Donkey Kong – Pauline Edition
About the Game
Donkey Kong - Pauline Edition is a fan-made ROM hack based on Donkey Kong (Game Boy), often known as Donkey Kong '94. Instead of controlling Mario, you play as Pauline, one of Nintendo's earliest characters. The hack reverses the traditional storyline and turns Pauline into the hero of the adventure.
After exploring the game and reviewing feedback from the ROM hacking community, the most impressive achievement is the quality of the character conversion. Pauline fits naturally into the game while preserving the mechanics that made Donkey Kong '94 one of the most respected puzzle-platform games on the Game Boy.
๐ A Familiar Adventure From a New Perspective
The original Donkey Kong story receives a different interpretation here.
Role Reversal
| Original Game | Pauline Edition |
|---|---|
| Mario is the hero | Pauline is the hero |
| Pauline is captured | Mario needs rescue |
| Donkey Kong is the villain | Donkey Kong remains the villain |
The overall journey remains faithful to the original Game Boy release while presenting the story through Pauline's perspective.
๐๏ธ Puzzle Solving Comes First
This is not a traditional platform game focused entirely on jumping.
Most stages require you to:
- Locate a key
- Carry the key safely
- Avoid enemies
- Reach a locked exit door
- Solve environmental puzzles
Many levels reward observation and planning more than speed.
๐๏ธ Pauline Uses the Same Advanced Moves
One reason Donkey Kong '94 earned praise was its surprisingly large move set.
Pauline can perform actions such as:
- Running
- Jumping
- Climbing ropes
- Performing handstands
- Executing backflips
- Carrying objects
- Interacting with switches and obstacles
These abilities create many puzzle solutions throughout the adventure.
๐ More Than the Classic Arcade Stages
Many people remember Donkey Kong for its original arcade levels. This Game Boy adventure expands far beyond those stages.
Locations include:
- Big City
- Forest
- Desert
- Ship
- Jungle
- Iceberg
- Rocky Valley
The game contains over one hundred stages, making it much larger than the arcade original.
๐ฆ Chasing Donkey Kong Across Multiple Worlds
At the end of each world, Pauline encounters Donkey Kong during special boss stages.
These sequences usually involve:
- Climbing structures
- Avoiding hazards
- Triggering environmental traps
- Reaching Donkey Kong before he escapes
These encounters create variety between puzzle-focused stages.
๐จ Visual Changes Throughout the Hack
The ROM hack focuses heavily on sprite work.
Highlights include:
- Custom Pauline character sprites
- Updated animations
- Character role adjustments
- Consistent visual style
Many ROM hacking fans praise the attention given to Pauline's movements and expressions.
๐น๏ธ EmulatorJS Controls
Keyboard Controls
| Action | Key |
| Move | Arrow Keys |
| A Button (Jump) | X |
| B Button (Action) | Z |
| Start | Enter |
| Select | Right Shift |
Mobile Controls
- Use the on-screen D-Pad to move Pauline.
- Tap the action buttons for jumping and interactions.
- Use Start and Select from the EmulatorJS interface.
- Landscape mode provides better visibility during puzzle stages.
