Was Mario in the Original Donkey Kong?

The original Donkey Kong game, released in 1981, indeed featured a character who would later become the iconic Mario, but at the time, he was known as Jumpman. Jumpman, later renamed Mario, was the main protagonist of the game, tasked with rescuing a damsel in distress named Pauline from the clutches of the giant ape Donkey Kong.

History of Mario and Donkey Kong

Introduction to Donkey Kong

The game Donkey Kong was a huge success and laid the groundwork for the Mario franchise, which would go on to become one of the most successful and enduring video game franchises of all time.

Evolution of Mario

In the early days of Donkey Kong, Mario was not yet a plumber, but rather a carpenter, and he was not yet known by his famous name. It wasn’t until the release of Mario Bros. in 1983 that Mario became a plumber, and his brother Luigi was introduced as a playable character.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. Was Mario originally bald in the early Donkey Kong merchandise? Yes, in early Donkey Kong merchandise, Mario was depicted as being bald or balding, and he also had a mustache.
2. Who do you play as in the original Donkey Kong? In the original Donkey Kong game, you play as Jumpman, who would later be renamed Mario.
3. Does the original Donkey Kong have an ending? No, due to a programming glitch, the game has no official ending, and the timer on the 22nd level is too short for the level to be completed.
4. Is Donkey Kong and Mario connected? Yes, Donkey Kong and Mario are connected, as Donkey Kong was the game that introduced Jumpman, who would later become Mario.
5. Who was Mario’s girlfriend in Donkey Kong? Pauline was Mario’s girlfriend in the original Donkey Kong game.

Character Questions

6. What animal is Bowser? Bowser is portrayed as the “King of the Koopas”, anthropomorphic turtles that inhabit the world of the Mushroom Kingdom.
7. Is Donkey Kong a guy or a girl? Donkey Kong is a male gorilla.
8. Who is Donkey Kong’s dad? According to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Cranky Kong is Donkey Kong’s father.
9. Is Donkey Kong actually Cranky Kong? While the 1980s games’ Donkey Kong and the modern Donkey Kong share the same name, the manual for Donkey Kong Country and subsequent games portray the former as Cranky Kong, the latter’s grandfather.

Game Questions

10. Does Donkey Kong NES ever end? No, the NES Donkey Kong game has a kill screen at Level 133.
11. When was Mario’s first appearance in Donkey Kong? Mario’s first appearance was in the 1981 pioneering Nintendo arcade game Donkey Kong.
12. What was Mario called in Donkey Kong? During the development of Donkey Kong, Mario was known as Jumpman.
13. How old is Mario vs Donkey Kong? Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a 2004 puzzle-platform game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and released for the Game Boy Advance.

Age and Full Name Questions

14. What is Mario’s full name? Mario’s full name is Mario Mario.
15. How old is Peach? According to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Peach is approximately 23 years old.