Playing Donkey Kong for Game Boy with James Rolfe and Mike Matei

[@JamesNintendoNerd]

When we record these, it’s all off the cuff, so I probably didn’t explain myself well. I believe Nintendo didn’t own the source code for the arcade Donkey Kong (because it may have been done out of house?) Which was the point I was clumsily attempting to make. Also, some will jump to say that the game was on the Nintendo 64 Donkey Kong game, but I believe that one was remade by Rare, it’s not the original rom.

[@ryann5599]

👍👍

[@theGreenGoblin]

Ok, I was wondering about that extra game in dk 64. But yeah, Donkey Kong '94 (what most folks call it) is definitely a hidden gem of the old school game boy.

[@rezterralico4369]

This game is GREAT. Best mario game on the OG gameboy.

[@rezterralico4369]

It's the DNA to mario 64 move sets.

[@rezterralico4369]

From the double dragon talk a week ago I beat that game legit ONCE. That machine gun guy... the last boss looks like a joke after that prick.

[@VladTepesVladTepes]

This game is a hidden gem of the Game Boy.

[@AzNpowangeFTW]

Is one of the biggest names in Nintendo really a hidden game though? Everyone knows Donkey kong is great

[@VladTepesVladTepes]

@@AzNpowangeFTW I originally said "hidden gem".

[@AzNpowangeFTW]

Hidden Gem* and you're right. If you look at battletoads for game boy it's also it's complete own game

[@dr.velious5411]

imho one of the best games Nintendo has ever put out, if not one of the best games ever made, it pioneered mechanics we wouldn't even see fully realized till the 64 era.

[@guiprazeres7]

The original game boy is full of great uncredited games, it's one of my favourite systems.

[@DrBrainLock]

Mike was having a hard time explaining it but I think he was trying to say that the Switch release was the first time the original arcade Donkey Kong rom was released and emulated on a console instead of being a port of the game. As to the rights issue I believe it actually had to do with the fact that Nintendo's early arcade games were co-developed by a third party that owned the rights to the original program, an issue that must have finally been resolved.

[@politicalsubscriptions3676]

He seemed eloquent enough about it to me (but I also know the history, so who am I to say?). Also, am I misunderstanding James when he says this isn't as good as the NES/arcade version? This is by far the best version of Donkey Kong you can get anywhere. The post-arcade levels run circles around the original game. This game is a bring-to-a-desert-island gem. Pro tip: the side-flip works just like in Mario 64. Turn in the opposite direction while simultaneously hitting the jump button. You'll go places with that move.

[@St4rTr3v1Ut10n]

It's a shame he had such a hard time explaining something so absolutely pointless. What is even the point in talking about the same game that came out on NES? Arcade version/NES version, they're the same game ffs.

[@RingOtaku]

@@St4rTr3v1Ut10n a lot of times when arcade games are ported to console the change in circuit board hardware means minor changes in timing and sometimes level order that can impact Pro Gaming style. That's why those Official World Records for video games always state if the record was set on an actual cabinet or a port or even MAME which throws off precision timing of tight jumps.

[@nick6var]

@@RingOtaku Exactly. That is why Twin Galaxies has MAME records separate from actual arcade hardware.

[@Sanodi21]

Can confirm. The game gets *crazy* but in a good way. If anyone can, I highly suggest going after it. It's an amazing thing to have on the go

[@Someonehahaha]

The last boss is not much different from I wanna be the guy.

[@UNDERGROUNDskateco]

It's because of the KZbin search algorithm. Videos are more likely to be recommended/get more exposure if they have unique titles.

[@dr.velious5411]

Showdown at the Tower is glorious.

[@InuYugiHakusho]

You can still purchase this game from the eShop on Nintendo 3DS.

[@Jimmy-bp2jk]

@@InuYugiHakusho they messed up hard and released the monochrome version on the eshop, was heavily disappointed

[@gaming_bigfoot]

Favorite childhood GameBoy game right there

[@fluffypixels1978]

Very underrated game. It had a lot of the Mario 64 controls before 64 came out.

[@AizensPlan]

Really? You can triple jump in this game? And dive jump? And walljump? And ground pound? OMG! Gotta have it now!

[@BizerkPixel]

Bridgeman no ground pound or wallkick but there is a triple jump and side flip at least which is really all you need for a game like this

[@fluffypixels1978]

@@AizensPlan I feel like your comment is sarcastic since you're pointing out all the moves that aren't in it. But yeah, there are a lot of crazy acrobatic moves. Mario 64 took the ones from this and added onto them. You can do a backflip, triple jump, you can make Mario do a forward flip and he walks on his hands (meaning if an enemy lands on him it doesn't hurt) and then he does a huge jump out of the hand stand. There are probably more that i'm forgetting but yeah, there are some Mario 64/Sunshine/Odyssey move in it.

[@olsonbryce777]

@@AizensPlan Triggered

[@Insoul]

@@AizensPlan quiet, mouse man

[@landonbailey]

That game was awesome. Bought a SuperGameboy just to play it

[@PlayboyLude44]

Also Metroid II

[@ZorMon]

The amount of gimmicks and complexity of this game is awesome. For a gameboy game is almost a miracle.

[@jamesragsdale3069]

One of the greatest puzzle games in the most unexpected place.

[@rikustorm13]

Oh dang, Donkey Kong GB is basically the prototype of Mario vs Donkey Kong

[@DarkXeno]

I think the same thing, so the next two games are what this helped create. Just like the Mario Saga games are the SMRPG

[@donkarasu-9644]

I read that Mario vs DK was initially going to be a remake of Donkry Kong GB

[@DUB_87]

No. It's a sequel to the original Donkey Kong from the 80s.

[@rikustorm13]

@@donkarasu-9644 Wait really? That would make sense

[@rikustorm13]

@@DUB_87 Yeah, it is but Mario vs Donkey Kong took ideas from Donkey Kong GB

[@WhiteFox8792]

It was kind of weird to see the game played without the handstand! If you hit down and jump, Mario does a handstand, and can jump higher if you hit jump again.

[@agent00chimp]

WhiteFox8792 I used this often. Lol Used to play Gameboy at a fitness center daycare as a little kid. Somehow I was better and quicker at it then than I am now.

[@josephD32]

He can also repel the debris Donkey Kong causes when he comes down from a jump.

[@Other_Kev]

In the little cutscenes you see after each boss stage, Mario demonstrates the game's moves very clearly, including the handstand jump. It was bloody genius. The game is set up so that when you play it through a second time and you know all the moves beforehand, it's way easier.

[@LVL100RED]

Oh I played the shit out of this as a kid just everyday lmao great memories

[@starfox300]

Me too, I thought it was hard as shit though

[@sykode]

Oh it had its moments where it was a pain. Glad I still have this game, and my mad cats Gameboy battery pack still works from 1999.

[@pekee9304]

see, this is why you should put the ¨,¨ on your statements , it looks like if you said : AS A KID JUST EVERYDAY LMAO GRET MEMS. xD

[@vahporn]

this one was great. I was addicted for two days straight playing Donkey Kong on game boy. I should have asked my uncle to borrow it so I could have reached the end.

[@raabm5292]

Very formal video title lol

[@DanVasc]

OMG, I owned this game for the original Game Boy 20 years ago! So many memories. It's actually a very deep puzzle solving game, hours and hours of excellent content!

[@KanaiIle]

I played the heck out of this. The movement is surprisingly fast and agile once you figure out backflips and handstand-jumps. The final boss, however, is brutally hard. I only ever beat him once.

[@thetopcrusader]

Anyone who followed gaming news back then, Nintendo Power or whatever, knew what it was. It got a lot of attention.

[@blakfloyd]

@@thetopcrusader yup! EGM spoke really well of it and I think Gamepro might've too.

[@ElConradoX]

Jus a correction guys: "People" didn't complain about Batman Returns being to dark, in fact they never received a single complain from the public. Warner Brothers was the one that complained, because the movie's tone clashed with their merchandising plans and deals. Tim Burton confirmed in an interview it was all due to McDonald's Happy Meals Toys.

[@KTtheKomic]

El Conrado Warner brothers smokes glicks

[@100Modem]

One of the funniest things about this game its the many ways Mario can die. The steam rolled one is my fav

[@chanceaaronblack2792]

Haha, yeah x)

[@visoredgruntR34]

People call this one "Donkey Kong '94"

[@beartackle]

I called it "Donkey Kong Game Boy."

[@TES_735]

@@beartackle i call it donkey *BOY*

[@beartackle]

@@TES_735 LOL, I like that!

[@klikk010]

why isn't the title "James & Mike Mondays" ?

[@GeejMusic]

Maybe they're prepping to stop doing it every monday..?

[@MrSWEKOKO]

@@GeejMusic shiiiiiieee

[@tripperjoe1699]

It's in the description, James & Mike Mondays episode 292

[@eugeneweitz4188]

A sequel with a different name cause why not

[@vchill79]

Because it gonna be Mike and Erin Monday's soon!

[@callumsparrow4379]

Maybe it’s just me, but Pauline sounds like a meowing cat when she yells out “Help, Help!”

[@rikustorm13]

Nah, I agree with u 😂👍

[@blackenedwritings]

She does. But it's even worse if you play it on the original Game Boy.

[@cube2fox]

@@blackenedwritings I thought her "help" cry was Super Game Boy exclusive? 🤔

[@TheDeeplyCynical]

Sounds more like a Peacock

[@hudde814]

@@cube2fox It is, that's why he said it's worse on Game Boy

[@daniellado2523]

One my favorite nostalgic games that I remember getting as a present when I was a kid. I wanted any of the donkey kong land games but this one was great in its own right.

[@srlatch7953]

I love how this guys have been playing together for like 20 years and still have things to talk about and show each other.

[@travisbrown6598]

3:01 Mike is wrong. There is an arcade port of Donkey Kong. It is on Donkey Kong 64

[@lilwyvern4]

Don't you only get one life for that that? It's still not quite arcade perfect.

[@kupozu]

@@lilwyvern4 You unlock the full game later on

[@JamesNintendoNerd]

Travis, from what I have understood, it is not the exact same thing.

[@Redfoot138]

@@JamesNintendoNerd Don't know if this was covered elsewhere in these comments, but I heard that it was because of a dispute between Nintendo and the actual guy who wrote the code for DK arcade.

[@JamesNintendoNerd]

@@SebHighDef As Seb pointed out, it was remade, not the original ROM.

[@butcherax]

I preferred the 'James & Mike Mondays' titles...

[@olsonbryce777]

Boo hoo

[@OzzieAstaroth]

This was my favorite Game Boy game. I always loved the original arcade Donkey Kong, and I loved this update of it. I played it over and over again, and even got it on the 3DS virtual console. However, I'm sad that you can't play the VC version with the Super Game Boy colors and graphics. I think they should re-release the special Game Boy games that had special effects with the Super Game Boy in their SGB modes. There are some great games that take advantage of it, and would make awesome virtual console releases today.

[@nate3487]

I think if this is like Mario Vs Donkey Kong, the secret to stage 1-4 is to do a handstand. You should be immune to falling objects while doing a handstand.

[@TheRealUnkn0wn_289]

Mario vs donley kong is technically a sequel to this game and yes you can do handstands

[@westy229]

This was my favorite gameboy game as a kid. Thanks for bringing me nostalgic vibes pals.

[@SoftwareAgentsTV]

Thanks for playing! This game is criminally underrated!

[@SwaxMain4u]

This is one of the funnest mario games to just jump around in. Mario is so acrobatic in this game even just traversing the level is extremely fun. The boss fights as well were so well done. What an amazing game.

[@fj60driver]

This is easily one of my top 5 favorite Game Boy games. Links Awakening, Final Fantasy Adventure, Operation C, Belmonts Revenge,and this ate up a lot of double AAs.

[@mngmonkey]

Please add back the "James & Mike Mondays" at the end of the title, it's much more clear! Thx.

[@andyc6542]

I’m sorry, but how can the title “Playing Donkey Kong for Game Boy with James Rolfe and Mike Matei” be confusing as a title?

[@suomiusername]

@@andyc6542 i suppose it's confusing in a "wait is this supposed to be a james & mike mondays episode or something else" type of way

[@duffman18]

But it's released on a Monday, so it's pretty clear to me.

[@isetmfriendsofire]

@@duffman18 Man, I don't even know what day it is half the time

[@pbliable]

for google searches and stuff

[@muhanc.a.9299]

I didn't noticed when James became the Calmly Acknowledgeable Movie Nerd

[@ImmaDoWhatIWant]

he always has been, he's just also a really funny actor

[@sherekhangamedev]

From his childhood he was a movie fan, collected old monsters movies, maxe his own home movies and even that is his studies career.

[@8thLife]

This game is great! It and Link's Awakening were my go to games to play on my commute to work a few years ago. There was one level that I couldn't beat mid-way through the game so I basically kept playing it over and over again until I got to that point haha. It's been on my backlog for a while now and I am going to beat that level this time when I play it! 😂

[@Guernicaman]

The "bat-nipples" were likely a nod to Roman-era chest plate armor, which had nipples molded into them for whatever reason. Also, the bat-nipples were in Batman Forever, before the Bat-Credit Card joke, which is in Batman & Robin.

[@Guernicaman]

@Sir Osis of Thuliver - Sorry to disappoint you. But I didn't "look it up on Wikipedia" to surmise intent. And neither should anyone w/basic knowledge of history & armor. And yes, "likely" because I don't know for a fact that's what it was. Perhaps the director just wanted Batman & Robin to have nipples on their costumes.

[@metalthrashingmatt]

Not just armour but renaissance era marble statues and statues of Greek and Roman heroes..

[@lucapirilli]

Man I loved this as a kid, I almost beat it once and my dad was like, "hey lemme try this gaemboi thing", he pushed 3 random buttons and deleted my progresses. >mfw Then I beat it, again and again, those levels were amazing, I think I even "stole" the cartridge from whoever friend rented it to me, they didn't care or asked for it back anyway

[@rudyiraheta80]

me too

[@antm6970]

@Mauri Mela tell me about it? Lost gems lending things out

[@rcrites]

Lol

[@lucapirilli]

Lol yeah I noticed a couple years later, "wait I still have this? it wasn't mine", but good luck remembering whoever gave it to me, we were kids, it was common back then (someone probably had some of my games as well)

[@MitchellTeeRapz]

Why did you stop putting "James And Mike Mondays" in the title?

[@RoundShades]

Can confirm bothers me

[@horokeusensei]

maybe they're recording on thursday

[@AttilaTheKhunt]

It's because Mike Matei wants everyone to know his last name is Matei as he puts Mike Matei in every title Mike Matei stars in. He doesn't want you to forget he is Mike Matei.

[@VegaPhil]

This is a great game. I loved how it starts out like normal dk and then opens out into an awesome puzzle platformer

[@ajretro6784]

Borrowed this game from my childhood friend back in the day and was totally hooked. I don't think I got too far but I remember it fondly.

[@praxicoide]

My best purchase for the Game Boy. I read it had 100 levels, and so I got it out of curiosity. I wasn't expecting it to be this good and complex. It should be noted that Mario was given a ton of moves, which was new, as this was pre-Mario 64.

[@slashtheporcupine6746]

Donkey Kong for the Gameboy, also known as Donkey Kong 94. The prototype to one of the best GBA games ever: Mario vs. Donkey Kong.

[@abigailofdarkness]

Hell yes. That game is really good.

[@E2KTE]

So glad you guys got to touch on this game. I still love it to bits and it really would be great for more people to know about it.

[@sk00ks41]

I hate how nobody talks about this game as well as the Mario vs Donkey Kong games. They're like some of my favourite Mario games! They're just so full of character.

[@Chishannicon]

I played this all the time in the 90s, but somehow completely forgot it existed until I watched this. It's a great game. Thanks for bringing back a lost memory!

[@wright5328]

Donkey Kong '94 good memories

[@thingsiplay]

Donkey Kong one of the best games on the Game Boy. I remember when I purchased it and expected only the 4 basic levels. Btw, Mole Mania is another really good puzzle game from Shigeru Miyamoto.

[@Burgerkingaka]

Thank you James and Mike! Very Cool!

[@gametimewithunclejer]

This is actually my favorite version of Donkey Kong...far and away. I had no idea it even existed until a friend recommended it when it came out on the Wii Virtual Console. Great stuff!

[@nicholascangemi6165]

This might be one of my favorite gameboy games.

[@ChamplooMusashi]

I love all the history that Mike & James randomly know. It makes these videos perfect. It'd be great if they did something just focusing on tidbits like that sort of like how some of the console wars avgn episodes James has done.

[@mrnaughtycat]

Had this when it got in Woolworth's in 1994 took two years to complete though

[@loganmc3]

I played this game for YEARS, and i still come back to it.

[@MVLGAMING]

The Super Game Boy enhancements for this game are great! Its my favourite way to play it!

[@MitchellTeeRapz]

Btw this is my favorite game of all time and one of the most underrated games it has over 100 levels and they’re all great fun with a very satisfying final stage. It needs to be mentioned more.

[@phatdookie4207]

*This was my favorite game boy game back in the day. Those puzzles start getting really hard.* Well, maybe besides pokemon.

[@TheBarrymanfan]

What I appreciated most of all in this video was how meticulously James treated the game Mike handed him. That is a respectful gent. This is a great series. I also enjoy Rental Reviews all the guys on that with Mike and James are terrific as far as I can see.

[@noodlepsychosis8452]

If anyone wants this game it's on 3ds actually.

[@turtleanton6539]

Got it and it's awesome as ever

[@Hanz_Haze]

Please make a part 2. I would love to see you guys tackle the later levels in the game.

[@summersonic1846]

This one is ore commonly known as Donkey Kong 94.

[@BarnyardCasanova]

This game is easily in my top 5 favorite games of all time. The best version of OG DK.

[@Hayastantzi92]

best DK Game ever!

[@ricardodelrivero8432]

I remember when I played that game, there are a lot of moves to master in order to advance the game, also the final boss is a Giant Donkey Kong, lot of memories

[@Guyait]

Game Boy Donkey Kong is BEST Donkey Kong!

[@drTheoGeorgiou]

"Nipples on a Batsuit would serve no purpose." - James Rolfe, 2018

[@GG4GJake]

This is the best Game Boy game in my opinion.

[@Kaitri]

Had it as a kid, knew every level by heart. The options in this game are awesome. A gameboy gem

[@Kalleidalen]

What about mario vs donkey kong:)

[@legatomodi3522]

its pretty much the game that came from this gb dk. objectives are a little more varied and theres more going on, and the story is much different but the gameplay mechanics at its core is the same.

[@Sonicbladez]

I had Mario vs Donkeykong as a kid and never beat it. Its MUCH more difficult than Donkey Kong on the Game Boy !

[@legatomodi3522]

@@Sonicbladez it gets going quicker for sure. more stuff going on too. its been a very long time but my memory says a major part is not only unlocking the goal but guiding mario dolls to it. am i right?

[@Sonicbladez]

Jesse Darty That is right, as I remember, it had One (Or Two?) Special Stages per world where you had to bring little Marios to the goal savely. I made it to tha last world I think, but didnt beat it. I would love to give it another try. :)

[@freakymoviedude]

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is basically the sequel to this game - and it's awesome as well :)

[@notathiefbutatreasurehunte3653]

My most favorite game for the Game Boy that I played non stop sometimes.

[@gumballguy34]

A classic J&MM. Excellent.

[@sludgewave4786]

This game has weird but amazing controls: If you want the trick for the back flip (->) then (

[@KombatGod]

It's kind of a shame to only to World 1 though, especially since I think James would be very much into the platform puzzle solving elements of the game.

[@robertellis5977]

Got this game for Christmas back in '97....fell in love with this game...still play this when I get the chance....

[@OuhPii]

The last boss of this game blew my mind as a kid

[@flamingwoodz]

Same here. The largest boss I had fought up to that point. Great music also!

[@cube2fox]

Let me guess. The last boss was ... Donkey Kong?

[@MrTlong2010]

18:50 Anyone else think it was really cute how excited Mike was about showing James that Super Mario Bros cartridge?

[@josephlucas502]

I'd vote Donkey Kong the best game on the Game Boy.

[@abigailofdarkness]

Definitely top 10.

[@RiasatSalminSami]

Wow, there are many subtle details everywhere in the game that makes it lively.

[@LightningCayo]

Mario does some sick parkour in this game.

[@AnarchicAnimeFan51]

It took me awhile to beat this as a kid since I got stuck on one puzzle and eventually figured it out. Man what a journey it was to finish this game.

[@EgoCityGamingUK]

I love this game! I wish they hadn’t gone the way of the stupid little robot Marios with the Mario vs Donkey King and instead carried on with this.

[@taijutsugal]

EgoCityGaming I agree screw the minis

[@taijutsugal]

@Joel Johnson it was ok but didnt keep my attention as much as the GBA one did.

[@apochsdotnet]

Oh man, so much of my youth went into this game. I miss it and my old original game boy >

[@finnmarr-heenan2397]

You can get it on 3ds e shop

[@scotttiek8010]

I hate the term "Hidden Gem" but if ever there were a game that deserved this title it is DK 94!

[@chesspunk489]

I think brave fencer musashi and the 64 goemon games are hidden gems.

[@Cellyestial]

Yea idk if a game by Nintendo can be considered hidden, a lotta people know this

[@scotttiek8010]

@@Cellyestial I know a lot more people that DON'T know about this than do. Sure they know a Donkey Kong game for the Game Boy exist but most don't realize it is much more than simple Donkey Kong!

[@thetopcrusader]

Anyone into games at the time should’ve known what it was, Nintendo promoted it a lot.

[@HappyBeardGames]

I remember as a kid thinking that this was just the DK arcade. Now that I'm older and I like the DK arcade games much more, I find it really interesting that the DK original arcade levels are just the intro to this full game. Very cool.

[@ChristopherRodriguez-bm8rw]

This game was the first game I got for my Gameboy

[@GeneralCane]

My mother: "Please don't be weird at Thanksgiving dinner again." Me: 8:13

[@thecrazydolphinyt5704]

Hi Nerd!, Hi Mike!!!

[@coldcallerloopy]

9:48 "3 Paulines is a 5-up" *me trying to hold my inner donkey kong 94 knowledge* *it's not*

[@sebastianq3155]

Why is the title not James and Mike Mondays?

[@TheAuron32]

this game is such an under rated and under appreciated gem, i really wish it got more traction than it did. it is on the Virtual Console for 3DS so you can easily get it again, and i do recommend it, it is a very good game.

[@MlSHKlN]

im sad that he didnt do the hand stand to deflect the falling objects at 11:00

[@JesterSeregdhel]

I played this game soooo much back in the day. Glad to see you guys uploading this.

[@LucasFeniks]

Donkey Konga next week?

[@eckomind]

The best part about a Monday is this! You guys rock!! :D

[@MrRoomerz]

Why are u started naming JMM so weird? We know who you are, dudes.

[@coderedaddictmd]

I loved this game as a kid. I was originally disappointed when I received it as a gift one year, but then I started playing it and really enjoyed it, I played it straight to the end, amazing game, definitely recommend finishing it up. Might have to go dig up my old cartridge now...

[@freg35]

The title is bothering me more than it should...

[@aztn19]

I didn’t grow up with this game; I bought it from the eShop after getting my 3DS a few years ago & couldn’t put it down. Donkey Kong ‘94 was like a proto-Mario vs. Donkey Kong from the GBA and DS and hooked me right away! I ended up getting an original GB cartridge of the game to add to the collection & play on my Super GameBoy.

[@samus0111]

why does mike keeps saying "like" like every five secs lmao

[@videochanneld841]

He’s a Cali girl

[@MegaMan87]

I played this all the time when I was a boy with the Gameboy, Even on a Jet plane to the airport.

[@pope0fheii84]

This video has such a weird title

[@ptbunz2501]

I had so many good memories with this game, I loved the platforming, somersaults and handstands. I played it on classic GB. Never new it had a special pallet till years later.

[@FlintG]

Who else watched avgn since 2006?

[@kingdilly8906]

This game is one of my all-time favorites on any system. It made Super Game Boy extra worth it too. Thank you both for giving it the attention it deserves!

[@batdogduke]

You know he's back, performing for you He's on the NES, SNES and arcade too It's DK, Donkey Kong, DK, Donkey Kong is here lol just made this from scratch, great video guys!

[@dictatorrich3412]

This is one of my favorite games of all time. So many memories. It gets really hard eventually. I must have been stuck on the Airplane level for months when I was 8