It's a misconception that but he debuted in a Donkey Kong title.

The original Donkey Kong game was released in the arcades in 1981. Nintendo had originally wanted to make a video game based on Popeye, which was a big franchise in Japan at the time. When the company couldn't secure the license, they retooled some of the character designs to make something new. Popeye became Mario (or Jumpman, as he was originally known), Olive Oyl became Pauline, and Bluto became Donkey Kong. The Donkey Kong name would go on to cause a lawsuit to be filed against Nintendo, as Universal Studios (the owner of King Kong) took the matter to the courts, ultimately ending in a Nintendo win.

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As time went on, Mario would star in his own series of video games, where he faced off against Bowser. Donkey Kong would receive his own series, where he faced his own enemies, like King K. Rool. This raises the question of whether Donkey Kong and Mario are still foes.

Mario And Kong - The Original Video Game Rivalry

Pauline in Donkey Kong Super Mario

Donkey Kong and Mario were never enemies. According to the dialogue in the Donkey Kong Country games, as well as Snake's codec calls in the Super Smash Bros. series, Mario's original enemy was Cranky Kong. The original version of Donkey Kong was Cranky Kong, and he faced both Mario and Stanley the Bugman in various games. The character commonly known as Donkey Kong is actually Cranky Kong's grandson, though fans have speculated a great deal about who might be the link between them.

The relationship between the current Donkey Kong and Mario is that of a friendly rival, with the exception of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong video games, which are light-hearted puzzle platformers. The two characters commonly appear with the other of their franchise in Nintendo crossover games, such as the sports games. The two franchises usually meet in the Mario Kart, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, and Super Smash Bros. series. It's possible that Donkey Kong and Mario could face each other again in the future, as there are rumors of a new Donkey Kong video game in development, as well as a possible Donkey Kong addition to Super Nintendo Land. The rivalry between Donkey Kong and Mario might be one of the oldest in video game history, but the true foe all along was Cranky Kong.

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