Machine Guides

Game History

Donkey Kong 3 is a 1983 arcade shooter game developed by Nintendo Research & Development 1 and Intelligent Systems, and released by Nintendo for arcades. It is the third installment in the Donkey Kong series, following 1982's Donkey Kong Jr., and marked a significant departure from the platforming gameplay of its predecessors.

Unlike the previous games featuring Mario, Donkey Kong 3 stars Stanley, an exterminator tasked with protecting his flowers from Donkey Kong and various insects in a greenhouse setting. The game incorporates shooter mechanics inspired by Galaga and Space Firebird, with Stanley using bug spray to defeat enemies.

Donkey Kong 3 was moderately successful in Japan, where Game Machine listed it as the fourth most-successful table arcade unit of November 1983. However, it was a commercial failure in North America, partly due to the video game crash of 1983. The game received mixed reviews, with Computer and Video Games praising its "fast action and superior sound effects," while retrospective criticism has focused on its stylistic departure from previous Donkey Kong games.

How to Play

Objectives

The main goal of Donkey Kong 3 is to protect your flowers from Donkey Kong and invading insects by using bug spray to defeat them. You play as Stanley, an exterminator in a greenhouse setting. The game emphasizes shooter mechanics rather than platforming, requiring you to eliminate enemies and force Donkey Kong to retreat.

Controls

• Joystick: Use the joystick to move Stanley left and right and up and down the ladders
• Spray Button: Press to shoot bug spray at enemies and Donkey Kong

Gameplay

• Starting the Game: Press the Start Button to begin your extermination mission.

• Character Movement: Move Stanley left and right across platforms and up and down ladders to position yourself for optimal spraying.

• Bug Spray Combat: Use your bug spray to defeat various insects that invade the greenhouse from the sides.

• Donkey Kong Confrontation: Spray Donkey Kong who hangs at the top of the screen, forcing him to climb higher and eventually retreat.

• Flower Protection: Defend the flowers at the bottom of the screen from being destroyed by falling insects and Donkey Kong's attacks.

• Enemy Types: Face different insects including bees, flies, and other bugs that move in various patterns across the screen.

• Power-Up Items: Collect items that appear occasionally to enhance your spraying abilities or earn bonus points.

• Stage Progression: Complete stages by successfully defending your flowers and forcing Donkey Kong to retreat to the top of the screen.

• Increasing Difficulty: Progress through stages with more aggressive enemies and faster gameplay as you advance.

• Game Over: The game ends when you lose all your lives. Your final score is displayed based on enemies defeated and flowers protected.