
by BoneSnapDeez
Another one: Donkey Kong. As in, the arcade game, via the Switch.

Damn this has held up well. I forgot how good the original is, as I've been accustomed to console ports for so long.

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:32 am
by marurun
I have no experience with the arcade. Only the ColecoVision version. But I think that version was pretty good BitD.

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:48 am
by BoneSnapDeez
You're even older than I am but never ran across a DK cabinet? Oh man, that was a fixture in every pizza parlor and sub shop here.

Coleco port is solid, but missing a stage.

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 12:18 pm
by marurun
I ran into them, but I was an age where I was drawn to flashier titles. It wasn't until I graduated college I think I would really have been able to appreciate Donkey Kong in an arcade cab.

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 2:37 pm
by prfsnl_gmr
I’m almost through all of the content in Mario vs. Donkey Kong Minis March Again! (NDS). I rolled the credits a while ago, but like the first game in the series (or Demon’s Souls...), this Minis March Again! doesn’t really pick up until you get to the “plus” mode.

I ended up really liking this series, and am really grateful for this month’s TR introducing me to it. Minis March Again! is, basically, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 3, and completing it will put me halfway through the series. It looks like Nintendo kept monkeying (pun intended) with the formula after this entry, and I am excited to play the other games. I could see myself polishing off the series by the end of the year pretty easily.

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 10:34 pm
by pook99
Started playing donkey kong country 2 for snes the other day. After giving up on ape escape I decided to play a game which I figured would be a no brainer for this month. Most people agree that DKC 2 is the best in the series and some even put it on a pedestal alongside games like Mario World.

I never actually played through this game but I have always been meaning too and I'm glad that this months theme finally made me play it. I'm not finished with it yet(I just beat world 5 so I'm near the end) but I am really liking what I have played so far. The level design in this game is really good, and there is a ton of variety in the levels, so the game never gets stale. The game also feels a lot better than the newer games, although I did enjoy both returns and tropical freeze, one complaint I had is how fat and clunky DK feels. This game has much smoother and faster control which I like.

I'm also enjoying the challenge of the game, it is pretty hard and I almost never beat a level on my first run. I know the game has a reputation for being one of the hardest games of all time, I certainly wouldn't go that far, but it is a nice challenge.

My only real gripe is the asinine save system that often has you playing for way too long between saves. The first save on each world is free and then after that it costs 2 coins per save, that system is not so bad, what is annoying is it does not save between worlds so after beating a boss you often have to play several levels into the next world before you get to the next save point. It is just frustrating because typically I like to beat a world and then take a break and this system does not let me do that. You get used to it, but it is definitely a relic of the past.

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 9:52 am
by BoneSnapDeez
The original has an oddly-placed save point system too. Candy Kong appears after level 3(-ish?) in each world, from what I recall.

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 5:55 pm
by Ack
BoneSnapDeez wrote:The original has an oddly-placed save point system too. Candy Kong appears after level 3(-ish?) in each world, from what I recall.

Yeah, and you don't get access to backtrack until later, so you have to make it through a couple of levels after every boss before you can save again. I remember getting stuck on some kind of cave level at one point because of this.

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:21 am
by marurun
And so Together Retro March 2019 is over. I didn't manage to finish my chosen game, but I will still plug away at it. Something about preparing to switch jobs really puts a cramp in game progress. I picked up Mario vs Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem specifically for this TR and I'm glad I did. Someday you will see a review of it in Games Beaten 2019, I guarantee!

I found it really interesting to read all your thoughts on your various monkey-themed explorations, and I thank you for joining me in this month's event. GG!

Re: March Together Retro: Arthur, Monkeys!

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 5:31 pm
by pook99
Just in time for the month, I finished DKC 2 last night.

Overall, the game was very enjoyable and I get why it is so highly regarded. My one major complaint is towards the end of the game there are some levels that have a real trial and error feel to it and I just hate that style of difficulty. The save system also sucks balls and to circumvent this I just replayed the first level over and over again. The first level in the game is short, easy, and will net you 4-5 lives per run and 1 coin. Playing through this level a handful of times gives you tons of extra lives and extra coins meaning the asinine save system is less in your face since you will have tons of lives and surplus money to save. Still annoying but not as bad.

It is a great game though, the graphics are amazing for their time, the controls are smooth and responsive, the soundtrack is catchy, the animal companions are a ton of fun to use, and I don't know why the later entires in the series dropped this part of the game for the most part, and the level design is largely well done and varied.

Despite the few annoying trial and error levels you can really feel the rare influence in this game. Every level is so unique and offers so many cool things, this game never gets stale, and it really is a wonder to see the creativity in the levels this game has to offer. I still prefer the solid standard gameplay of Super Mario World, but I'm hard pressed to think of another platformer in this era that offers such a nice variety of cleverly designed levels.

The game is definitely a must play, and I'm glad this month gave me an excuse to finally play it.