Confession Time: I suck at Donkey Kong

[Rok]

I have NEVER been good at Donkey Kong. I have no idea why.

Thus, I am currently trying to suck less at it, and was crazy excited about posting a 39600 high score today.

Anyone else have this problem with Donkey Kong or another game?

[yotsuya]

I hear you, my friend. I kept getting stuck at around 35-45,000, then one night, recently, I got 96,000 or so. Sometimes, you just get in a zone!!!! Keep practicing, you'll get there!

[wweumina]

What screen(s) are you dying the most on?

Barrels - Get used to watching/controlling barrels a couple of levels above you (ironically the control gets easier a few levels in)
Rivets - Use the established pattern with a bit of patience.
Springs - Shouldn't be an issue at that score. Are u taking the shortcut?
Pies - Keep an eye on the flames as they start off and hurry right if all clear. Be patient if it doesn't work early but move quickly when u make ur run.

[Mr.Ian]

Reference material

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/

 

Or just keep practicing 

[Hoopz]

Lots of good info in this thread:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=79757.0

[alfonzotan]

Try practicing with Krazy Kong for a while.  It's a bit easier, and you can get to play all four of the screens in the first round.

[Malenko]

good news for you, your high score is higher than my high score

[Cynicaster]

I was too young to appreciate the game when it was current, and I’ve spent very little time (as in, minutes not hours) playing the game since I built my cabinet last year.  I think I almost didn’t want to like it because I’ve become so tired of it getting so much attention while other great games slip further and further toward oblivion with each passing day. 

But just last night I fired it up on a whim, and after dying what felt like 100 times on the first screen, I found it pretty engaging.  Frustrating, sure, but it reeled me in for a solid hour or so (would have been longer if it wasn’t after midnight on a work night).  Not sure what happened, but I now admit, this is a really fun game.  High score so far: 45k and change.  Look out Bill Mitchell. 

I’ve heard so much about the “third elevator stage” being ridiculously hard, and I’m kind of looking forward to conquering that challenge.  I’ve read the tips, now I just need to make it that far to give it a try.  I will survive, dammit! 

Question—on the 2nd elevator stage, is there any must-know trick to getting up that last ladder?  Do I need to wait for one of the springs that lands to the left of DK’s foot on its first bounce, or can it be done on any spring with the right timing? 

[Paul Olson]

I haven't been able to score more than 130k in probably 2 years now. I was close to 300k, then I stopped playing for a while. I only play 1 or 2 games a month now, so I don't know if I will ever get back to where I was. It was taking about 45 minutes per game, and I think that is just too long for me. I start to get bored, and then die quickly. I amazed that the top players can stay focused like that for 2.5 hours to finish the game.

[Rok]

My worst stage is probably the first one with the barrels. I don't know how to control barrels and I'm just not good at timing jumps.

For the rivets, I generally go up the left and then work down the right side.

Elevators haven't been a huge problem. I don't usually take the short cut (I'm assuming you meaning jumping off the second elevator at the higher exit?) but I don't have too much issues with it.

Pie stage I've only made it to once, but did OK on it.

Gonna take a few more cracks at it tomorrow. Hopefully improve my score some more.

[mo1e]

Have you seen the movie king of kong ROK? its great and i suck at donkey kong also

[Paul Olson]

Check out the guides here: http://www.coinopspace.com/group/donkeykongfans

Those should help anyone get up and running. The guides were created by members here and at KLOV.

[Gray_Area]

I think the best beginner strategy in the first level is to get done as quick as possible - especially the first girders, as barrel control isn't often necessary, but also often doesn't work half the time. (Level 2 and on, it's important.) Don't fret if you can't use a hammer, or even either of them - even on the rivet screen.

Later....: I decided to try this strategy for the entirety of a game, grabbing a hammer only when necessary, and bypassing most of the goodies not immediately in my way. I got to level five, but at twenty to thirty grand less.

[vanrose72]

My son still gets frustrated with that cunning ape.