Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move | |
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Single-player |
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, known in Japan as Mario & Donkey Kong: MiniMini Carnival (マリオ & ドンキーコング ミニミニカーニバル, Mario & Donkī Kongu MiniMini Kānibaru), is a 2013 puzzle game developed by Nintendo Software Technology for the Nintendo 3DS. The fifth entry in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, it was released exclusively via the Nintendo eShop download service on May 9, 2013, in the PAL region and North America, and on July 24 in Japan.[2][3][1]
The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its unique gameplay, puzzle design, and level editor. A sequel, titled Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, was released for both the 3DS and the Wii U in 2015.
Gameplay
In the main game, the player must place blocks on a grid with the goal of making a path for a Mini—a small walking robot resembling Mario or another Mario series character—to travel from a
Additionally, Minis on the Move features a level creation mode with which the player can create custom levels using any and all pieces from the main game, as well as control the frequency of available falling tiles. Created levels can be saved and shared via
Development
Like the 4 previous entries in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, Minis on the Move was developed by Nintendo Software Technology.[4]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Nintendo Life | [19] |
Official Nintendo Magazine | 82%[20] |
Polygon | 9/10[21] |
Digital Spy | [22] |
Metro | 8/10[23] |
Minis on the Move received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[11] Most reviews cite the level creator as the most impressive element of the game.[6][7][8][20] IGN's Lucas M. Thomas wrote that this feature extends the replay value significantly, though some (including Thomas) derided the limitation of randomly falling pieces in creating levels.[8][9]
GamesMaster called the game "a breezy, if surprisingly brutal" puzzler in terms of gameplay.[24] Tony Ponce of Destructoid appreciated the removal of the plot from the previous Mario vs. Donkey Kong games. Of the revised gameplay, he wrote that Nintendo decided to explore new avenues for the Minis, taking inspiration from Lemmings and railroad puzzles.[6] Tom Sykes of Official Nintendo Magazine was positive to the game and suggested that both Pipe Mania and Tetris were positive inspirations for the gameplay in Minis on the Move, culminating in a cleverly realised and challenging set of wind-up puzzles.[20]
Lucas M. Thomas was less favorable towards what he wrote is a Nintendo version of the old-school puzzler Pipe Mania. While derisive of the main game's "randomized tile dispenser", Thomas found the "Puzzle Palace" and "Many Minis Mayhem" modes as highlights of the game.
Chad Sapieha of National Post gave it a score of eight out of ten.[25] Liam Martin of Digital Spy gave it four stars out of five, saying that despite a few minor complaints, largely concerning the bonus content, he called the title an abundant, accessible and entertaining puzzle game.[22] David Jenkins of Metro similarly gave it a score of eight out of ten, calling it a welcome change of style for the puzzle series.[23]
References
- ^ a b NintendoJPofficial (July 2, 2013). "ちょっとNintendo Direct Wii U/ニンテンドー3DS ダウンロードソフト 2013.7.3". YouTube (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move for Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo. Archived from the original on July 16, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ a b East, Thomas (April 17, 2013). "Mario And Donkey Kong: Minis On The Move release date confirmed". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ a b Ronaghan, Neal (May 1, 2013). "NST Developed Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
- ^ Northup, Travis (May 8, 2013). "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move Review". Gaming Trend. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Ponce, Tony (May 8, 2013). "Review: Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Oath Inc. Archivedfrom the original on August 21, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Thomas, Lucas M. (May 14, 2013). "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ "Discontinuation of Online Services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software". Nintendo Customer Support.
- ^ a b "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Edge staff (May 16, 2013). "Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis On The Move review". Edge. Future plc. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ Holzworth, Chris (May 9, 2013). "EGM Review: Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move". EGMNow. EGM Media, LLC. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Whitehead, Dan (May 13, 2013). "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move review". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Vore, Bryan (May 8, 2013). "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- CraveOnline. Archivedfrom the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- Viacom. Archived from the originalon June 9, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Workman, Robert (May 14, 2013). "Review: Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move keeps up the pace". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- Nintendo Life. Archivedfrom the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sykes, Tom (June 15, 2013). "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move review". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ Riendeau, Danielle (May 8, 2013). "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move review: Small Wonder". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ a b Martin, Liam (May 15, 2013). "'Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move' review (3DS): Small pleasures". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ a b Jenkins, David (May 10, 2013). "Mario And Donkey Kong: Minis On The Move review - puzzle wind-up". Metro. DMG Media. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move". GamesMaster. Future plc. August 2013. p. 71.
A breezy, if surprisingly brutal, puzzler that puts full 3DS retail releases to shame.
- ^ Sapieha, Chad (May 27, 2013). "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is so good it should be on an iPad". National Post (Financial Post). Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2018.