Donkey Kong 1994 (Gameboy) was ahead of its time

Why?

Mario in this game has more moves than any version of Mario until 1996's Mario 64. The 3D platformer! Here's proof: LINK

Just skip around in the video and look at the moves Mario does. If I remember right, this had the first wall jump as well.


I played this game on my Gameboy pocket a whole lot. Then one day I used a car charger that had multiple prongs for different devices, and put the wrong prong into the Gameboy and fried it. It fried the game too.

2 years ago after always searching for it in used video game shops I happened upon Donkey Kong GB again! So, I now have it.


Let me just say this game has other things ahead of it's time. There's pretty elaborate cut scenes in between worlds.

And each of the upper levels had some sort of manipulation. Like you build a ladder where you want. You build a block where you want to reach higher or jump safer.

Then there was an aspect where your moves are removed when you carry a key to a door. And for the first time in a game, I think, the key Mario carries is a weapon! (you can see this in the playthrough vid linked above)

And one last thing about the key, if you place it down for too long, it respawns at it's original location.



So, this game is way ahead of its time with the moves Mario makes and the impact he has on the world as he solves levels and defeats enemies. It's all set to another famous Mario character Donkey Kong, and that is fleshed out in battles and cut scenes.


I highly recommend this game. You can probably find a ROM of it. Somewhere.