Donkey Kong first appeared in Nintendo's 1981 arcade game of the same name, where the giant ape kidnapped Pauline and Mario, then known as Jumpman, had to climb ladders and dodge barrels to rescue her. The character became one of Nintendo's earliest stars and returned in countless sequels, spin-offs and remixes, keeping its bouncy arcade sound familiar to new generations. Today the theme is a shorthand for retro gaming itself, used in edits, streams and compilations whenever creators want instant nostalgia and a playful, old-school energy.