Donkey Kong Redux
A downloadable game for Windows
When I was 10 years old I got a C64 and thought it could be programmed in natural language. I literally wrote something like:
"I want a game where I am a plumber who needs to avoid barrels that Kong launches, by jumping them. I need to reach the top of the screen, I can get a hammer etc..."
Unfortunately I only got a syntax error in exchange of my passionate description of the game.
35 years later I found the will to try it again and this time things have gone a bit better.
With this project I am willing to replicate the behaviour of the original Donkey Kong by Nintendo.
I tried to simulate the game logic and timing spending multiple hours watching videos of the original game.
Game copyrights belong entirely to Nintendo.
As a Nintendo's games lover I wanted to express my tribute to the Mario/Donkey Kong serie and to game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.
Game programming is now completed with four brand new levels added on the top of the 4 original ones.
Online Global Scores
Version 2.0.0
- Game is designed at its original resolution of 224x256 pixels at 60 FPS
- The 4 original levels + 4 New levels
- Game logic, controls, collisions
- Difficulty increases each time player completes all levels
- Local score saving (it saves scores in clear ini file)
- Online score saving
- Ingame display of top 10 online scores
- Animations and scripted sequences among levels
- Enemies (Barrels, Fires, Springs, Cement Pies, Fireballs, Fireghosts, etc)
- Full Sounds and Music
- Joypad support
- Arcade/Redux Mode
Arcade Mode is meant to play the original 4 levels in the same order as in the Jap version of DK. Name and Score are saved only if higher than 5th place.
Redux Mode features 4 new levels (5,6,7,8). Starting level can be selected from whichever one has already been played. Name and Score are always saved.
Changelog:
ver 2.0.0
- Added ingame display of top 10 online scores
- Removed dependency on 3rd party scripts
- Fixed bug with audio samples in main game menu
- Fixed bug of Mario playing fall sample when walking away from horizzontal platforms
ver 1.9.0
- Fixed url address to point to new game webpage
- Fixed sound volume for some of the audio samples
- Added toggle Sound On/Off button
- Added visual representation of remaining turtles on level 6
ver 1.8.0
- Fixed bug with DirectInput gamepads
- Fixed bug with Windows taskbar not showing game window
- Improved ladder's climb routine
- Added WASD to control player
- Added Splash screen
ver 1.7.0
- Added level 6
- Added new Intro at level 5
- Name entered in the High Scores is cached (Redux Mode only)
- On level 6, destroyed bombs increase score
ver 1.6.0
- Fixed bug with Mario jump routine
- Fixed bug with extra life at 7000 points
- Added level 7
- Added support for DirectInput gamepads
ver 1.5.0
- Normalized sounds effects
- Starting level can now be selected in Redux mode
Play instructions
Game Controls
Arrow Keys/WASD/Joypad Left stick: Movement
CTRL/Space/Enter/Joypad B0/B1: Jump
CTRL/Space/Enter/Joypad B0/B1: Start Game - Skip Cut Scenes
P: Pause Game
ESC: Exit Game
M: Toggle FPS display on screen
I: Toggle image color interpolation
B: Toggle Vsync (Disabled by default)
L: Toggle Alternate Sync Method
F: Toggle FullScren mode
N: Toggle Sound On/Off
Download
Install instructions
Extract the zip file and run the DonkeyKongRedux200 executable
Development log
- ver 2.0.0 released. In game world recordsMay 01, 2023
- Ver 1.9.0 releasedApr 06, 2022
- Thinking of a last, extra levelSep 27, 2019
- Ver 1.8.0 releasedJul 07, 2019
- Ver 1.7.0 releasedJun 20, 2019
- Ver 1.6.0 releasedMay 24, 2019
- Massive score set by DalarMay 17, 2019
- Monkey Island 2.9Apr 19, 2019
Comments
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Putos
Hi would you be able to share the project file of an old version of this with some comments. im trying to learn to program and want to make an old arcade style game in gms2.
I made a recording of my 153K PB :)
That's great, I was going to ask you if you had recorded that session!
If you're ok I would link that video in the main page, I look forward to hearing from you.
You can link :)
DAL-RNG who is possibly our long term player Dalar, set an incredible score of 153900 points which is far higher than any other previously recorded hi-score. I see that it was achived playing the Redux mode, I would really like to know how was that obtained because so far the highest scores came from the Arcade mode.
@DAL-RNG: Please tell us something about this achievement it you wish to do so.
Superb game! I'm having a great time with it, and I'd love to incorporate it into my MAMEcade. Is there any way to start the game with the blur filter already engaged, rather than having to press "I" each time? Additionally, is there any way to disable the Delorean splash screen, so that the startup looks more like a standard ROM launch?
Thanks!
Hi, I have put the game in my arcade cabinet but I did not enable the blur filter having a CRT monitor fitted into it ;)
I can surely build a version without the splash screen and with blur effect already enabled but although that would be a 1 minute coding thing, you will need to wait for quite some time as my license for the development IDE has expired and I will not renew it before fall/winter as I have zero time do deedicate for development.
Or, I can compile the previous game version, 1.9, and amke it available for you to download. I think it will not be able to save scores online as I did some changes to the code but if you don't care about that, then I can do it anytime, just let me know
That would be great! A re-compiled version 1.9 with blur filtering engaged by default and no splash screen would be absolutely perfect for my MAME setup. I'm not concerned with online score retention, so that loss wouldn't bother me.
Thanks a ton for your work, and for your creativity. It's appreciated :)
Hi, I have uploaded a build without the splash screen and with blur filter enabled, its version is 1.9.1. After you download it I will remove from the page as it could confuse others.
It would be great if you could take a short video of it running on your arcade cab, do you thin you can do that?
That was good game. Do trog in playmation redux version with downloads zip file with tiles and sprites sheets with colored background placeholder instead of white and with sound effects and midi musics
Here's Controller on keyboard:
Rex:
To move: Arrows/Joypad Left stick
To punch or shoot fire balls: Space/Joypad 5
To play or continue: Z
Bloop:
To move: WASD
To punch or shoot fire balls: Q
To play or continue: X
Spike:
To move: TGFH
To punch or shoot fire balls: R
To play or continue: C
Gwen:
To move: IKJL
To punch or shoot fire balls: U
To play or continue: V
Pause: P
Press Insert coin: B
Close Game: ESC
Music on or off: M
Sounds effects on or off: N
Languages: English, Russian
Hi, I downloaded 1.9.0 -- it's not "sending" to global scoreboard? Thanks
Hello Dalar,
Thanks for your feedback.
I can confirm there was a temporary problem due to the APIs from the free service providing country localization.
It seems like they are limiting the queries to only 100 per month.
I switched to a new one which should have no limitations, can you please check playing both arcade and redux?
For Redux expected behaviour is that it saves any score >0 points and set flag to where your IP is identified from.
For Arcade you need to be in the top 5 of your local scores, not a problem for you I would say :)
Welcome back!
Cheers
Raouls
I recently realized that the free hosting service that was used to keep the online scoreboard had expired a few months ago.
Unfortunatley the last DB backup is very old so it will probably be a brand new and empty ladder.
New webpage address is already up, I will need some time to compile a new version of the game so that it points to the new domain.
Stay tuned
That's why my scores are not listed in the leaderboard.
I just downloaded and installed version 1.9.0, it looks good, just like the previous version. Played it only twice, i wil wait playing till the highscore savings wil work again.
Yess, I'm that guy from the Netherlands who set the highscore on 200K+ in 2018....
Looking forward to play again.
Kind regards,
Andreas
are you planning on porting the original mario bros. arcade version while the differences between it and its nes port aren't as jarring it is still the superior version
Yeaaah about that last post. I figured out what i needed to do so you didn't neeld to help me.But i do have one more questionwhat does the 7th level refrence
Amazing game you made! It looks and plays like the Arcade rom but no emulator needed, Fantastic! I love all the new levels you added and it looks and feels like Im playing a brand new remastered Donkey Kong from the 80's all over again. This can be put into a real arcade cabinet, it is that good!
How did you make it so greatly accurate? Did you rip the sprites and sprite movement and the sounds from the Arcade rom?
Was this hard to make?
Very great amazing job! Can we expect more of your creations to come? Would love to see a Arcade to windows port of Popeye and Rastan just like what you did with this one.
Hello RedFox64 and thanks for your compliments.
Sorry for the very late reply, work and private life have become very busy so I can't enjoy spending time on game programming anymore.
Regarding your questions, I manually ripped each frame from the aracade game by running it at original res and saving game session into uncompressed videos, it was so much work!
I have this game running on my arcade cabinet at native resolution, it runs somer smooth, I am so proud of it, will post some video soneer or later :)
The hardest part to make was the timing of each event to make sure it reflected the original game. I literally counted the frames for each action, both the schuedules ones that the random ones.
(i.e. when you complete a level, each step that Donkey Kong does on the latter happens at the exact same timing of the original game, same thing with any score update or even graphic glitches)
Regarding other games, I started with Phoenix but then due to the lact of time I posted here the latest alpha version and never really found the time to go back and continue with it.
In an ideal world if this was my only occupation I could start and complete a remake (plus the extras) in 2 months but unfortunately this is only a passion and work comes first (same for family)
I am pretty sure at some point I will find the time and complete Phoenix, also I'd like to add more levels to DK which is not so complicated to do, so stay tuned.
Both Popeye and Rastan are games I really loved in the '80s but I must admit I loved all them when I was spending time in the arcades ;)
Yesss, 1 year and 2 days later, i did it again, beaten my own highscore, 132700 points.
It's my lucky day..
Kind regards from the Netherlands.......
Andreas
Hi Andreas, I saw your score, congratulations, I should dedicate a section of the Highscore only for you :-)
I need to find the time to play the game myself and beat your record, I have been too busy at work and did not had the chance. Also, I often think to create new levels but that would need a lot of work, will see.
Fantastic rendition of Donkey Kong! Thanks so much for making this! Would happily donate if there was an option to do so. Looking forward to seeing what you do with Phoenix and future projects (Popeye Arcade anyone...?).
Hello,
thanks for the positive feedback, I really tried it to make as much as possible similar to the original one, I really spent hundreds of hours recording videos and studying where every pixel was and the timing for each event.
No worries for donations, I would appreciate if you can make a high-score in the top 50 instead.
Make sure to play the 4 extra levels I added to the game, I know they are difficult but DK itself was known to be a difficult game.
Regarding Phoenix I will soon, very soon, continue developing it, so expect an update within the next 2 months or so.
Not sure about a future project, I was thinking of Kung Fu Master or Double Dragon but I might also just try to create a brand new game, not soon anyway :-)
Popeye or Kung fu master, the best games!!! thank you my friend.
Great recreation of the arcade game! However, some sound effects seem like they're from the NES version. Please fix this.
Edit: I also could've sworn I could jump over those fireballs. And what does level 6 want from me? That purple koopa keeps dashing into me and I can't avoid it
Hi,
level 6, make sure to beat 6 turtles and the purple one will not be a problem anymore ;-)
Thank you, I will do that! Please make this clearer to new players.
EDIT: Apparently, I can't do that! I just got a new computer, with a lot more horsepower than my previous one. The game runs at super-speed now, making anything requiring even a small amount of precision absolutely impossible. Sorry.
EDIT 2: Forgot to mention this in my first edit, but if I set "
AlternateSyncMethod" to 0 in the options.ini file, the sound effects play at a normal pace, but the graphics are nowhere to be found. Hope this helps!
Hi Tertle,
I think the problem is due to the rendering method or Vsync. Can you please try a combination of "B" and "L" during the game? I mean, one of the 4 possibilities should work well based on what I think is causing the super speed at your side
Also, try with your graphic card settings by making sure Vsinc is set for this game
THANK YOU. Pressing "L" works for me!
Yes you can jump over fireballs it's hard to do but works.
Some Dutch player just made over 100K points score, I myself didn't think this was possible!
Hey dude, please post something here, I really want to know more about your record ;-)
It was me....... Andreas
What to tell about the 100k? finish tour levels quick and clean.
Every round the bonus gets higher. Finish 4 rounds and you wil reach 100k.
Greetz from the Netherlands
p,s to the programmer of Redux. a BIG compliment to your work: The best donkey rework i've ever seen. You missed 1 little thing: back in the 80's you could jump out of the screen in level 3. This cleared the level very fast.....
Hi Andreas, thanks for your comment, I really put a lot of hours into this project so it's great to receive good feedback ;)
Finishing the 4 rounds is already too difficult some some players, doing it more than one time in a raw is for pro players :-)
What about the level 3 bug, is there a video you can link so I can check how was that?
Last, did you try the 4 extra levels? For level 5 I mantained the same style but then I wanted to add some extravagance :)
It's obvious that you put in a lot of hours, as i said very good job you've done.
When i play i can finish level 1 and 2 ( 8 rounds ) with 1 mario :-)
About the extra levels: i finished level 5 and gave up on level 6, in my opinion there is to much "waiting" time in it. For that reason i stopt trying to manage 6, 7 and 8. The style of the levels is okay, it looks nice but i like the old stuf 1,2,3,4 and all over again....
I prefer running with mario quiting the rounds as quick as possible.
The glitch in round 1 (ladders and barrels ) in level 3 was up on the first ladder. At the very very end, on a certain point mario turned the back at you, than you had to jump to the right en mario was gone and the level fnished. He didn't bounce back at the invisible wall. You had to be quick because of the approching barrals. I bet there are no video's of it. Back then we had no smartphones with camera, ( but we where happy hahaha )
Then there was another thing i now remember. We called it holding hands, on top of the ladder. In a certain position barrels did not come of the ladder and gave some relaxing time.
It's a long time ago, i was 11 when donkey came. In 1986 we almost went broke on this game hahaha
Greetz Andreas
Thanks for the added info Andreas.
Coding the glitch would be quite easy to implement but I would still need to see it myself in order to take the correct timing (I count the frames and the pixels literally one by one). At the end I think very few players would know about it anyway :-)
So it seems that I am one year older than you, I also played DK in the arcades it was one of my favourites and it still is.
How did you end up here, are you also coming from the DK forum community?
Hi There, it's been a while since i was playing Donkey Kong, my last post here was about a year ago.
I didn't came from the DK forum. I bought a raspberry pi and after that was running i would also play DK on my laptop. After some searching i found your site. Because of the good comments here i decided to install it on my laptop.
Even now it is still my favorite game, also without the glitch :-) Leave is like it is, it's perfect !
There is only one minor.... i can't beat my own highscore.
talking about highscore.... the leaderboard function isn't working anymore. Has it moved?
Do i have to re-install the game?
Many greetting from the Netherlands.
Andreas
Best DK remake I've ever played...
Thanks mate, I am happy you liked it so much!
Awesome remix mashup :)
Thanks John, you must really try the new level which I am going to release as soon as I find the time to complete it.
Donkey Kong meets Pacman and Bomb Jack :)
Interesting, bombjack is a personal favorite in the arcades and still playing today. Keep on the retro max mash up each level will be a pleasure to play. Art by crvnjava69
Has the new level been included in the v1.50 final version?
Yes, it's level 8, but u will need to 'unlock' each level from 1 to 5 to play it (after you complete a level it becomes unlocked, meaning you can chose to start from whichever u want each time you start a new game)
(Level 6 does not exists yet, level 7 is almost completedm the screenshot below is from the level editor
I got to level 6 last night on a quick video run of v1.50
amazing classic game of an ape carrying endless amount of barrels to prevent the plumber to save the damsel in distress. hope you make some classic games more interesting. my favorite classic games are space invaders and galaga.
Hi there, once finished with this (very close at this point) I am thinking to create some brand new levels, but the idea is to keep the same style. Talking about other classic games, many many years ago I also re-programmed in full Phoenix, it can be found and played online.
Galaga is also a good candidate for the future. My idea is re-program 4-5 classic games and for each one add a new section with new levels and/or new game modes, work in progress ;-)
Have a try at the latest build of Donkey Kong, I just added collision between hammer and barrels and a few sound effects