Vimm's Lair: NES Reviews - Donkey Kong 3

Nintendo
Donkey Kong 3

Graphics:
Sound:
Gameplay:
Overall:
8.94
8.84
8.83
8.80
Votes: 70
Reviews: 2


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Reviewer: Seth Koopa Date: Oct 4, 2006
This is just wrong. I don't even want to know what was going through the head of whoever thought this up. When I think of a game that I would like, the last thing that comes to mind is a game where you physically abuse a gorilla with a spray can - over and over again. But that is exactly what Donkey Kong 3 is about, possibly the most infamous NES game ever created - and certainly the most blatantly 'wrong' idea for a video game that I've ever come across.

Graphics: 6
Okay, to clear up the technical points. The graphics are quite more flowing than in the first two games (on that note, this game has absolutely nothing to do with them, concept wise). Still, they're nothing spectacular. The flies are okayish and the big, mean flies I find quite scary, actually. The best use of graphics is rendered with the star attraction, Donkey Kong. Aside from that, the graphics may be no Carnegie-winners (not that that's saying much), but they're well carried-through for games of this era.

Sound: 4
There is hardly any music to speak of. The 'super spray' tune and the death tune shake things up a bit; the latter sets the dark tone for the game. But really, there's no sound to plead for a proper rating. The death effect and musical passage make up most of this score.

Gameplay: 1
Simply put, what were you thinking? The acid trip of a premise is as follows; you are in a greenhouse, and so is Donkey Kong (???). Apparently this is of great concern, so what do you do? Why, the most humane thing you can; drive him out of there by spraying the great ape up his butthole with a spraycan!
............................................ (cough)
This game is almost unbeatably hard without the super spray, as you can only take one hit and those flies are everywhere. Besides, the premise does not exactly induce you to keep going (and if you're the humane short, you'll most likely be put off very quickly).

Overall: 1
Repetitive, lifeless and pointless. But it's simply for how disgusting the premise is that Donkey Kong 3 gets one of my few bottom scores. To quote the tagline for which my chosen rating stands: "Make it stop!" Donkey Kong is sending you that message every second you play this game. His expression takes away any doubt. Have a heart.

Whoever made this, I hope you got fired.

 

Reviewer: Chris Bowen Date: Jul 7, 2001
I can kind of understand where the negative vibes for this game come from, but this game, despite having almost NOTHING to do with the first two DKs other than the big ape being in it, is very fun to play. You control a bug exterminator whose job is to spray DK up to the top of the screen, while avoiding the mean, nasty bugs that are out to get you. You can get a power up (a more powerful sprayer) once you get DK high enough on the screen to help you out. This game follows the classic arcade formula perfectly: start off easy and fun, then introduce more challenging gameplay aspects to the better gamers. Not my favourite arcade translation of all time, but still pretty damn good.