Pros: nice game, lots to do, nice graphics
Cons: none that I can think of.

About a month ago we purchased Nintendo 64 for our children. We bought four games to go with it. Super Mario, Lego Racers, Elmo's numbers, and DONKEY KONG!

I had not played with or even seen a video game in action since my old atari 2600 I had when I was in high School. I chose Donkey Kong for my kids because I remember playing a game called Donkey Kong on my old Atari. I remember barrels shooting around and a little monkey chasing them. I remember liking the game.

Well, that is pretty much what I pictured my kids were going to get with the Nintendo 64's Donkey Kong. I didn't expect what we did get.

When we turned on the game I was a little disappointed in the rap music. I do not like rap music and it really didn't interest me. But as we started to play I got more interested. My son informed me that I would no longer be allowed to call the game Donkey Kong, the correct word is DK I was told. So we began to play DK.

My children and I are totally absorbed into this game. The game begins with Donkey Kong (DK) and his job is to find his golden bananas and all of his friends. His friends have been locked up by K. Rool. His friends include, Lanky Kong, Diddy Kong, Chunky Kong and Tiny Kong.

So far we have rescued Diddy, Lanky and Chunky. We are still in search of Tiny.

When we rescued the first Kong my little son was so excited. He jumped up and down and the baby clicked the off button while we were not looking. We had to start all over!

My children would play this game together for hours. They discuss strategy of where to go and what to do. They have learned to use the moves and the potions. They totally enjoy playing this game. When one can't make something work they hand it over to the other and then I get to try. We all yell and holler at each other giving advice about where to go and what to do. We laugh and we get frustrated together. At times the kids get mad at each other and then we need to take a breather. But for the most part we all play this game together.

When it was time to go up against the armydillo guy we all had a chance and no one could master it. It was up to me and I had already been lost twice. My daughter offered me loads of encouragement while my son hid his head in a pillow. When we succeeded in defeating the guy the three of us stood up and danced and we were so excited to get the first key. My mother (Fjbpab) even came out of her computer room, away from her epinion addiction to check out the Donkey Kong Addiction. She offered some advice for the next game play and sat and watched for a while. I could see that she would easily be drawn into this game too. (She used to play Space invaders by the hour).

There are 8 levels in this game. We have reached the first four. It has taken us over 50 hours to do what we have done. The game keeps track of the hours you use to finish.

What do I like about this game? I like that the Kongs do not die. I like that they just start over at the beginning of the level. I like that they do not lose what you have already collected if you run out of time or out of melon lives. I like that all of the creatures that the Kongs beat up do not die. They just faint, and come back to life. I like that there is always something exciting to find and a new place to explore. I like the graphics and I like the scavenger hunt concept.

I also believe that it takes some memory skill, eye hand coordination and thinking skills to complete this game and to finish. My children are adding and subtracting to make sure they have enough bananas. They are using their math skills. I know the game can be set to two players but I like seeing my children cooperate with each other and trade turns off and on with the game. They coach each other and give advice. They are really enjoying the game and So am I!

We figure this game will take us right through the winter to complete! This sure is a big difference from the Donkey Kong I used to play!