Donkey Kong / Donkey Kong Jr / Mario Bros

Donkey Kong / Donkey Kong Jr / Mario Bros

Overview & History

Released by Nintendo between 1981 and 1983, this legendary arcade triple-feature chronicles the genesis of Shigeru Miyamoto’s platforming empire. Starting with the genre-defining Donkey Kong, where a jump-man named Jumpman (later Mario) must rescue Pauline from a maddened ape, the saga evolved rapidly. In 1982's Donkey Kong Jr., the roles inverted: players control the titular infant ape climbing vines to rescue his caged father from a vengeful, whip-wielding Mario. Finally, 1983’s Mario Bros. shifted the paradigm from vertical climbing to fixed-screen, co-operative anti-gravity combat in the New York sewers, introducing Mario's brother, Luigi, and the iconic green shell mechanics. This triumvirate established Nintendo as an arcade titan before the 1983 video game crash.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Each cabinet iteration introduces distinctly different physics and objectives. In Donkey Kong, players navigate perilous steel girders while leaping over rolling barrels and avoiding fireballs, using a trusty hammer for temporary invincibility. Donkey Kong Jr. swaps jumping for a gripping vine-mechanic, where players must time dual-vine ascents and dodge snapjaws across four hazard-filled stages. Mario Bros. abandons scrolling entirely, tasking brothers with hitting platforms from underneath to flip pests—like Sidesteppers and Fighter Flies—onto their backs before drop-kicking them into the abyss. Collecting POW blocks wipes the screen clear of threats, elevating cooperative strategy and quick reflexes.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause