Donkey Kong:

Donkey Kong began as a side-scrolling platform arcade game from Nintendo featuring Jumpman (who was later renamed as Mario, yes, THAT Mario) and his poorly-treated pet ape, named Donkey Kong. The original game became a hit with the American audience and served as Nintendo's platform for success in the North American market. The series now includes twelve titles in the main series from several game developers, which features both Donkey Kong himself, his spawn, Donkey Kong Jr. and several other Kongs.

Game elements of the various titles in the series vary greatly with the different developers that worked on the installments. The different developers which have worked with Donkey Kong are Nintendo, Rare, Namco and the latest developer is relatively new game company Paon.

Nintendo is the developer responsible for the original Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., a sequel also entitled as Donkey Kong, Mario vs. Donkey Kong and DK: King of Swing. The first three installments are side-scrolling 2D platformers which requires the player to avoid the varying enemy attacks launched throughout the game. DK: King of Swing, as the title suggests, requires the player to guide Donkey Kong from vine to vine using only the Game Boy Advance's left and right shoulder buttons.

Subsequently, Rare took charge of the Donkey Kong title and released Donkey Kong Country 1, 2, and 3; and Donkey Kong 64. Rare's version of the series involved Donkey Kong himself with his nephew and sidekick Diddy Kong, and several other Kongs against K. Rool, who is always out to destroy the Kongs and take over their home.

Namco's take on the series brought about Donkey Konga 1, 2, and 3; and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. The first three are musical rhythm games which came with their own DK Bongos controller, which required the player to hit a beat in time with the tune. Jungle Beat, in contrast, is a platform game which also utilizes the DK Bongos as a controller. The game may, however, be played with a standard controller.