View source for Donkey Kong (Milton Bradley board game)

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[[File:DKBoardGame.png|thumb|200px|Front cover of the ''Donkey Kong'' board game]]
'''''Donkey Kong''''' is a board game released in 1982 by [[Milton Bradley Company]] (MB). The game is based on the arcade game [[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]. It can be played by 2 to 4 players and is intended for ages 7 to 14. The goal of the game is to achieve the highest score by playing action cards that allow jumping over or hitting obstacles (barrels and fireballs). The game ends when a player rescues the [[pauline|damsel in distress]]. The player who rescues her receives a 500-point bonus, and then all players' scores are counted to determine the winner.

On the American version of the game's box, the baseline reads: "''Just Like The Arcade Game!''" The subtitle reads: "''Can You Battle Donkey Kong And Save The Fair Maiden?"

== Game components ==

[[File:Game_Components_of_Donkey_Kong_Board_Game_(MB).jpg|thumb|Game components of the ''Donkey Kong'' board game]]

* 1 game board
* 1 red die (values 1 to 6)
* 1 white die (values 3 to 6, with two "Donkey Kong" faces)
* 1 Donkey Kong (to be assembled)
* 4 "Mario" pawns in red, yellow, green, and blue
* 4 fireballs
* 1 sheet of stickers
* 2 rubber bands
* 48 cards:
** 8 "Jump" cards worth 100 points
** 8 "Jump" cards worth 200 points
** 8 "Jump" cards worth 300 points
** 8 "Hit" cards worth 200 points
** 8 "Hit" cards worth 300 points
** 8 "Hit" cards worth 400 points
* 12 barrels

== Objective of the game ==

[[File:Plateau_de_jeu.jpg|thumb|Game board of the ''Donkey Kong'' board game]]

Score the most points by helping Mario, the brave little carpenter, to be the first to rescue the young girl held captive by Donkey Kong.

==  Game setup ==

# Place the 6 additional barrels on the game board on spaces marked with a black dot.
# Place the 4 fireballs in the fire icon space on the left side of the board.
# Shuffle the 48 cards and deal 3 face-up to each player. Place the remaining cards face-down on the designated space on the board.
# Each player selects a colored pawn and places it on the "Mario" start space.
# Before playing, carefully read the game rules once.

== Gameplay  ==

1. To determine the starting player, each player rolls the red die. The highest roll goes first. The game then proceeds clockwise. <br>
2. IMPORTANT : Each turn consists of the following steps:<br>
A. Roll both dice,<br>
B. Move your "Mario" pawn<br>
C. Move the obstacles in the following order:<br>
- Fireballs first,<br>
- Barrels next<br>
according to the rules described below.<br>
D. Press Donkey Kong’s hand to release a barrel.

=== Moving Mario pawns ===

Mario pawns move along the planks (blue spaces) and ladders (black spaces) as follows:<br>
A. Move your pawn the exact number of spaces shown on the red die.<br>
B. You can move in any direction but cannot backtrack within the same turn.<br>
C. To move from one plank to another, you must use ladders.<br>
D.  If your pawn '''stops''' on a space marked with a red dot, draw the top card from the deck and place it face-up in front of you.<br>
E. If your pawn encounters obstacles (barrels, fireballs, or other pawns), follow these rules:<br>
If your pawn lands on an occupied space, move to the next available space.<br>
If your pawn jumps over or lands on a fireball or barrel, you must play a card (see "Using cards" section).

=== Moving obstacles ===

==== Barrels ====

At the start of the game, 6 barrels are on the board. Move them as follows:<br>
A. Move '''all barrels''' by the exact number rolled on the '''white die''', starting with the lowest barrels. If the die shows "DONKEY KONG," do not move any barrels, and your turn ends.<br>
B. Move barrels '''downward'''. To descend, barrels can:<br>
Jump from one end of a plank to another,<br>
Move down ladders, but only if they land exactly on the space above a ladder. The barrel then falls down the ladder immediately.<br>
'''Exceptions''' : A barrel can't take a ladder if there is a Mario pawn on it.<br>
A barrel can't take a ladder if the spaces above or below it are already occupied.<br>
C. If a barrel lands on an occupied space, move it to the next available space.<br>
D. If a barrel crosses or stops on your pawn: you will have to play a card (see paragraph "Using cards").<br>
E. If a barrel crosses or lands on a fireball, the barrel is destroyed and placed back in Donkey Kong’s hand.<br>
F. If a barrel reaches the fire space:<br>
(a) If it stops exactly on this space, return it to Donkey Kong’s hand.<br>
(b) If it moves past the space, release a fireball, move it the remaining spaces, then return the barrel to Donkey Kong’s hand.<br>
G. When you're finished moving your barrels, don't forget to press Donkey Kong's hand to release a barrel.

==== Fireballs  ====

Fireballs are introduced when barrels reach the fire space. At the start of the game, there are no fireballs on the board.<br>
A. Move fireballs the exact number rolled on the white die, starting with the highest fireballs. If "Donkey Kong" is rolled, do not move any fireballs.<br>
B. Fireballs move '''upward'''. To ascend, they can:<br>
Jump from one end of a plank to another,<br>
Climb ladders if they land exactly at the bottom of one. They will immediately climb up.
<br>
C. IMPORTANT :  Fireballs can climb ladders occupied by a Mario pawn. If this happens, the player must react immediately by playing a card (see "Using cards" section).<br>
D. If a fireball lands on an occupied space, move it to the next available space.<br>
E. If a fireball lands on a barrel, the barrel is destroyed and returned to Donkey Kong’s hand.<br>
F.  If a fireball reaches Donkey Kong, return it to the fire space.

=== Using cards ===

Players should collect cards to score points by jumping over or destroying barrels and fireballs. Playing a card means '''flipping it face-down''', gaining the points shown on it.

==== When to play a card? ====
Each time your pawn collides with an obstacle ('''crosses or stops on it''') or an obstacle crosses your pawn.

==== Which card to play? ====
Players can choose between "Jump" card and "Hit" cards:<br>
"Jump" cards: Move one extra space, then flip the card face-down to gain its points.<br>
"Hit" cards: Remove the obstacle from the board (fireballs go to the fire space, barrels go to Donkey Kong’s hand), then flip the card face-down to gain its points.<br>

=== You Have No More Cards Left ===

Each time you collide with an obstacle and have no face-up cards left, you will be penalized as follows. Consider the two cases below:

==== It's Your Turn to Play ====

Randomly choose one of your already played cards without looking at it and place it face down on the deck. If you have no cards at all, you are not penalized.

==== It's Your Opponent's Turn to Play ====

Your opponent takes any one of your already played cards without looking at it and places it face up in front of them. However, if you have no cards left at all, your opponent takes the first card from the deck and places it face up in front of them.<br>
The game continues this way, with each player trying to score the maximum number of points.

== Winning the game ==

The game ends when a player reaches the "500" space and rescues Pauline. This player earns a 500-point bonus. All players total their face-down card points. 
The player with the highest score wins.<br>
Note: The winner is not necessarily the player who rescues Pauline but the one with the highest total score.

== Remember That: ==

1. Each turn, you must move the different elements in the following order:<br>
A. The Mario pawn<br>
B. The fireballs<br>
C. The barrels<br>
D. Press Donkey Kong’s lever to release a barrel.<br>
2. The movement rules are as follows:<br>
A. Mario : Moves either up or down, but '''must''' use the ladders.<br>
B. Fireballs: Move only upward. They can use ladders..<br>
C. Barrels: Move downward. They can use ladders unless a Mario pawn is on it.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
French_Box_of_Donkey_Kong_Board_Game_(MB).jpg|French box
</gallery>

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