Release: 1983
Genre: Platform
Developer: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Atari Corporation
A classic arcade game makes its way to the VIC-20
Released in 1983 for the Commodore VIC-20, Donkey Kong brought Nintendo’s iconic arcade game to home consoles, delivering the challenging platforming action that had made the arcade version a huge success. While the VIC-20 version had to scale down some of the visual complexity of the original, it still captured the spirit of the arcade game, allowing players to take on the roles of Mario as he tried to rescue Pauline from the clutches of the mischievous Donkey Kong.
Simplified graphics, but the same classic gameplay
The VIC-20 version of Donkey Kong maintained the core gameplay mechanics of the original, including jumping over barrels, dodging fire, and climbing ladders to reach the top. However, due to the limitations of the VIC-20 hardware, the graphics were simpler, and the sound was more basic compared to the arcade version. Despite these limitations, the game was still engaging, challenging players to navigate the different levels and complete the objectives while evading Donkey Kong’s obstacles.
A milestone in home gaming
As one of the first major arcade titles to be successfully adapted to a home console, Donkey Kong on the VIC-20 was an important milestone in video game history. It introduced home gamers to the world of arcade classics and paved the way for more arcade-to-home conversions in the years to come. Despite its technical limitations, the VIC-20 version of Donkey Kong remains a key piece of retro gaming history, showing how iconic arcade games found a new life on home systems.