Donkey Kong Jr. by 1404 is a bootleg "game" for the Commodore 64, released at an unknown date. It is a rare example of a bootleg that is a complete scam, with no actual gameplay whatsoever. It appeared in several commercially sold multigame compilations for the C64 in the 1980s; its true origins are unknown.
Gameplay[]
The program starts with a fake title screen, claiming to be licensed by Nintendo. Upon starting, an animation is played showing Junior going up and down the vines, before a screen is reached stating "ENTER PASSWORD TO START". There is no correct password, nor is there an actual coded game at all. Upon detecting three keys were pressed, the program simply loops the fake password screen over and over.[1]
Trivia[]
- While Donkey Kong and Mario resembles their original sprites, Donkey Kong Jr. uses an edited sprite of Mitch, the monkey from the 1983 game Flip and Flop.
- Despite having a Commodore 64 port, the sprite resembles the original Atari 8-bit version of Mitch. This implies a 1983 or later release.
- Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario are the only sprites to ever move in the level screen.
- Mario disappears everytime the password screen load, and will not reappear until the three keys are pressed and the box with the text fades.
- The music used during the level screen is called "Turkey in the Straw", composed by Gary Davis and first released in 1983.[2] This also implies that Donkey Kong Jr. by 1404 was released that year or later.
Gallery[]
"Gameplay" showing Mario, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr.
The password screen that loops after three keys are pressed
The Great Donkey Kong Junior Hoax - Nintendo on Commodore 64
A video explaining the program and how it works