This is an any% version of this Game.
It is actually an interesting version of Donkey Kong that I explain better in my
100% run.
It is important to note that the only difference between this game and the "original" NES Donkey kong is the 2nd level was added (making it 4 levels instead of 3). The other 3 levels are identical, and compared to the
published movie this TAS is equally fast.
turska: Donkey Kong: Original Edition is official NES software originally released in 2010 included a 25th anniversary Wii bundle. The game is likely an official romhack and not a prototype from the 1980s (
details here).
As it is enhanced re-release that adds new content that is emulated accurately, running this ROM in a NES emulator is a valid game choice for submission. Most VC re-releases only contain minor changes (if any) that are inconsequential for a TAS; the vast majority of them would have no notable differences from the original releases. In the case of N64, inaccurate emulation with Mupen is also a concern. Donkey Kong: Original Edition is highly exceptional in this, and accepting TASing the ROM on a NES emulator does not set a precedent for TASing Virtual Console games in general.
Content-wise, Donkey Kong: Original edition adds the second level from the arcade version and an animation of Donkey Kong climbing up the ladder while carrying Pauline - the original NES Donkey Kong lacks these. This TAS represents a superset of NES Donkey Kong's content - levels 1, 3, and 4 are identical and equally fast to their DK NES counterparts.
While we allow different ports of games even in the Vault (such as
[2727] SNES Classic Kong Complete by Fortranm in 02:12.76), two ports of the same game on the same system that result in outright identical TASes push this rule, and I don't think having TASes of both NES Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong: Original Edition published makes sense.
As DKOE is a mostly superior port, this TAS could obsolete NES DK; it has the second level, includes the animation of Donkey Kong climbing, and represents a superset of a NES DK TAS.
On the other hand, DKOE is highly obscure and narrowly released compared to NES Donkey Kong, which is the most famous port of the game - DKOE was initially only available in promotional tie-ins for four years since its initial release in 2010 with a Wii bundle, until 2014 when it was released on 3DS Virtual Console in Europe (
here). Its status as an official romhack likely made decades after the original NES port decreases its historical value compared to initial speculation of it being a lost prototype.
Considering these factors, I am rejecting this TAS and ruling that for an any% TAS of Donkey Kong, the initial NES Donkey Kong is the preferred game version. For an "all items" TAS, Donkey Kong: Original Edition is preferred and shows off the added second level. Between DK NES any% and DKOE "all items", both any% and "all items" TASes of every stage (except for an any% of DKOE stage 2 which is exclusive to this submission) are represented on the site without any redundant publications.
