100K in Donkey Kong Finally!

[Steve W]

Are you playing using a joystick or the arrow keys. Because I'd imagine controlling barrels with the arrow keys would be really difficult. Either way, keep with it. I've only broken 100k once so far, but I took a pic to prove it!

I've found playing DK and DK Jr on a keyboard to me are much easier, the controls seem much more precise and akin to say an NES controller. Just my opinion but for instance, in DK Jr it is much easier to slide down vines at your desired rate of speed/distance with a down arrow key than an arcade stick.

 

[paulliadis]

I haven't played since posting this the other day. I took a day off then ran out of time last night (had a hockey game to play in at 10:30 pm last night ugh). Hope to play tonight. I'd like to get to 200k within the next two weeks. We'll see.

 

[thefader]

Since i am now point pressing the barrel boards and trying new techniques i have erased my high scores 2 to 5 to measure my success. High score so far is a measly 77k in the past 2 days but i usually screw off if i die on the first or 2nd barrel board.

My goal is to have consistently 100k before the 3rd elevator. If i dont die I can usually pump out 16k-18k on the first 2 boards.

This might be why you're dying. Messing around point pressing makes dying way more likely. You are wide open to wild barrels, fireballs, and you have to deal with a mess to get up to the top of the level. What I do, (I can score 280k nearly every game I play) is haul ass upto the top of each level, getting only the top hammer, mostly for safety. The bonus that youre getting 1,000ish points a level, isn't worth the risk unless you can consistently beat the game, and need more points.

 

[paulliadis]

I've found playing DK and DK Jr on a keyboard to me are much easier, the controls seem much more precise and akin to say an NES controller. Just my opinion but for instance, in DK Jr it is much easier to slide down vines at your desired rate of speed/distance with a down arrow key than an arcade stick.

I would agree with that, as far as Junior goes.

However, I can't get the barrel point pressing thing down using the arrow keys.

Also, and this is just me, it doesn't feel as "real" to me using the keyboard. That's why I'd like to build myself an "arcade like" joystick for mame one of these days.

 

[airlair]

Congrats man you're moving pretty quick. It took me a couple months to go from 30K to 160K and that's where I'm currently stuck at. I just haven't been playing as much and it dies hurt if you stop for a while. When things slow down this summer I'll start back up again and my goal is 200K by summer.

 

[MXV]

Are you playing using a joystick or the arrow keys. Because I'd imagine controlling barrels with the arrow keys would be really difficult. Either way, keep with it. I've only broken 100k once so far, but I took a pic to prove it!

I have a MAME cabinet so i'm using real controls. I can't play that type of game on a keyboard much like I can't play fighting games on a console using the gamepads.

 

[paulliadis]

I took a few days off but played again tonight. Topped 100k twice and set a new personal record of 119,300. More importantly, I don't fear level 4 elevators anymore. 200k now feels doable.

 

[MXV]

I took a few days off but played again tonight. Topped 100k twice and set a new personal record of 119,300. More importantly, I don't fear level 4 elevators anymore. 200k now feels doable.

I have suddenly come down with the affliction of dying on the level 4 elevators not while running from the safe spot to the ladder, but from running TO the safe spot from the right side where you come up on the ladder. All of a sudden I get hit in the face every time I try.

I know what the trick is for going up the ladder from the safe spot but what is the right time to go to the safe spot? Is it the same?

 

[jeffsgames]

I have suddenly come down with the affliction of dying on the level 4 elevators not while running from the safe spot to the ladder, but from running TO the safe spot from the right side where you come up on the ladder. All of a sudden I get hit in the face every time I try.

I know what the trick is for going up the ladder from the safe spot but what is the right time to go to the safe spot? Is it the same?

Go left on a SHORT spring.

 

[Racetech]

Go left on a SHORT spring.

^This.

I prefer going left on shortish but high springs--I've sometimes run into the low short one due to the lack of overhead clearance. Always start in exactly the same place so you can learn the timing. With practice and crowding it close, you can pretty much go on any spring but the long one. At least this is what I've found. With a high score of 276,000, I'm not an expert. I am however something of an expert on dying by unforced errors.

 

[JamBurglar]

^This.

I prefer going left on shortish but high springs--I've sometimes run into the low short one due to the lack of overhead clearance. Always start in exactly the same place so you can learn the timing. With practice and crowding it close, you can pretty much go on any spring but the long one. At least this is what I've found. With a high score of 276,000, I'm not an expert. I am however something of an expert on dying by unforced errors.

Yeah, you can actually go on either. You can also get a pretty good lead because the safe spot above the ladder when you come up to the top girder is pretty big. If you get a good lead you can make your first run on either the short spring or the medium spring. At the second safe spot you can make your run if the long spring is followed by either a short or a medium.

 

[paulliadis]

That's good advice on the first safe spot. I'm usually okay with it but sometimes lose my nerve. Only played once yesterday, but I got to 85k. Then I lost two lives on the elevators with springs to the head.

 

[JamBurglar]

That's good advice on the first safe spot. I'm usually okay with it but sometimes lose my nerve. Only played once yesterday, but I got to 85k. Then I lost two lives on the elevators with springs to the head.

You can take a few steps to the left of the ladder and still be safe on the first safe spot. On the second, as long as you're still touching the yellow above the elevator you should be fine. If you give yourself a good lead it just gives you that much more time to play with.

 

[pookdolie]

I'll piggyback onto this thread: broke my 100K cherry tonight. 119300!

 

[jeffsgames]

I'll piggyback onto this thread: broke my 100K cherry tonight. 119300!

Nice Job!

.

 

[paulliadis]

I'll piggyback onto this thread: broke my 100K cherry tonight. 119300!

Nice work! That's my current high score.

 

[MXV]

I'm gonna try this out on the game tonight after work. Thanks for the tips everyone, I will report back with any progress I make.

 

[paulliadis]

New Record

Well, I got to 127,800 today. Definitely feel like I'm improving. Made it as far as Level 5 springs with two guys and lost them both there. My personal goal is to make it to level 6 by this time next week.

Still not perfect with the Spring board levels, but I'm getting there.

 

[MXV]

Played the other day, only had time for 1 game. Stupid mistakes cost me lives before the 3rd elevators. I got there on my last man and the tips you gave me for running from the ladder to the left safe spot worked. Sadly though I blew it running for the ladder to finish the level.

I will keep at it though as time allows which this weekend isn't looking like there will me a whole lot of time for games, but I'll try and sneak a few in

 

[MXV]

Finally cracked 100k over the weekend and I did it on my first guy! I was having a great game that started to go downhill when I lost 2 guys in the same pie factory level foolishly and then I lost my last guy on an elevator level (level 7 or 8, I forget now). Final score was 165,400.