Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a puzzle game for Nintendo Switch. While the term “remake” may turn some off, this revamped Game Boy Advance title has plenty of new and returning players to enjoy.
The first thing that stands out is the fun and family-friendly appeal of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Even the story revolves around cute toys. The game’s intro is presented as a great cutscene that shows off a new, must-have item: Mini Mario games. A bored Donkey Kong watches TV, flipping through channels until he comes across a commercial for these tuned toys. DK is immediately drawn to the marketing, leading to a trip to the local toy store. When it’s revealed that the toys are out of stock, what’s a fussy monkey to do? Storm at the Toy Factory, of course!
Of course, Mario is here to save the day. The premise is simple—follow Donkey Kong through various themed worlds to collect the missing toys. Along the way there are traps, enemies and switches to keep you on your toes. Not to mention spikes, lava, conveyor belts, ice and much, much more. The variety in each world is simply amazing, providing a strong incentive to keep playing to see what happens next.
Eight levels consist of each world. Six of them are structured in two parts. First, you look for the key hidden among the traps. This opens the door to the second part, in which you search for the missing Mini Mario game. Collecting all six of these games—one from each level—unlocks the final two levels in this world.
The first presents a different kind of puzzle. With your six Mario toys in tow, you guide them to the game chest, collecting the letters T, O and Y along the way. I can’t describe the cute sight of seeing tuned toys mimicking Mario as they follow him around like he’s some kind of red-and-blue Pied Piper. The toys make all kinds of adorable squeaks and animations, like when they’re trapped. No wonder Donkey Kong was so desperate to get one!
The second part works as a boss fight. Here, you face DK himself in different battle scenes. The variety is refreshing, with each challenge presenting a unique way to deal with the great ape. You might have to throw trash cans at him, or you might have to drop fruit from above. Whatever the condition, it’s very satisfying to take him out. Until it explodes, of course. Then, it’s off to the next world!
Another aspect I like about this title is the secondary objective of collecting three gifts in each level. Doing so earns you a gold star, and who doesn’t want one of those? It adds a replayability factor that will keep completists coming back for more. Gifts are usually hidden in hard-to-reach places, giving players another way to make the game more or less difficult.
I like that even the enemies are toys. Sure, they look like traditional Mario enemies like the Shy Guys, but there is such a thing cute For them. They are also handy items. For example, you can use them to cross areas that Mario normally can’t walk on, such as spikes. You can also throw them at other enemies. In fact, Mario has quite a few moves to master.
The game does a fantastic job of teaching you the ropes up front. The first world is full of tips, from collecting items and enemies to performing some nice jumps. Mario can also slide down vines, climb stairs and do handstands.
One of the new additions to this Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a local co-op mode. You can easily switch in and out of this mode, making it extremely accessible. The second player takes on the role of Toad, of the traditional red variety. His moveset is exactly the same as Mario’s, making this a true co-op experience. It’s a lot of fun to play with a friend, and it adds a new way to work through the levels by working together to collect everything. The levels even add an extra key to find so there’s one for each of you. Any of you can collect them, but it’s an amazing touch that exemplifies the power of this feature. It doesn’t look like a simple plugin.
Another new feature is the Casual mode, which provides a more relaxing way to play. This is a welcome addition for players who want to take things at their own pace. It does this in two ways. First, by removing the sometimes stressful timer. Second, you have access to five lifebubbles in each level. If you fall into a lava pit or get hit by an enemy, you’ll simply return to the last checkpoint. These checkpoints look like little flags, similar to the middle of traditional Mario adventures.
Of course, the graphics and soundtrack have also been revamped, and it shows. Visually, Mario vs. Donkey Kong looks great, with colors popping off the screen. This is evident in the way the characters move, the new cutscenes and the level design. The soundtrack also stands out, with bouncy tunes that vary between worlds, along with a small amount of character noises. In short, it looks great and sounds great.
Overall, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a great remake. Updated graphics and quality of life improvements add a lot to this already fun title. The puzzles are interesting and challenging, with plenty of variety to keep you hooked.
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