Donkey Kong Jr.

Famicom Disk System

Famicom Disk System

Mario has gone mad! He's turned the tables on Donkey Kong and locked him in a cage. It's up to you, as Donkey Kong Jr., to rescue your father by stealing Mario's set of keys. But it won't be easy. You'll have to fight off ape-eating Snapjaws, jump onto moving islands and break through a jungle of...

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Developer
Nintendo

Released on
1988

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Famicom Disk System

Requirements
Nintendo Famicom Disk System

Downloads
Platform

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Mario has gone mad! He’s turned the tables on Donkey Kong and locked him in a cage. It’s up to you, as Donkey Kong Jr., to rescue your father by stealing Mario’s set of keys. But it won’t be easy. You’ll have to fight off ape-eating Snapjaws, jump onto moving islands and break through a jungle of vines to get to the keys that will free Donkey Kong. Can you handle the action? Because this off-the-wall monkey business will have you going bananas!

Donkey Kong Jr.

Overview & History

Released in 1983 as an arcade sequel before hitting Nintendo’s innovative Famicom Disk System (FDS) in 1988, *Donkey Kong Jr.* flips the script on the iconic coin-op rivalry. In this unique narrative, Mario (then known as Jumpman) has imprisoned the original Donkey Kong in a cage as revenge for the first game's events. Players take control of the titular infant ape, Junior, whose sole mission is to scale treacherous stages, dodge snapping wire-traps, and rescue his captive father. The FDS version benefited from the disk format's data capabilities, delivering crisp audio and faithful translation of the arcade aesthetics directly into Japanese living rooms.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike his predecessor Mario, Donkey Kong Jr. possesses distinct, vertical-heavy traversal mechanics. Players must master the art of vine-climbing—sliding down vines at breakneck speeds while slowly hoisting Junior upward, or grabbing two vines simultaneously to climb twice as fast. Each of the four stages presents unique environmental hazards, ranging from snapjaws and electric sparks to bird-like enemies called Nitpickers that drop deadly eggs. The game tests spatial awareness and timing, culminating in a final confrontation where players must push keys into top-tier locks to spring Donkey Kong from his cage, sending Mario tumbling downward in defeat.