Donkey Kong's Perfect Game: Wes Copeland's Historic World Record

There was a time when Donkey Kong was not good, when Mario was not called Mario, and when the two were at each other's throats. “Donkey Kong”, that unforgettable Nintendo arcade that changed millions of lives and even gave rise to documentaries in its honor, returns to make history through Wes Copeland, who set a new world record with a score of 1,218,000 points. In other words, this score symbolizes the perfect combination of skill and luck.

Donkey Kong was released in Japan on July 9, 1981, and took only three weeks to reach the United States. Since then, it has been the centerpiece of a cult following—in the best sense of the word—that clings to this classic of classics with unwavering loyalty. Great champions have passed through the joysticks of its cabinets, forging great rivalries, and even today they organize notable tournaments where players from all over the planet, trained on original arcades and MAME systems, put their skills to the test.

The Record-Breaking Run

On May 5th, there was an earthquake in the Donkey Kong world—and a big one. Wes Copeland, who had already achieved extraordinary scores in the past, accomplished something that for many fans cannot be surpassed without something akin to “divine intervention”. The new Donkey Kong world record is 1,218,000 points. Perhaps among the younger generation that number holds no special meaning, but those of us who know a thing or two about Donkey Kong still can't believe it. The evidence—a video that lasts just over three hours—is undeniably compelling, and the only reason it lacks sound is YouTube's absurd copyright system... but the number is there.

The Ceiling of Donkey Kong

For more than half a decade, there's been speculation about the “true ceiling” in Donkey Kong scoring. At a strictly mathematical level, the talk is of 1.3 million points; however, at a practical level, we're less than 100,000 points below that. Breaking the 1.2 million point barrier not only demands precision, but also a great deal of luck. The way the barrels fall, the combination of jumps, and the movement of enemies make the difference between just another game and a world record like Copeland's—and if that seems like nothing, he did it on an original arcade cabinet. Lower the curtain.

Official announcement: