Skip to Content

Did Atari Have Donkey Kong?

*This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Have you ever been playing Donkey Kong, and your mind went back to the first ever Donkey Kong game? Maybe you heard that the first game was actually for the Atari. Well, in this article we will go over everything you need to know about Donkey Kong and the Atari. 

So did Atari have Donkey Kong?

Although most people do not realize it, one of the first ever Donkey Kong games was actually on the Atari 2600. Nintendo struck a deal with Atari to put the game on their system as Nintendo had not come out with their own system at this time. 

If you want to know more about Donkey Kong and the Atari console, you will want to keep reading. You can also check out this video about Donkey Kong on the Atari. 

If you are an old-school Atari lover then you have to get a classic Atari T-Shirt to show it! To see the most popular Atari T-Shirt retro designs that will stay classics for years just click here.

Atari Flashback 8 Gold Console HDMI 120 Games 2 Wireless Controllers

If you love all things Atari then you have to check out this awesome Atari Flashback console.

The Atari Flashback 8 comes with two wireless controllers (YES, WIRELESS!) two paddle controllers, and 120 authentic Atari games.

What is Atari?

Although some people know what Atari is, not everyone does. This game brand is a series of home game consoles produced by Atari inc. from 2004 to 2011. Actually, from 2011 onwards, the game has been designed by AtGames receiving a license from Atari.

Starting from 1983, Atari released different computer versions under the umbrella of Atarisoft. Some have Donkey Kong on the left half of the screen in the barrel level (as he is in the arcade game) and others have him on the right side.

Is Donkey Kong on the Gameboy?

A total redo of the first arcade game on the Gameboy was simply called Donkey Kong. This game was actually alluded to as Donkey Kong ’94 during improvements. It contains levels from both the first Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. arcades. It begins with a similar storyline about a lady who is in trouble. There are four fundamental levels just as in the arcade game and afterward advances to 97 extra hard levels. It was the most important game to have worked on if you were working for Nintendo at the time. 

Is Donkey Kong only on his own game?

Donkey Kong is not just on his own game, but Donkey Kong has additionally shown up in different Mario sporting events. Donkey Kong is a selectable character in Mario Tennis, Mario Power Tennis, Mario Tennis: Power Tour, Mario Tennis Open, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash and Mario Tennis Aces. 

Donkey Kong is playable in Mario Golf, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Golf: World Tour yet not Mario Golf: Advance Tour. Donkey Kong was highlighted in Super Mario Strikers for the GameCube, and also showed up on the Wii inside the title Mario Strikers Charged as a playable soccer skipper. 

In Mario Super Sluggers, he shows up as a skipper once more. Donkey Kong additionally shows up in Mario Superstar Baseball. He has been seen in pretty much every Mario and Sonic game, beginning with Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. He’s likewise playable in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 and Mario Sports Mix.

Is Donkey Kong on Super Smash Brothers?

Donkey Kong is playable in every Super Smash Bros. game. Donkey Kong showed up in Super Smash Bros. As the main character from the Donkey Kong, you can play as Donkey Kong but not any other character from the game. Super Smash Bros. also used the name from Donkey Kong and made a level called Congo Jungle on the game. Both Donkey Kong and Kongo Jungle returned for the second Super Smash Bros. Scuffle. 

Donkey Kong showed up again in Super Smash Bros. Fight. This time he was joined by his sidekick Diddy Kong and three phases – “Wilderness Japes” from Melee, “Thunder Falls” from Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, and “75m” from the first Donkey Kong game from 1981.

Was the Donkey Kong game on Atari good?

If you have ever played the Donkey Kong game on the Atari 2600, you can see for yourself that the game was very poorly done. Although it was a giant undertaking to create and a game like this that had never been done, it was something that today looks like a 5 year old created. Back when it was released though, it was the best game with the best graphics and far better than anything else on the market at that time. 

As the game became more popular and more levels were added, the graphics on the game became better as well. The problem that the Original Arati game had was the simple fact that nothing like this had ever been done, before, and they were under a time crunch to produce the game for the release of the Atari 2600.

Depending on who you ask, will depend upon the answer you get when you think about the Donkey Kong game on the Atari. Some people love the game, while other people didn’t really care for it. The people that love the game enjoy playing it and some even to this day still play on the original Atari 2600. Others who do not like the design of the game would never play the original Donkey Kong game. Most people like Donkey Kong in general though, and even the ones that wouldn’t play the original Donkey Kong game, will play the newer Donkey Kong series. This is because the game graphics and levels have progressed far more than simply jumping. 

Was Atari Donkey Kong’s first appearance?

Although there are a lot of stories about exactly how Donkey Kong got his name, it is not disputed that in 1981 Donkey Kong made his first appearance ever. The game was called Donkey Kong, and was on the Atari 2600. This was the first home console that was widely available. This game gave people a way to play and have fun in their home and never have to go to an arcade to play games again. This sort of thinking is what ended up putting almost all of the arcades around the world out of business.  

Since his first appearance on the Atari, Donkey Kong has had almost 100 different games that have been released, and many of those games are best sellers. Although most people do not realize this, Donkey Kong was not the only main Nintendo character that was on the Atari. In the exact same Donkey Kong game, you will find Mario also called Jumpman. This also started his career as the main Nintendo character. The original Donkey Kong game on the Atari 2600 helped push the Atari 2600 to be one of the best selling video game consoles of its time. 

Conclusion

At the beginning of this article, we were faced with the question of whether or not Donkey Kong appeared on the Atari consoles. We now know that Donkey Kong indeed was on the Atari series. He was in multiple games including Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. .  In the original Donkey Kong game, DOnkey Kong is the villain who takes the girl and throws objects at Jumpman who is now known as Mario. In Donkey Kong Jr. though, Mario plays the villain and has Donkey Kong captured in a cage. 

No matter if you prefer to play with Donkey Kong as the villain or hero, there is no denying that these games are a blast to play, and at the time were only available on the Atari 2600.