Donkey Kong II

About

Donkey Kong II turns the Game & Watch handheld into a dual-screen platformer. Players guide Donkey Kong Jr. upward through hazards like electrified wires on the bottom screen, then shift focus to the top screen where he climbs ropes while dodging birds. The goal is to unlock four chains holding his father by repeating this back-and-forth process, with each reset cycling the key to new positions. Movement feels deliberate but tight, relying on the device’s directional pad and single-button inputs. The dual-screen setup forces constant visual shifting, adding a layer of spatial problem-solving beyond standard platforming challenges. The game’s split-screen design was a bold hardware experiment for 1983, pushing the Game & Watch beyond its usual single-display format. While the core loop is repetitive, the mechanical consistency and clever use of the Multi Screen’s hardware earned it a cult spot among collectors. It’s a direct predecessor to later Nintendo innovations, proving the company’s early knack for squeezing creativity from limited tools.

Storyline

Donkey Kong is captured by Mario, and Donkey Kong Jr. must rescue him by unchaining him from the locks he has been cast in.