Congo Bongo

n/a

Congo Bongo
System(s): Sega Zaxxon hardware, SG-1000, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, DOS, Intellivision, MSX, TI-99/4A, VIC-20
Publisher: Sega, Coleco, Philips, Texas Instruments
Developer: Sega, Ikegami Tsushinki, Beck-Tech, (disk) Beck-Tech, Sega Electronics
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1983 $? ? US 1983 $? ? US 1983 EU 1983 UK (Cassette) 1983 £9.959.95 US 1984 JP 1983 US 1983 US 1983 US 1983 US 1983

Congo Bongo (コンゴボンゴ), originally known as Tip Top, is a 1983 arcade platformer game developed by Sega. It is often considered an isometric equivalent to Nintendo's Donkey Kong, as it stars a protagonist chasing after a large ape (in this game, called "Bongo"). However, unlike Donkey Kong, the game is set in a jungle, the graphics are more detailed and there are more enemies and traps. It runs on similar hardware to Zaxxon, known as the Sega Zaxxon hardware.

History

Legacy

Like many early Arcade games such as Space Invaders or Pac Man, Congo Bongo was widely ported to numerous home consoles and computers in the 1980s, including the Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, DOS, IntelliVision, MSX, TI-99/4A and Commodore VIC-20. The only Sega console the game has appeared on is the SG-1000, however it was featured as part of the PlayStation 2 Sega Ages 2500 series in Japan and was an unlockable in both Sega Mega Drive Collection and Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection.

Many of the weaker computers and consoles were unable to render isometric graphics, and therefore had to find other methods of rendering the game. The Atari and Commodore versions for example uses an oblique perspective, whereas the SG-1000 game goes for a top-down approach. Many versions also drop levels due to space restrictions. A ZX Spectrum version of the game was planned, but was later scrapped.

Screenshots

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  Screen 1: Primate Peak

Gallery

• 

  Upright cabinet

Promotional Material

• 

  Arcade US flyer

• 

  Arcade JP flyer

• 

  Home versions US print advert

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  Home versions US print advert 2

• 

  Home versions DE print advert

• SegaArcadeGames DE PrintAdvert.jpg

  Home versions DE print advert 2

• SegaTheArcadeWinnersVarious C64Spectrum UK PrintAd.jpg

  Commodore 64/ZX Spectrum versions UK print advert

Physical Scans

Arcade Version

Zaxxon hardware, US (upright)

Zaxxon hardware, US (cocktail)

Zaxxon hardware, JP (cocktail)

SG-1000 Version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Computer Input (NZ)Computer Input (NZ) 60 №11

	60
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Computer Input (NZ)Computer Input (NZ) 50

	50
Based on 1 review

Congo Bongo

SG-1000, JP
Cover
Cart Manual Inside

SG-1000, FR
Cover

SG-1000, AU
Cover

SG-1000, NZ

SG-1000, TW

Apple II Version

Apple II, US
Cover

Atari 2600 Version

Atari 2600, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Atari 2600, EU
Cover
Manual

Atari 2600, BR
Cover
Cassette

Atari 5200 Version

Atari 5200, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Atari 8-bit Family Version

Atari 8-bit family, US
Cover
Cart

ColecoVision Version

ColecoVision, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Commodore 64 Version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Computer Gamer (UK) 60 №1

	60
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Computer Gamer (UK) 50

	50
Based on 1 review

Congo Bongo

Commodore 64, UK
Cover

Commodore 64, US
Manual

DOS Version

DOS, US

Intellivision Version

Intellivision, US
Cover
Cart Manual

MSX Version

MSX, JP
Cover

TI-99/4A Version

TI-99/4A, US
Cover

VIC-20 Version

VIC-20, US
Cover
Cart