Donkey Kong 3

This article is about the arcade version of Donkey Kong 3. For the Game & Watch game based on it, see Donkey Kong 3 (Game & Watch). For the microgame from WarioWare: Twisted!, see Donkey Kong 3 (WarioWare: Twisted!). For the microgame from WarioWare: Touched!, see Donkey Kong 3 (WarioWare: Touched!).

"DK3" redirects here. For the third installment in the "Donkey Konga" series, see Donkey Konga 3: Tabehōdai! Haru Mogitate 50 Kyoku. For the microgame from WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase, see DK 3.

Donkey Kong 3
Art of the arcade cabinet For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer	Nintendo Research & Development 1
Publisher	Nintendo
Release date	Arcade: Template:Release Famicom/NES: Template:Release e-Reader: Template:ReleaseVirtual Console (Wii): Template:Release Virtual Console (Nintendo 3DS): Template:Release Virtual Console (Wii U): Template:Release Nintendo Switch (Arcade Archives): Template:Release Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online: Template:Release
Language(s)	English (United States)
Genre	Retro/Platform Fixed Shooter
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players, alternating turns
Cabinet	Upright and cocktail
Monitor	Raster, standard resolution
Input	Arcade: Joystick NES: NES Controller Wii: Wii Remote (horizontal) Classic Controller Nintendo GameCube Controller Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote (horizontal) Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller Nintendo Switch: Joy-Con Nintendo Switch Pro Controller NES Controller Nintendo 3DS: Gamepad

Donkey Kong 3 is the third game in the Donkey Kong arcade series. Unlike its predecessors, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., it does not feature Mario, as it instead stars Stanley. The game's approach is closer to a shoot 'em up rather than a platformer, further distinguishing it from the previous Donkey Kong games.

Hudson Soft developed a semi-sequel to Donkey Kong 3, titled Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū, featuring new levels and gameplay. Donkey Kong 3 was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System under the Arcade Classics Series of games, came out for the e-Reader as part of Series Three, along with seeing a Virtual Console release for the Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U. The Japanese and international arcade versions were released under Hamster Corporation's Arcade Archives brand on the Nintendo Switch's eShop on April 5, 2019. In addition, an emulation of the NES port exists as an obtainable item in Animal Crossing.

Story

Donkey Kong Jr. breaks into Stanley's greenhouse and goes to hang in the rafters where he stirs up nests of bugs, which will destroy Stanley's flowers in revenge. Armed with a Sprayer, Stanley must destroy the bees and chase Donkey Kong Jr. away before he eats all five of his flowers. If Stanley is defeated, the insects immediately eat him, though this is removed in the NES port.

Gameplay

The first stage

The game is very simplistic, requiring the player to gather points as the object rather than have any specific long-term goal in mind. There are three screens per level, and once the player completes all three, they return to the first. Throughout the screens are scattered various enemies: Buzzbees, Creepies, Super Bees, Vine Eaters, Beespies which shatter into stingers when destroyed, Attackers, Kabutomushi, and Butterflies. Buzzbees and Butterflies attempt to steal Stanley's flowers, and must be destroyed before reaching the plants. Donkey Kong Jr. himself hangs from two vines at the top of the screen. Spraying him drives him upwards and eventually off the screen to win. In the arcade version, defeating him in the yellow greenhouse causes his head to be pushed into a beehive. Stanley automatically moves out of his way as Donkey Kong Jr. falls, where the beehive splits in half. He becomes stunned, and Stanley does a victory dance. In the NES version, the beehive falls on his head, but the rest of the cutscene is absent.

The gray greenhouse never appears in the first round. The yellow greenhouse directly follows the blue greenhouse, but the gray greenhouse is included in all rounds following the first. The blue greenhouse is repeated from the 159th screen to the 255th screen. The game then loops back to the first round which skips the gray greenhouse.

In some stages, a Super Sprayer can be found, attached to the vines Donkey Kong Jr. hangs by. When he is pushed up to its levels, it falls, allowing Stanley to equip it for a limited time. It turns his insecticide yellow and it becomes more powerful, even being able to defeat Creepies.

Characters

Character	Name	Information
	Stanley	The player character, who must use his spray to get rid of Donkey Kong and the insect pests. With the Super Sprayer, he gets more power.
	Donkey Kong	The troublesome gorilla. Defeating him is the main objective.

Enemies and obstacles

Enemy	Name	Debut	Information
	Beehive	Round 1	The source of all the troublesome insects, Donkey Kong's head must be knocked inside one to stop them.
	Coconut	Round 1	Hard fruit thrown by Donkey Kong.
	Buzzbee	Round 1	The most basic insect enemies, which toss spears and try to steal the flowers. After round 12 (9 on NES), their appearance changes.
	Creepy	Round 1	Inchworms that crawl along vines. Yellow ones go after flowers, but gray ones simply block shots.
	Super Bee	Round 1	Speedy, aggressive bees that are the result of a Buzzbee grabbing a flower. They are absent in the NES version.
	Vine Eater	Round 1	Strange insects that bite through Donkey Kong's vines if Stanley takes too long. They are absent in the NES version.
	Beespy	Round 3	Buzzbee queens that take two hits to defeat and are sometimes escorted by standard Buzzbees. Upon defeat, four spears rain forth.
	Attacker	Round 6	Thin blue bees that charge at Stanley horizontally.
	Kabutomushi	Round 18 Round 12 (NES)	Rhinoceros beetles that act as quicker Attackers.
	Butterfly	Round 24 Round 15 (NES)	Erratic flyers that go after both Stanley and the flowers.

Greenhouses

• Blue
• Gray
• Yellow

Staff

Main article: List of Donkey Kong 3 staff

Reception

Reviews
Release	Reviewer, Publication	Score	Comment
Wii	Lucas M. Thomas, IGN	6/10	"Fans of arcade shooters like Galaga should be the first to consider the 500 Wii Point investment that it would take to download Donkey Kong 3, as, though it's part of the original DK series, it plays more similarly to the alien-invading blaster designs of the early '80s. This VC download is also a more compelling digital purchase than the Virtual Console versions of the first Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., as well, because it's a more replayable design and didn't lose any content in its transition from the arcade to the NES."
Wii	Pedro Hernandez, Nintendo World Report	N/A	"If you are able to look past the different style of gameplay and strip yourself of the notion that you are playing a "Donkey Kong" game, Donkey Kong 3 is a really fun fast-paced game that provides a nice breath of fresh air when it comes to classic gaming. But those who have been raised on the idea that Donkey Kong doesn't deviate from its first iconic arcade release will see this as being a fun but brief diversion. That's why this is a release best recommended for fans that enjoyed the game during its initial release on the arcade and NES and who are able to enjoy it without letting the different game style be a bother."
Nintendo 3DS	Morgan Sleeper, Nintendo Life	6/10	"It's not a timeless classic like the original Donkey Kong, but the great ape's third outing still has plenty to recommend for retro fans. It's very simple fun, with a unique shooter/platformer gameplay mix that feels different from any other DK to date, and quick play sessions that encourage high-score chasing and honing your skills. It's dated and silly short by modern standards, but for old-school arcade fans not bugged by a challenge - and anyone looking to get in on the ground floor with a forgotten Nintendo character before the inevitable Year of Stanley - Donkey Kong 3 is worth a shake."

Sales

According to The Ultimate History of Video Games, the arcade version of Donkey Kong 3 moved 5,000 units in North America, representing a steep decline from the previous installments (which sold 60,000 and 30,000 unit respectively, according to the same book). Unlike earlier titles, Donkey Kong 3 never had dedicated cabinets, but was sold only as Nintendo-Pak conversion kits to Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Popeye cabinets. This foreshadowed the VS. System, the Nintendo PlayChoice-10, and the Nintendo Super System.

Nintendo eShop description

Based on the third game in the enormously popular arcade series, Donkey Kong 3 introduces an exterminator named Stanley as he desperately tries to protect the flowers in his greenhouse from Donkey Kong.

Armed only with a can of bug spray, Stanley must force Donkey Kong higher and higher into the greenhouse rafters until Donkey Kong is off the screen and the next stage is reached. But not surprisingly, Donkey Kong isn’t going to move without a fight, so he sends wave after wave of bugs, bees, and other creatures toward Stanley.

Not only must Stanley repel the insects in order to save the flowers, but he’ll have to keep an eye out for projectiles thrown by Donkey Kong himself. If Stanley is good enough, he’ll be able to grab a can of more powerful bug spray and really get Donkey Kong moving.

It all adds up to frantic fun that anyone can enjoy!

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Donkey Kong 3.

• 

  Stanley

• 

  Donkey Kong

• 

  Group art

Media

Arcade

Game Start Theme

File infoMedia:DK3 Arcade Game Start Theme.oga 0:04

Blue and Gray Greenhouse Theme

File infoMedia:DK3 Arcade Blue Greenhouse and Gray Greenhouse Theme.oga 0:26

Blue and Gray Greenhouse Clear Theme

File infoMedia:DK3 Arcade Blue Greenhouse and Gray Greenhouse Clear Theme.oga 0:04

Yellow Greenhouse Theme

File infoMedia:DK3 Arcade Yellow Greenhouse Theme.oga 0:12

Yellow Greenhouse Clear Theme

File infoMedia:DK3 Arcade Yellow Greenhouse Clear Theme.oga 0:05

Super Sprayer Theme

File infoMedia:DK3 Arcade Power Spray Theme.oga 0:26

Game Over Theme

File infoMedia:DK3 Arcade Game Over Theme.oga 0:02

Help:Media • Having trouble playing?

Famicom/NES

Title Theme

File infoMedia:DK3 NES Title Theme.oga 0:05

Help:Media • Having trouble playing?

References in later games

The greenhouse in the background

• WarioWare: Twisted!: The microgame Donkey Kong 3 is based on this game.
• WarioWare: Touched!: The microgame Donkey Kong 3 is based on this game.
• NES Remix: Several challenges are based on this game.
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: A recreation of the blue greenhouse appears in the background of Fruity Factory.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ドンキーコング3[?] Donkī Kongu Surī	Donkey Kong 3

Trivia

• The Template:Media link for the game has two misspelled words back-to-back, saying "Donkey Kong has plenty og cocnuts to hurl at you."
• The background music for the blue and gray greenhouses comes from "Flight of the Bumblebee."