Kangaroo (video game)

Infobox VG
title= Kangaroo


caption= Kangaroo arcade flyer
developer= Sun Electronics
publisher= Atari
released= 1982
genre= Platform
modes= Up to 2 players, alternating turns
platforms= Arcade Computers: Atari 800 Consoles: Atari 2600, Atari 5200
input= 8-way joystick, 1 button
cabinet= Upright
cpu= Z80 (@ 2.5 MHz)
sound= Sound CPU: Z80 (@ 2.5 MHz) Sound Chip: AY8910 (@ 1.25 MHz)
display= Raster, 240 x 256 pixels (Vertical), 24 colors

nihongo|"Kangaroo"|カンガルー is an arcade game that was released in 1982. It was manufactured by Sun Electronics but distributed by Atari. The game bears a strong resemblance in terms of gameplay and plot to "Donkey Kong" as well as the "Popeye video game". The player takes the role of a mother kangaroo who is trying to rescue her son. She must climb through treetops, while disabling pink monkeys that attack the kangaroo with apples. Points are scored for defeating enemies, eating the fruit scattered through the levels, as well as for punching out hostile monkeys (or by punching either whole apples that are thrown at the kangaroo, or apple cores, which are dropped dropped on her from above). Additionally, a bonus score is awarded for each level completed, with the size of the bonus determined by how quickly the level is solved.

Gameplay

There are four different levels. Each of them basically consist of the mother kangaroo on the bottom floor trying to reach the top floor where her joey is being held captive. On each of the levels, there are monkeys who are throwing apples at Mother Kangaroo. Sometimes the apples are thrown so that she must jump over them and sometimes they are thrown so that she must duck. If she gets face to face with one of the monkeys, she can punch the monkey with a boxing glove. Also, there are pieces of fruit that she can jump up and get for points. Additionally, there is at least one bell on each level that she can hit so that more fruits will appear. She must be wary of the big Ape, who will occasionally appear and try to take her gloves away from her. The level must be completed before the time runs out, otherwise the player will lose a life.

Levels 1, 2 and 4 consist of different platforms that the Kangaroo must jump onto or climb onto via a ladder. On the third level, the cage in which Kid Kangaroo is imprisoned is held up by an entire troop of monkeys and there is a horde of apples that the monkey will unleash if five of them climb up there. On this level, Mama Kangaroo must punch each monkey in the stack several times until the cage is lowered and when the cage has been lowered enough, Mama Kangaroo must climb to the next floor to get to Kid Kangaroo before the cage is raised again or before the monkeys have an avalanche of apple cores unleashed.

Music

The game, like many others during its time, uses popular classical/folk songs for background music. These songs include: "American Patrol" by F. W. Meacham (used during regular gameplay), "Oh! Susanna" by Stephen Foster (used as level completion fanfare), and Westminster Quarters (used when a bell is rung). Also, the music played during level intros is reminiscent of, if not directly inspired by, "Marcia Alla Turca" by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Ports

Like most of the games of its era, "Kangaroo" was ported to many different systems, including the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200.

Television adaptation

In 1984, Kangaroo and Space Ace replaced Pitfall Harry & Frogger as segments on CBS' "Saturday Supercade" cartoon lineup. The basic plotline involved kangaroos named Katy, Sidney, and Joey, who lived in a zoo terrorized by the mischievous Monkey Biz Gang. [http://memorylab.deanlabs.com/CartoonDetails.aspx?ID=358] Saturday Supercade was cancelled after only 12 episodes of Kangaroo were produced. The series has never been officially released on DVD or VHS in any form.

External links

*KLOV game|id=8275|name=Kangaroo
*moby game|id=/kangaroo|name="Kangaroo"