Donkey Kong Jr. Math (NES): A Young apes complicated plight for mathematical success
Donkey Kong Jr Math
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Donkey Kong Jr. Math title screen

Release dates

Australia N/A
Europe Unconfirmed
Japan December 12th, 1983
N.America October 15th, 1985

General information

Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System

Developed by Nintendo R&D1

Published by Nintendo

Players: 1-2

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Quick links: Overview / Gameplay & Controls / Characters / Videos - Gameplay, Trailers & Commercials / Reception & Sales / Trivia & Facts / Reference & Information / Media & Downloads

 

Overview

 

Donkey Kong Jr Math for the Nintendo Entertainment System brings numbers to life (attempts to) - help Donkey Kong Jr learn to add, subtract, divide and multiply. But its not as easy as it sounds, to select answers you've got to climb to them, jump on them etc before time runs out. Two player mode even means you can bring a friend to the fun, the game features various cameo appearances of Donkey KongDonkey Kong Jr thinking of Maths, poor guy himself.

 

Donkey Kong Jr, Math, and videogames: what could go wrong? That was the thought that went through the heads of the marketing department at Nintendo as they developed and released this game. Donkey Kong Jr. Maths was the only educational NES game to make the leap from the Japanese markets to the United States and European markets. With a complicated concept and very little in the way of entertainment value, the game was received rather poorly.

 

Gameplay & Controls

 

Donkey Kong Jr. Maths had some of the most complicated gameplay of its time. There are two modes that you can choose from in order to get started. The first mode of the game is called the Objective Mode. The basis of the objective mode is to enter the answers to math questions that are posed at the top of the screen by none other than Donkey Kong. The questions involve addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. You answer several levels of these questions until you reach the end of the mode.


The other mode of this game is a multiplayer mode where two players can face one another. A number is shown at the top of the screen by Donkey Kong, and the two players have to run around to make a math problem that will equal the number. If the number was two, then the players would have to find a 1, then an addition symbol, and then another 1. This takes place in a platform style game, much like Donkey Kong Jr. The two players have to leap around and climb vines in order to get the numbers that they need. For some of the higher level problems, you have to get multiple numbers and symbols in order to be successful. The problem with this became the order of operations, which would not always let the person get to the number that they needed.

 

The artwork from the European box of Donkey Kong Jr Math

 

Characters

 

  • Donkey Kong Jr. The main character that you would get to play as was Donkey Kong Jr. He could leap around the levels, climb vines, and perform math at levels that is impressive for any monkey!

  • Pink Donkey Kong Jr: If you were the younger sibling or over a friend’s house, then the chances are that you would end up playing the Pink Donkey Kong Jr. While the same in terms of abilities as his brown counterpart, his shiny pink fur was a major detractor for many players.

  • Donkey Kong: Laying down some knowledge on his son is Donkey Kong Sr, who was not a playable character but had a significant role in the game as he prepared the math numbers.

  • Bird: Another non-playable character that would appear to give hints if the player was taking too long.

A screenshot from Donkey Kong Jr. Math showing both Brown and Pink versions of Donkey Kong Jr. Math

A screenshot from the NES version of DK JR Math showing standard DK JR on the left and Pink DK JR, right (player 2)

 

Donkey Kong Junior Math screenshot, player 2 has ragequit?

Player 1 swings into educational combat, whilst player 2 continues to come to terms with being landed with Pink Donkey Kong Jr. #ragequit

 

Videos - Gameplay, Trailers & Commercials

 

 

 

Reception & Sales

 

Donkey Kong Jr. Maths had abysmal sales and a reception with the general public to match. Some of the game rankings that were given out by GameRankings rate the game at 32%, saying that the game was made without enthusiasm, the movements in the game were poor, and there were few redeeming qualities about the game overall. Other game ratings gave the game a miserable 3 out of 10 and gave the game such harsh criticism that the game would be too expensive even if it were free.


In terms of sales, this game had the worst release of any NES game that was ported across the globe, and no particular sales numbers are available.

 

Donkey Kong Jr partying on down on the European cover of Donkey Kong Jr. Math

The reception might have been bad for his game but Donkey Kong Jr. looked to be in high spirits, as he partied on down to some rigorous division and multiplication.

 

Trivia & Facts

 

  • Although it experienced terrible sales, the game was eventually ported to the Wii and the Nintendo 3DS through the virtual console.

Reference / Information

 

Media / Downloads

 

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