Editing Donkey Kong Jr. (game)

{{about|the arcade game|the [[Game & Watch]] game of the same name|[[Donkey Kong Jr. (Game & Watch)]]}}
{{italic title}}
{{game infobox
|image=[[File:Donkey Kong Jr Arcade side art.png|250px]]<br>Art of the arcade cabinet.
|developer=[[Nintendo Research & Development 1]]<br>Iwasaki Engineering<ref name="Gamasutra">{{cite|author=Fahs, Travis|date=July 6, 2011|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20120511000142/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/134790/the_secret_history_of_donkey_kong.php?page=3|title=The Secret History of Donkey Kong|publisher=Gamasutra|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref> <br> [[Nintendo Research & Development 2]] (Famicom/NES port)<ref>{{cite|author=Iwata, Satoru et al|url=iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wii/nsmb/1/0|title=Iwata Asks: New Super Mario Bros. Wii|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref> <br> [[Coleco]] (ColecoVision and Coleco Adam ports) <br> [[Woodside Design Associates]] (Atari 2600 port)<ref>[https://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Woodside_Design_Associates Woodside Design Associates]. ''Game Developer Research Institute''. Retrieved November 10, 2024.</ref> <br> [[Roklan]] (Intellivision port)<ref>[https://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Roklan Roklan]. ''Game Developer Research Institute''. Retrieved November 2, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/NpeMKGMTmt8?si=oS2_t1FO_i8_KzBp&t=1486 The History of Roklan Corporation | VCFMW 17 (2022)].''YouTube''. Retrieved November 2,2024.</ref> <br> [[Atari, Inc.]] (Atari 8-bit computer port)<br> [[International Technology Development Corporation|ITDC]] (Atari 7800 port)<br>[[HAMSTER Corporation|HAMSTER]] (Arcade Archives)
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]<br> [[Coleco]] (ColecoVision, Atari 2600, Intellivision, and Coleco Adam ports) <br> [[Atari, Inc.]] (Atari 8-bit computer port)<br> {{wp|Atari Corporation}} (Atari 7800 port) <br>[[HAMSTER Corporation|HAMSTER]] (Arcade Archives) 
|designer=[[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
|release='''Arcade:<br>'''{{flag list|Japan|August 2, 1982<ref>{{cite|url=archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19820815p/page/n3/mode/1up|title=Game Machine August 15, 1982 issue|page=7 and 13}}</ref>|USA|September 1982<ref>{{cite|url=archive.org/details/cashbox44unse_14/page/40/mode/1up|title=Cash Box September 18, 1982 issue|page=40}}</ref>}} '''ColecoVision:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|February 1983<ref>{{cite|url=retrocdn.net/images/1/1a/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.1_12.pdf|title=The Video Game Update|date=March 1983|page=6 and 8}}</ref>|Europe|1983}}
|release2='''Famicom/NES:'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|July 15, 1983<ref>{{Cite|url=https://www.nintendo.com/jp/famicom/software/hvc-jr/index.html|title=ドンキーコングJR.|publisher=Nintendo Japan|language=ja}}</ref>|USA|June 1986|Europe|June 15, 1987<ref>{{cite|url=www.themushroomkingdom.net/games/dkjr-nes|title=Date info of Donkey Kong Jr.|publisher=The Mushroom Kingdom|language=en|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>}}'''Atari 2600:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|September 1983<ref>{{cite|url=retrocdn.net/images/f/fc/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_06.pdf|title=The Video Game Update|date=September 1983|page=82 and 96}}</ref>|Europe|1983|Australia|1983}} '''Intellivision:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|October 1983<ref>{{cite|url=retrocdn.net/images/d/d1/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_07.pdf|title=The Video Game Update|date=October 1983|page=101 and 112}}</ref>|Europe|1983}} '''Atari 8-bit computers:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|March 1984<ref name=4/84>{{cite|url=retrocdn.net/images/3/38/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.3_01.pdf|title=The Video Game Update|date=April 1984|page=16}}</ref>|Europe|1985}} '''Coleco Adam:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|April 1984<ref name=4/84/>}} '''[[Family Computer Disk System]]:'''<br> {{flag list|Japan|July 19, 1988<ref>{{cite|url=www.themushroomkingdom.net/games/dkjr-fds|title=''Donkey Kong Jr.'' (FDS)|publisher=The Mushroom Kingdom|accessdate=June 1, 2024|language=en}}</ref>}}'''Atari 7800:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|November 1988|Europe|1989<ref>{{cite|url=www.atarimania.com/catalog-atari-atari-uk-games-catalogue_357_7.html|title=Atari UK 1989 catalog}}</ref>}} '''e-Reader:'''<br> {{flag list|USA|September 16, 2002<ref>{{cite|url=themushroomkingdom.net/games/dkjr-e|title=''Donkey Kong Jr.'' (e-Reader)|publisher=The Mushroom Kingdom|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>|Mexico|October, 2002<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20021013125448/http://www.nintendo.com.mx/Juegos/gameboy_advance/donkeykonge.html|title=Donkey Kong Jr.-e|publisher=Nintendo of Mexico|language=es-mx|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>}}'''[[Virtual Console#Wii|Virtual Console]] ([[Wii]]):'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|December 2, 2006|USA|December 4, 2006|Europe|December 22, 2006}}'''[[Virtual Console#Nintendo 3DS|Virtual Console]] ([[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]]) (Ambassador Program Release):'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|August 31, 2011|USA|September 1, 2011|Europe|September 1, 2011|Australia|September 1, 2011}}'''Virtual Console (3DS) (Full Release):'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|April 18, 2012|USA|June 14, 2012|Europe|August 23, 2012|Australia|August 23, 2012|South Korea|April 6, 2016<ref>{{cite|url=themushroomkingdom.net/games/dkjr-vc-3ds|title=''Donkey Kong Jr.'' (Virtual Console, 3DS)|publisher=The Mushroom Kingdom|accessdate=June 1, 2024|language=en}}</ref>}}'''[[Virtual Console#Wii U|Virtual Console]] ([[Wii U]]):'''<br>{{flag list|USA|April 26, 2013|Europe|April 27, 2013|Australia|April 28, 2013|Japan|July 15, 2013}}'''NES Classic Edition:'''<br>{{flag list|Australia|November 10, 2016|USA|November 11, 2016|Europe|November 11, 2016}}'''[[Nintendo Switch]] (''[[Arcade Archives]]''):'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|December 21, 2018|USA|December 21, 2018|Europe|December 21, 2018|Australia|December 21, 2018}}'''[[Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online]]:'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|May 15, 2019<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo|date=May 7, 2019|url=youtu.be/cczZrEUpV8Q|title=ファミリーコンピュータ Nintendo Switch Online 追加タイトル <nowiki>[2019年5月]</nowiki>|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>|USA|May 15, 2019<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo of America|date=May 7, 2019|url=youtu.be/jdyNmSMxbAQ|title=Nintendo Entertainment System - May Game Updates - Nintendo Switch Online|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>|Europe|May 15, 2019<ref>{{cite|url=x.com/NintendoEurope/status/1126154124104482816|title=#DonkeyKong Jr., VS. Excitebike, and Clu Clu Land are coming to #NintendoSwitchOnline – Nintendo Entertainment System on 15/05! #NES|author=NintendoEurope|publisher=X|date=May 8, 2019|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>|Australia|May 15, 2019<ref>{{cite|url=x.com/NintendoAUNZ/status/1128585854837035008|title=New #NES games have been added to #NintendoSwitchOnline – Nintendo Entertainment System! Rescue DK in #DonkeyKong Jr., face off against friends in VS. Excitebike & explore a maze in Clu Clu Land!|language=en-au|date=May 15, 2019|accessdate=June 1, 2024|publisher=X}}</ref>|HK|May 15, 2019|South Korea|May 15, 2019}} 
|languages={{languages|en_us=y}}
|genre=Retro/Platform
|ratings={{Ratings|esrb=E|pegi=3|cero=A|acb=G|usk=0|classind=L|grac=all}}
|modes=Up to 2 players, alternating turns
|cabinet=Upright and cocktail
|monitor=Raster, standard resolution
|format={{format|arcade=1|nes=1|fds=1|ereader=1|wiidl=1|wiiudl=1|switchdl=1|3dsdl=1|nesclassic=1}}
|input={{input|arcade=1|nes=1|wmsideways=1|classic=1|wiigcn=1|wiiuclassic=1|wiiusideways=1|wiiupro=1|joy-con=1|joy-con-horizontal=1|switchnes=1|switchsnes=1|switchpro=1|3ds=1|nesclassic=1}}
|serials='''Famicom:'''<br>HVC-JR<br>'''FDS:'''<br>FMC-JRD
}}
'''''Donkey Kong Jr.''''', also spelled '''''Donkey Kong Junior''''' in early arcade releases and home ports, is an arcade [[List of games|game]] starring [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] It is the direct sequel to ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'', and it and the similar ''[[Donkey Kong II]]'', as well as ''[[Donkey Kong Circus]]'', are the only games in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise where [[Mario]] is the antagonist. Though ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' did not have as many sales or the same amount of a following as the original ''Donkey Kong'' did, it did well enough to warrant a second sequel, ''[[Donkey Kong 3]]''.
==Story==
After the events of ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'', [[Mario]] has captured [[Donkey Kong]] as revenge for kidnapping [[Pauline|his lady friend]] and [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] has to save him. Donkey Kong Jr. travels through four stages from the jungle to the big city to rescue his father, climbing vines, avoiding enemies and jumping on platforms along the way. However, every time Donkey Kong Jr. gets close to freeing his father, Mario just pushes him further away.

In the arcade version, between the second and third stages, Mario carries Donkey Kong away in a yellow helicopter, with Jr. following close behind with a parasol. Finally in his hideout, Mario appears to be atop a skyscraper similar to [[100m]] from the last game. Donkey Kong Jr. has to put six [[key]]s into their keyholes to free his dad and make the platform they are standing on disappear. Donkey Kong and Mario both fall down and Donkey Kong Jr. catches Donkey Kong but Mario just hits the ground. Donkey Kong Jr. carries his dad off-screen as Mario gets up and runs after them, only to be kicked right back out by Donkey Kong, forcing him to flee. In the NES version, this is altered to Mario falling to his apparent death.
===Story from the [[Nintendo 3DS]] [[Virtual Console#Nintendo 3DS|Virtual Console]] manual===
<blockquote>''Poor Donkey Kong™ has been captured by Mario™ and now finds himself locked up in a cage! It's up to Donkey Kong's son, Junior, to rescue him by snatching the keys to the cage away from Mario. Unfortunately for Junior, Mario won't give up those keys easily, and dangerous snapjaws, nitpickers, and sparks will attack him along the way. Will Junior be able to help his father...? That all depends on you!</blockquote>

==Gameplay==
[[File:DKJ Arcade Stage 1 Screenshot.png|thumb|left]]
As a direct sequel, ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' retains many elements from ''Donkey Kong'', although the two games are significantly different. While the original installment took place in a construction setting, ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' takes place in a jungle-like setting, from which Donkey Kong Jr. can climb up vines, drop fruit, or jump from place to place.

In order to free his father, Donkey Kong Junior must collect the key being kept at the end of each level, eventually using those keys to free his father in the end. All the while, however, Mario will sit near the Key as well as Donkey Kong's cage, summoning waves of monsters after Donkey Kong Junior from his position. After Donkey Kong Jr. gains a key, Mario will take Donkey Kong to the next location.{{br|left}}

==Levels==
In the Japanese arcade version, the stages follow each other in each other in the same order for every loop.
*[[Vine Scene]]
*[[Jump Board Scene]] (not found in the {{wp|Atari 2600}} port)
*[[Mario's Hideout]] (not found in the {{wp|ColecoVision}} and {{wp|Intellivision}} ports)
*[[Chain Scene]]
In the international arcade version, the middle stages are only revealed during the second and third loop with the fourth loop onward matching the Japanese version. The {{wp|Atari 8-bit family|Atari 8-bit computers}}, ColecoVision, {{wp|Coleco Adam}}, and Intellivision ports follow this progression. The Atari 2600 port put Mario's Hideout after the Chain Scene for every loop.
===Kill screen on Level 22===
Like its [[Donkey Kong (game)#Kill screen in Level 22|predecessor]], this game also has a kill screen on level 22 (screen 89 on Japanese versions and screen 82 on international versions) based on the same integer overflow [[glitch]].

On the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] and [[Family Computer]] ports, the kill screen is likewise encountered on level 133 (screen 529) instead, but has rather different effects compared to the arcade version.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJFXJ1QXyZ0</ref> The two levels that precede the kill screen, levels 131 and 132 (screens 521-528), overflows the time limit so much that the "low time" sound continuously plays, although the player has a much larger amount of time to clear the stages. On level 133 itself, the game crashes.

==Characters==
{|width=fit class=wikitable
|-
!Character
!Name
!Debut
!Information
|-
!bgcolor=black|[[File:DK Jr. Arcade Jr. Idle Sprite.png]]
|align=center|'''[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]'''
|align=center|Vine Scene
|The son of Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior is the titular protagonist of ''Donkey Kong Jr.'', who has the ability to climb up vines.
|-
!bgcolor=black|[[File:DKJArcadeDonkeyKongSprite.png]]
|align=center|'''[[Donkey Kong]]'''
|align=center|Vine Scene
|Donkey Kong Jr.'s father, held by Mario at the end of every level.
|-
!bgcolor=black|[[File:DKJArcadeMarioSprite.png]]
|align=center|'''[[Mario]]'''
|align=center|Vine Scene
|The main antagonist, Mario appears in every level at the end of each stage, throwing obstacles at Donkey Kong Jr. or guarding Donkey Kong. In the intro of the arcade version, a second Mario appears to help carry Donkey Kong away.
|}
===Enemies===
{|width=fit class=wikitable
|-
!Enemy
!Name
!Debut
!Information
|-
!bgcolor=black|[[File:DKJ Arcade Blue Snapjaw Sprite.png]]<br>[[File:Redsnapjaw.png]]
|align=center|'''[[Snapjaw]]'''
|align=center|Vine Scene
|Crocodile-like enemies that move after Donkey Kong Junior. Red ones will stay in one particular area, while the blue ones, which are summoned by Mario, will move aimlessly until they reach a vine, where they will continuously move down until they fall off.
|-
!bgcolor=black|[[File:DKJ Arcade Nitpicker Sprite.png]]
|align=center|'''[[Nitpicker]]'''
|align=center|Jump Board Scene
|Vulture-like birds that fly down once in an attempt to ram into Donkey Kong Junior. Some may also drop eggs at random intervals.
|-
!bgcolor=black|[[File:DKJrSpark1.png]]<br>[[File:DKJ Arcade Blue Spark.png]]
|align=center|'''[[Spark]]'''
|align=center|Mario's Hideout
|Electrical balls of energy that travel around a set platform. Blue ones, summoned by Mario, will constantly move downwards.
|-
!bgcolor=black|[[File:DKJ Arcade Bird.png]]
|align=center|'''[[Bird (Donkey Kong series)|Bird]]'''
|align=center|Chain Scene
|Raven-like Nitpickers that fly down the screen in a zigzag-like pattern in an attempt to ram into Donkey Kong Junior.
|}

==Items==
{{content description
|image1=[[File:DKJ Arcade Banana.png]]<br>[[File:DKJrCherry.png]]<br>[[File:DKJrfruit.png]]
|name1=[[Fruit]]
|description1=Fruit can be dropped onto enemies directly below Donkey Kong Jr., otherwise gaining a point bonus if no enemy is hit.
|image2=[[File:DKJ Arcade Blue Key.png]]
|name2=[[Key]]
|description2=Keys are guarded by Mario at the end of each stage. It is mandatory for Donkey Kong Junior to grab these items in order to free his father.
}}

==Re-releases==
*The international arcade version was re-released in North America by [[Namco]] in 2004 as part of compilation arcade cabinet ''[[Donkey Kong/Donkey Kong Junior/Mario Bros.]]''
*On December 21, 2018, both the Japanese and international arcade versions were re-released for the first time on a home console as part of [[HAMSTER Corporation]]'s ''[[Arcade Archives]]'' brand on the [[Nintendo Switch]]'s [[Nintendo eShop#Nintendo Switch|eShop]].<ref>{{cite|date=December 19, 2018|url=nintendoeverything.com/arcade-archives-donkey-kong-jr-heading-to-switch-this-week|title=Arcade Archives Donkey Kong Jr. heading to Switch this week|publisher=Nintendo Everything|accessdate=June 1, 2024|language=en}}</ref>

==Ports==
''Donkey Kong Jr.'' was also ported to various game consoles and home computers.<ref>{{cite|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkP8JxBGliw|title=Donkey Kong Jr. - Versions Comparison (HD)|author=retrosutra|date=May 2, 2020|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>
*Like ''Donkey Kong'', Nintendo awarded home console licensing to {{wp|Coleco}} while giving [[Atari, Inc.]] the rights to publish home computer ports. The latter did so only for their {{wp|Atari 8-bit computers}}, but ports were also planned for the {{wp|Apple II}}, {{wp|MS-DOS}}, {{wp|Commodore 64}}, {{wp|Commodore VIC-20}}, {{wp|ZX Spectrum}}, and {{wp|BBC Micro}} before they were canceled.<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.digitpress.com/faq/atarisoft.htm|title=The Atarisoft FAQ V0.34, 17-Dez-07|publisher=Digital Press|accessdate=August 8, 2024}}</ref> So far, only the BBC Micro version has leaked online.<ref>{{cite|url=https://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=255|title=Donkey Kong Jnr.|publisher=BBC Micro Games Archive|accessdate=August 8, 2024}}</ref> {{wp|Atari Corporation}} later published a port for their {{wp|Atari 7800}} console after Coleco had pulled out of the video game market.
*''Donkey Kong Jr.'' was released on the [[Family Computer]] as a launch title and on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] as part of the [[Arcade Classics Series]], along with ''[[Donkey Kong Classics]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. + Jr. Sansū Lesson]]'' but the latter lacks the Jump Board Scene and Mario's Hideout. The NES port has been re-released many times starting with the [[Family Computer Disk System|FDS]] in 1988. In 2002, the NES version was re-released  under the title '''''Donkey Kong Jr.-e''''' for the [[e-Reader]] as part of Series One. The NES version is also available as a [[Virtual Console]] title for the [[Wii]], [[Nintendo 3DS]], and [[Wii U]], with the Nintendo 3DS version also being a part of the [[nwiki:Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program|3DS Ambassador Program]]. The NES version is also a part of the group of games in the [[Classics#NES Classic Edition|NES Classic Edition]] system. This version was again made available on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online]] service on May 15th, 2019. This version also appears as a minigame in ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing (GCN)|Animal Crossing]]''.
*''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (Game & Watch)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' was remade into a [[Game & Watch]] game under the same name, which was later a part of the [[Mini Classics]] series, and later receiving a port onto the [[Nintendo DSi]]. The Game & Watch version is also a part of the [[minigame]] collection in ''Game & Watch Galleries'' [[Game & Watch Gallery 3|3]] and [[Game & Watch Gallery 4|4]], with both a regular and modern version.

==Cheat mode==
In the Atari 800 version, holding the Shift key while typing "BOOGA" activates a cheat mode where the player can do the following:<ref>{{cite|url=www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-donkey-kong-junior_1675.html|title=Donkey Kong Junior|publisher=Atari Mania|language=en|accessdate=January 1, 2023}}</ref>
*Press K to become invincible.
*Press S to skip the current level.

==Staff==
{{main|List of Donkey Kong Jr. staff}}
;Produced by
*[[Gunpei Yokoi]]

;Original Music by
*Yukio Kaneoka

;Programming by
*H. Hoshino
*[[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
*[[Yoshio Sakamoto]] (Logo graphic)
*Kenji Nishizawa

==Pre-release and unused content==
{{main|List of Donkey Kong Jr. pre-release and unused content}}
The arcade version includes an unused lightbulb object as well as several graphical leftovers from the original ''Donkey Kong''. In addition, the Coleco Adam port is notable for originally featuring an unlockable stage, but it was cut at Nintendo's request.

==Reception==
{|class="wikitable reviews"
!colspan="4"style="font-size:120%;text-align:center;background-color:silver;"|Reviews
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|Release
|Reviewer, Publication
|Score
|Comment
|-
|Wii
|Damien McFerran, [http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/vc/donkey_kong_jr_nes Nintendo Life]
|4/10
|align="left"|"''After all these years, Donkey Kong Jr.'s levels can still be a slight challenge and hold replayability, and hardcore fans will no doubt argue that it's all about setting as high a score as possible, but it's clear that this is a game more suited for those who enjoyed it at the time of its original release in the arcades. The gameplay is far too basic to recommend this wholeheartedly when there are so many better alternatives on the Virtual Console; after watching King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters you might be inspired to give this a whirl, but it won't keep you entertained for very long.''"
|-
|NES
|Lucas M. Thomas, [https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/07/donkey-kong-jr-review IGN]
|5/10
|align="left"|''"The son of Kong arrives here in a complete conversion of his arcade debut, but this game's too short of an experience to recommend (never mind that it's already been made available through Animal Crossing and as the packed-in "launch title" for the Game Boy Advance e-Reader just a few years ago.) It's nice to see Junior, but not enough to warrant a purchase on his own.''"
|-
|Wii
|Alex Navarro, [https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/donkey-kong-jr-review/1900-6163516/ GameSpot]
|4.9/10
|align="left"|''"It was a very fun game for its time, but it hasn't held up very well over the years. The only multiplayer is a two-player, trade-off mode, and as fun as some of the levels can be, with only four to play through, you're over and done with the game before you know it. Apart from DK Jr.'s cute character sprite, the graphics are rather archaic, and the audio isn't all that enjoyable, despite a decently catchy soundtrack. The short length and crusty graphics and sound are to be expected from a perfect port of a game from 1986, but for the $5 that's being charged for it, it's tough to recommend to anyone that didn't count Donkey Kong Jr. among their most favorite of NES games. If you're on a nostalgia hunt, there are far stronger options available on the Virtual Console.'"
|-
!colspan="4"style="background-color:silver;font-size:120%;text-align:center;"|Aggregators
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|colspan=2|Compiler
|colspan=2|Platform / Score
|-
|colspan=2|GameRankings
|colspan=2|[https://www.gamerankings.com/nes/578616-donkey-kong-jr/index.html 58.17%]
|}
===Sales===
After the fiasco involving ''[[Crazy Kong]]'', Nintendo decided not to license production of the arcade version to other companies and not to sell printed circuit boards but only whole machines. A private showing of the game was held on July 28, 1982 before its rollout the following month.<ref>{{cite|url=archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19820915p/page/n15/mode/1up|title=Game Machine|date=September 15, 1982|page=30}}</ref>

According to ''The Ultimate History of Video Games'', the arcade version of ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' sold 30,000 units in North America, half of its predecessor.<ref>{{cite|url=archive.org/details/ultimatehistoryo0000kent/page/352/mode/2up?view=theater|location=Roseville|isbn=0-7615-3643-4|title=''The Ultimate History of Video Games: from Pong to Pokémon and beyond...the story behind the craze that touched our lives and changed the world''|date=October 2, 2001|page=352|language=en}}</ref>

==Nintendo eShop description==
<blockquote>
''Original Release Date: June 1986

''Based on the popular arcade game, Donkey Kong Jr. is the sequel to the immensely successful Donkey Kong™. Play as Donkey Kong's son, and rescue your dad who has been kidnapped and imprisoned in a cage by Mario™. Use your jumping and climbing abilities to clamber up vines and chains, gather vital fruit and keys, and open the cage to free your father. Make sure you avoid the pesky birds, nasty electric sparks, and creepy chompers! Four different worlds filled with numerous climbing and jumping puzzles await you in this timeless classic.</blockquote>

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
DKJ Donkey Kong Jr Holding Key Artwork.png|[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]
Mario DKJR.png|[[Mario]]
DKJ Donkey Kong Carrying Donkey Kong Jr and Running Artwork.png|[[Donkey Kong]] and Donkey Kong Jr.
Snapjaw.jpg|[[Snapjaw]]
DKJ Nitpicker Artwork.png|[[Nitpicker]]
</gallery>

==Media==
{{main-media|List of Donkey Kong Jr. media}}
===Arcade===
{{media table
|file1=DKJ Arcade Stage 1 Theme.oga
|title1=Vine Scene Theme
|length1=0:25
|file2=DKJ Arcade Stage 1 Clear Theme.oga
|title2=Vine Scene Clear Theme
|length2=0:07
}}

==References in later games==
*''[[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Donkey Kong]]'' ([[Game Boy]]): Donkey Kong Jr., [[Snapjaw]]s, [[Bird (Donkey Kong series)|Bird]]s, and a [[Spark]] reappear in this game. [[Stage 9-4]] resembles the Chain Scene. Mario's method of trapping Junior in this game is identical to Donkey Kong Jr.'s method of freeing his father from captivity.
*''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' series: [[Diddy Kong]] and [[Dixie Kong]]'s ability to climb two ropes at a time originates from ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' The music for this game is redone and replayed in the [[Golden Temple]] level of ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D]]''. A different cover of the song plays in the [[Secret Seclusion]] world in ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''. The plotline for ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'' was also very similar to ''Donkey Kong Jr.'', including Donkey Kong being captured by an old enemy (in his case, Kaptain K. Rool) and requiring that Diddy save him by traveling to the place Donkey Kong was being held captive.
*''[[Super Mario Kart]]'': Donkey Kong Jr. appears as a playable character in this game.
*''[[Mario's Tennis]]'': Donkey Kong Jr. appears as a playable character.
*''[[Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)|Mario Tennis]]'': Donkey Kong Jr. appears as an unlockable character.
*''[[Mario Party 2]]'': The music in [[Look Away]] is similar to the [[Vine Scene]]'s music.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'': Donkey Kong Jr. appears as a trophy in the game, and his antagonism towards Mario is referenced in the flavor text for the trophy.
*''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'': DK Mountain and Dino Dino Jungle's theme is an arrangement of the first level theme. This theme returns in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', and the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass]]''. Also, Donkey Kong Jr. was found in the game's files. He was ultimately replaced with Diddy Kong in the final game. However, he exclusively appears in the original incarnation of [[GCN Waluigi Stadium|Waluigi Stadium]].
*''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'': Mario is able to climb two ropes to climb them faster in this game. Snapjaws, [[Bird (Mario vs. Donkey Kong series)|variation]] of Nitpickers appear as enemies. Floating [[fruit]] can be touched to cause them to drop and defeat enemies.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'': When Diddy Kong, Fox, and Falco arrive at the barge taking the recently-trophified Donkey Kong to the Ancient Island, Donkey Kong's trophy is shown in chains on the arms and legs, referring to Donkey Kong's captive status in the game, particularly at the Chain Scene.
*''[[NES Remix]]'' and ''[[Ultimate NES Remix]]'': Several challenges are based off of this game.
*''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'': A portion of the Game Start music is arranged in the theme of [[Retro Ramp-Up]]
*''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'': Donkey Kong Jr. appears in this game as a [[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirit]]. Additionally, a medley of songs named "Donkey Kong / Donkey Kong Jr. Medley" is featured.

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=ドンキーコング ジュニア (arcade)
|Jap2=ドンキーコングJR. (Famicom)
|Jap3=ドンキーコングJr. (newer)
|JapR=Donkī Kongu Junia
|Jap2R=Donkī Kongu Junia
|Jap3R=Donkī Kongu Junia
|JapM=Donkey Kong Junior or Donkey Kong Jr.
|Jap2M=Donkey Kong Junior or Donkey Kong Jr.
|Jap3M=Donkey Kong Junior or Donkey Kong Jr.
}}

==Trivia==
[[File:TwoMarios.png|thumb|RIGHT|200px|A screenshot of what appears to be two Marios in the intro.]]
*The first cutscene in the arcade version of the game uses part of "{{wp|Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565}}" by {{wp|Johann Sebastian Bach}} for its music.
**The arcade version also uses part of "Le Galop infernal d'Orphée aux Enfers," a song created in 1858 by the French composer {{wp|Jacques Offenbach}}, for its second cutscene.
*During the intro of the arcade version of ''Donkey Kong Jr.'', there are two Marios seen pushing Donkey Kong's cage away.
*Most versions of ''Donkey Kong Jr.'', including the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System version, has the ending theme truncated to one phrase. The four versions to have the full theme are the arcade, Intellivision, Coleco Adam, and Atari 8-bit computer ports. 
*Coleco's 1983 TV commercial for their console ports featured a live action rendition of Mario as a cartoonish Vaudeville villain.<ref>{{cite|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNTpXX43QxY|title=Donkey Kong Jr. - "Help Save Papa!" (Commercial, 1983)|date=June 11, 2018|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=June 1, 2024|author=The Museum of Classic Chicago Television (www.FuzzyMemories.TV)}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{NIWA|Nookipedia=Item:Donkey Kong Jr (Animal Crossing)|StrategyWiki=Donkey Kong Jr.}}
{{TCRF|Donkey Kong Jr. (Arcade)|Donkey Kong Jr.}}
*[https://www.nintendo.com/jp/famicom/software/hvc-jr/index.html Official Japanese site]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAAFE.pdf North American NES manual]
{{DKJR}}
{{Donkey Kong games}}
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{{Computer}}
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{{Switch}}
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[[Category:Games]]
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[[Category:Arcade games]]
[[Category:1982 games]]
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[[Category:Family Computer games]]
[[Category:Family Computer Disk System games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:3DS Ambassador games]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Jr.|*]]
[[Category:Amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits]]
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