Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack (NES port)

Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack (known in Japan as Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū (ドンキーコング3 大逆襲)) is a fixed shooter game released for the Famicom in 1985 and Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986.
This is an NES/Famicom port of the PC-6001mkII/PC-6601, PC-8801, and X1 game of the same name.
The game was re-released on the Wii Virtual Console in North America on September 18, 2008 and in PAL Regions on March 12, 2009.
The game was re-released on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in North America on January 9, 2014 and in PAL Regions on January 16, 2014.
On August 21, 2019, the game was re-released on Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online at the Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
== Gameplay ==
Enemies come down from the top of the screen in groups of five, swooping to the bottom and trying to target Stanley. After swooping around a bit, the enemies will exit the screen (usually from the bottom, though sometimes from the sides) and loop back around to the top. This will continue until Stanley dies, shoots Donkey Kong to the top of the screen, thus completing it, or kills the five insects, all of which take two hits apiece to kill. If Stanley kills all five insects before any of them loop back to the top of the screen, a flag reminiscent of one from Rally-X will appear, and shooting it will net him 1,000 points.
There are twenty new stages, looping back at Stage 21. Every five stages a Bonus Stage comes up, where Stanley must spray all the bugs before the time runs out. The game sees him chase Donkey Kong into the countryside, through space, and eventually into a city on an alien planet, with no conclusion to the story.
== Changes in the NES version ==
* In the NES port of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack, you can play the NES version of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack with 1 or 2 players.
* The the NES port, there are two modes, Game A and Game B. Game A is an easier version while Game B is more difficult, one loop after Game A also brings you to Game B. Both of these games also have the option to be played with another alternating player.
*In the NES port of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack, there is no information on the side of the screen. In fact, the information seen on the side of the screen was removed from the NES port.
*In the NES port of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack, some title music was added to the title screen.
== Stages ==
Level	Title 	Description
1 	ON THE HIGHWAY 	A highway at sunset, with mountains in the distance.
2 	ON THE STRANGE BRIDGE	A very long highway bridge, sunset is still visible.
3 	ON THE COUNTRY ROAD 	A curvy road is visible on the right side of the screen, surrounded by hills. Appears to be night.
4 	THE ALIENS 	A blank, tan background with green and black aliens that seem to be coming towards Donkey Kong and Stanley.
5 	IN THE U.F.O. 	Seems to take place inside a UFO. Presumably, the aliens from Stage 4 have kidnapped Donkey Kong and Stanley, however the battle between the two continues to play out.
6 	LEAVING THE EARTH 	Appears to take place in space with Earth in the background, presumably inside the UFO, though it is not visible here.
7 	IN THE ASTRON BELT 	An asteroid belt appears in the background.
8 	AROUND THE SATURN 	The planet Saturn appears in the background.
9 	A MYSTERIOUS PLANET 	An unknown planet appears in the background.
10 	ON THE DESERT 	On an unknown desert, with what seems to be the moon in the background. Presumably, Donkey Kong and Stanley, along with the aliens, have landed on the mysterious planet shown in Stage 9.
11 	BY THE PYRAMID 	A large split in the ground is visible in front of a pyramid.
12 	IN THE CAVE 	A long pathway with swirling walls completely encircling it.
13 	AT THE ACTIVE VOLCANO	Appears to be a somewhat overhead view of an active volcano erupting.
14 	IN THE ACTIVE CRATER 	Appears to take place near an active crater.
15 	AT THE DOME 	Takes place near a dome-shaped building.
16 	ON THE GROUND PICTURE	Appears to take place near some sort of Nazca Line-type image on the ground.
17 	AT THE RUNWAY 	Takes place near a runway.
18 	A MUSHROOM CLOUD 	Appears to take place in front of a mushroom cloud. The background is completely blank, and thus no further context is provided.
19 	AT THE SUNSET 	Takes place during a sunset, with only the sun and some birds being visible.
20 	IN THE CITY 	Takes place in the middle of a large city. Several buildings are shown in the background, as well as what seems to be lightning. Stars are also visible.
== Re-releases ==
=== Vs. Donkey Kong 3½ ===
Vs. Donkey Kong 3½ is a 1985 arcade adaptation of the NES port of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack, released on the Nintendo VS. System in Japan on November 29, 1985 and in North America on April 18, 1986. This arcade adaption can be played with 1 or 2 players just like the NES version, has a vertical monitor instead of the horizontal ones seen in the PC-6001mkII/PC-6601, PC-8801, X1, and NES versions, removes Game A and Game B, and has more details and animation sequences than its PC-6001mkII/PC-6601, PC-8801, X1, and NES versions. There is no information on the side of the screen in Vs. Donkey Kong 3½. Vs. Donkey Kong 3½ doesn't feature Game A and Game B. 
The arcade adaption of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack has a vertical monitor instead of the horizontal ones. 
An emulated version of the game was released for the Nintendo Switch via the Arcade Archives collection on June 19, 2019.
=== Coleco Tabletop version ===
On July 24, 1986, Coleco released a tabletop version of Vs. Donkey Kong 3½. This was the first Coleco Tabletop to be released since the Coleco Tabletop version of Zaxxon. This is also the final Coleco Tabletop to be released before Coleco went defunct in 1989. This Coleco Tabletop can be played with 1 or 2 players. There are 3 modes.: Vs. Donkey Kong 3½, Head to Head Vs. Donkey Kong 3½, and.
=== Game & Watch version ===
On September 26, 1986, a A Crystal Screen handheld under the same name was released as a part of Nintendo's Game & Watch line of LCD games. It was re-released on March 8, 1988 as part of the New Wide Screen series.
=== Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MSX, & ZX Spectrum ports ===
On January 20, 1987, Ocean Software ported Vs. Donkey Kong 3½ to Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MSX, and ZX Spectrum. These ports are very arcade-accurate.
The Amstrad CPC version is very similar to the Commodore 64 version of VS. Donkey Kong 3½, but the Amstrad CPC version has a proper palette, making it most arcade-perfect licensed port.
In 2002, the Commodore 64 version was re-released as part of Commodore 64 Collection for the GameCube, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, OS X, and Game Boy Advance.
=== Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, MS-DOS, and Tandy 1000 ports ===
On July 5, 1987, Sierra Entertainment ported Vs. Donkey Kong 3½ to Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, MS-DOS, and Tandy 1000. These ports are very arcade-accurate. Sierra Entertainment was the developer and publisher of the Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, MS-DOS, and Tandy 1000 ports.
In 1994, the MS-DOS version was re-released as part of MS-DOS Generations for MS-DOS, Nintendo Entertainment System, Amiga, Master System, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, Game Gear, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Phillips CD-i.
In 1996, the Apple II version was re-released as part of Apple II Generations for MS-DOS, Game Boy, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Game Gear.
In 2000, the Atari 8-bit version was re-released as part of Atari 8-bit family Ultimate Collection for the Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Mac OS, and Microsoft Windows.
=== Atari 7800 port ===
In 1988 in North America and PAL Regions, the NES version of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack was ported to the Atari 7800. This port resembles the NES version of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack, expect the Atari 7800 port replaces Game A and Game B with 3 modes. Standard, Advance, and Expert.
The Atari 7800 port replaces Game A and Game B with 3 modes. Standard, Advanced, and Expert.
=== Game Boy port ===
On April 21, 1989 in Japan, July 31, 1989 in North America, and September 28, 1990 in PAL regions, the NES version of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack was ported to the Game Boy. This port resembles the NES version of Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack, expect the colors are removed.
=== Super Nintendo Entertainment System port ===
On January 15, 1996 in North America, March 29, 1996 in Japan, and April 19, 1996 in PAL regions, Vs. Donkey Kong was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The SNES version includes 16-bit graphics, Rareware's design for Donkey Kong, and pre-rendered graphics. The SNES version entirely uses Rareware's design for Donkey Kong instead of the original Donkey Kong design.
=== TRS-80 Color Computer homebrew ===
On August 3, 2007, John Kowalski released a port of Vs. Donkey Kong 3½ to the TRS-80 Color Computer that was more faithful to the original arcade game than any port that has ever been made.
=== Atari 5200 homebrew ===
On July 29, 2011, AtariAge made and released an Atari 5200 homebrew port of Vs. Donkey Kong 3½. This homebrew port is basically the same as the Atari 8-bit version in terms of graphics, music, and sound effects. This homebrew port is very arcade-accurate though.
=== ColecoVision homebrew ===
On July 26, 2013, Collectorvision Games made and released a ColecoVision port of Vs. Donkey Kong 3½. This homebrew port is very arcade-accurate. Collectorvision was the publisher of the ColecoVision homebrew port.
=== Coleco Adam homebrew ===
On June 20, 2014, Collectorvision Games made and released a Coleco Adam port of Vs. Donkey Kong 3½. This homebrew port is very arcade-accurate. The Coleco Adam port requires a cartridge, a cassette, or a 5​1⁄4" Floppy disk to play. Collectorvision was the publisher of the Coleco Adam homebrew port.
=== Intellivision homebrew ===
On October 3, 2014, Carl Mueller Jr and Elektronite released an Intellivision port of Vs. Donkey Kong 3½. This homebrew port is very arcade-accurate. This homebrew port contains all bonus levels and all 20 levels.
=== Atari 2600 homebrew ===
In 2015, Collectorvision made and released an Atari 2600 homebrew port of Vs. Donkey Kong 3½. This homebrew port is very arcade-accurate. Collectorvision was the developer and publisher of the Atari 2600 homebrew port. 
== Gallery ==
File:Donkey Kong 3- Dai Gyakushū JP Box.png|Japanese Famicom game cover (front)
File:Donkey Kong 3 The Great Counterattack EU Box.png|European NES box art (front)
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Category:Fan Games
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Category:NES Games
Category:Donkey Kong (series)
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Category:1985