Jack
- This article is about the spring-like obstacle that first appears in Donkey Kong. For the Toad Force V character from Mario Party Advance, see Jack (character). For the obstacle also called a piston, see Skewer.
- Not to be confused with Trampoline.
Jacks[1] (also called mad springs[2], springs[3][4], I-beams[5], or pistons[6]) are obstacles that first appear in Donkey Kong.
History
Donkey Kong series
Donkey Kong
In the Donkey Kong arcade game, jacks are constantly bouncing and dropping near Donkey Kong on 75 m. If Mario gets hit by a jack, he loses a life.
Due to technical limitations they are absent from 75 m in the ColecoVision and TI-99/4A ports.
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
In Donkey Kong for the Game Boy, jacks are now actually thrown by Donkey Kong instead of just bouncing past him. Negating them with a handstand causes them to fall off-screen like most enemies and obstacles, instead of becoming usable like barrels.
Donkey Kong 64
Jacks reappear in the Donkey Kong arcade game playable within Donkey Kong 64, acting the same as in the original release.
Super Smash Bros. series
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, jacks are a hazard in 75 m. The Donkey Kong sprite at the top of the screen periodically activates, and when that happens, jacks bounce from the left, acting in much the same manner as the original version. In Wii U and Ultimate, the Ω form of the stage does not feature jacks, and in the latter, jacks as well as other stage elements more closely resemble the arcade version instead of the NES version. In addition, the spring item found in these games and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is modeled after a jack.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ジャッキ[?] Jakki |
Jack | |
| Dutch | krik[?] | jack | |
| German | Wagenheber[?] | Jack | |
| Italian | martinetto[?] | jack | |
| Spanish (NOA) | matatena[?] | jacks | |
| Spanish (NOE) | resorte[?] | spring |
References
- ^ Instruction manual for NES port.
- ^ Instruction manuals for the Atari 8-bit, Apple II, Commodore VIC-20, MS-DOS, and Atari 7800 ports.
- ^ Instruction manual for the Commodore 64 (Atarisoft) port.
- ^ The Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide, page 127.
- ^ Instruction manual for the Coleco Adam port.
- ^ Donkey Kong 64 Prima's Official Strategy Guide, page 67.
| Donkey Kong | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong • Mario • Pauline |
| Levels | 25m • 50m • 75m • 100m |
| Items and objects | Bolt • Conveyor Belt • Hammer • Ladder • Lift • Parasol, Hat & Bag |
| Enemies and obstacles | Barrel • Cement tub • Fire • Fireball • Jack • Oil drum |
| Other | 25m Theme • Gallery • Media • Opening • Staff |
