Crazy Kong  (1983 - Interceptor)
Alternative title: Crazy Kong 64  (in-game)
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Crazy Kong is a single screen platform game based on the arcade game Donkey Kong where you have to get from the bottom of the screen to the top to rescue your girlfriend over various screens. The platforms are connected by ladders and as you climb and move up the screen, a giant ape on the top of the screen rolls barrels along the platforms towards you. You must jump over the barrels or you lose one of three lives if you are hit but there are hammers that can be collected and smash the barrels for a limited time. As well as getting to the top of the screen to get to the next screen you must also collect all the diamonds on the screen.

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Review

Interceptor was a company that was famous and notorious for pumping out cheap copies of (mostly) arcade games with abysmal graphics, no originality, but sometimes good playability. 

Crazy Kong 64 is the one of their products, which stands out because it adds elements from two arcade games and combines them to something that has not been seen before or since: A mixture of Donkey Kong and (sort of) Pac Man. 

Because of the above flaws, this little gem escaped general attention, and I welcome the opportunity of introducing it to this site (how about it Kim? Can we have it on your site? It's on Arnold in blast 157.). Now then, for all of you who don't know Donkey Kong: You control this little figure called Mario ......what? You do? Oh, all right then. How about Pac Man? Anyone know that? You sure? OK. I'll skip that bit then. 

To get to the point: You have to progress up the platforms and reach the top and, here it comes, you collect little diamonds on the way. Oooh er!! Now, taken in combination with those barrels coming at you this is where you break your joystick, such is the frustrated fury unleashed in you. You know the feeling. Because the joystick standing on the table or desk doesn't seem to give you the control you require, you end up with its base sitting in the palm of your hand. Next thing you know is that you're throwing yourself about and from side to side as if you're caught in an Alton Towers attraction, probably ending up on the floor with your legs in the air. 

The levels themselves are pretty original. The first one is reminiscent of the first level of Donkey Kong, although the barrels run at high speed along horizontal! platforms (No incline whatever). The following ones are originals that have the feel of Donkey Kong, but add new features. On one level, for instance, the barrels drop down a gaping hole in the middle of the screen and when they reach the level of your figure, they go in random directions. And fast! Remember that all this happens while you're also trying to collect all the randomly placed diamonds. After an hour if this little number, you'll find yourself with more calluses on your hands than a lumberjack (and he's all right!). So far I have only managed to reach level four once, but for some reason I find myself coming back to it again and again. If you like this sort of hectic mayhem, give it a try.


http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemon64.com/reviews/
