Donkey Kong - Pie Factory...help/tips/strategies/etc.

Hi all...been playing DK seriously for about a month now after I bought a machine. I'm fairly decent in that I average right now anywhere from 90k to about 105k but I have a problem in taking that next step up....the Pie Factory boards.

I have a pretty good grasp on the other boards (although I sometimes struggle with the Rivet boards) and have become competent enough at the 3rd Elevators but I still have a horror time with the Pie Factory.

Basically unless I get a free run board or have the right amount of luck I get stuck and this is where I seem to lose most of my men. One of the main problems I'm having is navigating a path to the top if two or more fireballs drop immediately to the middle platform (above the first conveyor belt). They seem to stay there and patrol it back and forth or I've been getting one or both dropping done very quickly onto the conveyor and even the starting level below it. I would think the most common solution would be taking the bottom hammer but it's hard me to get to it sometimes with the volume of pies coming out.

I'm just looking for any help for this board specifically because I know I need to get more proficient at it if I want to improve my scores.

Any input is very welcomed...thanks.

EDIT: Just be patient and when you see an opening go for it.

Hi Jerm, welcome! Here are some quick tips for the pie factory:

Take the "free pass" if it is open -- Fireballs spawn on the same side of the screen as you, so wait a brief moment for all of them to spawn before crossing over to the right side of the screen.

You can jump over the pies.

1. Try for the free pass.
2. If that's not open, quickly try to grab the bottom hammer.
3. If that's not open, climb back DOWN to the very lowest platform and try to wait them out. Hopefully, a couple of fireballs will soon climb to the very top and out of the way to create more space for you.

When grabbing the bottom hammer, remember that you can grab it from three directions, regardless of how you approach it (Jump right and grab, straight jump and grab, jump left and grab) -- take advantage of this to create more seperation from fireballs.

With the bottom hammer in hand, remember to pause before smashing a fireball similar to how you pause to smash barrels -- on a conveyor they can sneak under your hammer and get you.

... Don't chase fireballs with the hammer.

The hammer lasts for 9 Timer-seconds on L=4+.
The bottom conveyor changes direction every 9 Timer-seconds on L=4+.
Watch Kong's position -- every time he gets to the left edge of the screen the bottom conveyor changes direction.

... When grabbing the bottom hammer, make a mental note of Kong's position. When he completes one cycle and returns to this position your hammer will expire.

Because of certain biases in the fireball code, climbing the left side of the structure is safer than climbing the right side. If you are climbing the right side and don't see a good opening to complete the screen, reverse course and run back over to the left side and try that exit.

(You can jump over the oil can, but it's extremely dangerous and is almost never necessary.)

Sometimes it's a good idea to grab the 2nd hammer defensively to buy yourself some time and hope that the fireballs climb up and out of the way. If they come down and out of the way towards the end of your hammer, do NOT smash them -- they will respawn on your side and be in the way again.

Beyond the scope here, but being able to predict the behavior of the "freezers" comes in VERY handy on the pie factory -- search some old threads for the details if you are interested.

Sometimes, no matter what you do you are going to be killed. This is known as a "screwing", more common on the rivet screens. This is a much more rare occurance than most people think, but it does happen.

Good luck!

Not sure what works best, I think I used to jump once, then take the ladder to the right of the hammer, then ride the conveyor belt over to get the hammer. Mainly because I saw someone else do that and it seemed to work well.

Haven't played for a while, been busy playing the NES version, so I hope I am remembering correctly.

I think the cement factory is the most challenging board for just about everyone and it involves luck at times.

I think I remember a thread somewhere dedicated to it. Let me see if I can dig something up for you.

Man, those are some good tips Dean

Thanks for the tips Dean! One more question about this board...are the sides and rate at which the pies come out random or is there a pattern to that too? Just asking so it might be easier to make the climb to the top conveyor and the final ladder.

While I can pick your brain for a minute...have you found a viable strategy for getting the foxes to come down from the top on the Rivet boards? Just in the games I played today I've noticed they're regularly grouping at the top and "freezing" or roving back and forth.

Thanks again for helping a n00b lol.

Dean just gave some outstanding tips.


If you get a chance to look at some kill screen or WR playthroughs, you'll often notice the very start dictates so much of what happens. Especially on L. 5 and above, I like to jump straight up at the very beginning, which allows the flames to all come out on the LEFT side of the screen, then I start running for the right and make a mental note of the "pie" placement. Sometimes both the pies and flames will stay out of your way and allow you to head right on up the right side.

If this changes up, it gets trickier, but still manageable. If the flames start heading right and impede progress, I like to grab the middle hammer and take out some pies and flames for points and to take a breather. Notice that the side of the screen you're on dictates where a new flame will pop up if you hammer them (hit one on the RIGHT of the screen = a new one on the RIGHT side, LEFT on LEFT).

Depending on how much time is left and if you're safe, keep in mind that on both rivets and factories, the flames tend to congregate on the upper right. On the factories, once they're on the top level, they don't come down. If time is running out, and you're looking for that opening, you'll find it on the upper left more often than not.

Hope this helps.

Yeah one of the common ways to die, especially when you are still learning the game, is to get hit on the foot with a pie on the top conveyors when you are trying to get up the final ladder. I don't think that there is an easy way to predict when they pop out. They do maintain a certain amount of spacing though so if one has just come out you should be able to get up right after that and make it (if I remember right), or at least you might have a decent idea of when the next one "could" come out. There is a maximum of 6 pies on screen at one time, but this rarely comes into play. Fortunately, there is just enough time to simply react to the situation and get through it safely. You just need to anticipate what could happen and amplify your reflexes a bit. As you are climbing up from the lower level you'll need to become familiar with when the pie comes out too soon and then you must climb back DOWN to avoid being hit. Then, once you are on the conveyor, run towards the adjustable ladder (never jump) and keep your eyes peeled for a pie. If it comes out just before you turn up the ladder you must resist the urge to climb up the ladder anyway and simply stop (this takes some practice). You will glide backwards and can set yourself up nicely to jump over the pie and continue up. If you have already begun to climb up the ladder when you notice the pie you should be able to make it, especially if you are cornering well. Because of these various possibilities, it is very risky to climb onto the conveyor if any fireballs are on it because a pie coming out can delay you by just enough for a fireball to catch you.

As for the rivets -- yeah it's a huge pain when they get to the very top of the structure. People who have read the code say that fireball code is random and their movement cannot be influenced by the player. However, I am constantly trying to influence them. Because I don't know if anything I'm doing is actually working or is just coincidence I can't really give any specific tips for that -- I would say just keep moving, stay aggressive and "assume" that the fireballs will do what you want them to do and then react when they don't. At high levels, this is by far the hardest screen in the game and sometimes you just get screwed.