Mario vs. Donkey Kong (video game)
Mario vs. Donkey Kong | |
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Single-player |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
The gameplay resolves around a combination of platform and puzzle elements. Players control Mario through small sets of challenge to find a key and rescue Mini-Marios from Donkey Kong.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong received positive reviews, particularly for its gameplay and graphics. It spawned a franchise of its own, with the first sequel, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, was released on Nintendo DS in September 2006. A remake for the Nintendo Switch was released on February 16, 2024.
Gameplay
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the player assumes the role of
Plot
Mario is the owner of Mario's Toy Company, a toy enterprise in which he sells a series of small wind-up toys called "Mini-Marios". After seeing a television advertisement for the Mini-Marios, Donkey Kong immediately falls in love with the toys and sets out to the toy store to get one for himself, only to find that they are sold out. Furious, Donkey Kong breaks into Mario's toy factory across the street and steals all of the Mini-Marios, prompting Mario to chase after Donkey Kong to get his toys back.
Mario travels in pursuit of Donkey Kong, rescuing the Mini-Marios and battling Donkey Kong several times along the way before retrieving all of the toys. Upon realizing that all the stolen toys are now gone, Donkey Kong kidnaps all of Mario's Toad workers and imprisons them on the tower of a big building. Mario climbs to the top of the tower, rescues the Toads, and battles Donkey Kong once more, after which Donkey Kong falls onto a truck containing a shipment of new Mini-Marios. Donkey Kong then promptly steals this set of toys as Mario pursues him once again to reclaim them.
Following another
Development
The game is an evolution of Donkey Kong Plus, a title on display at
The game has hidden e-Reader support.[1][2] Nintendo held a competition in Japan in which cards were distributed to 1,000 winning participants. Five level cards were released by CoroCoro Comic, and another card was given away at the 20th World Hobby Fair.[3][4] The game can save up to 12 extra levels.[1]
Limited re-release
Mario vs. Donkey Kong, as well as nine other Game Boy Advance games, was available to Nintendo 3DS owners who purchased their systems before the August 11, 2011, price cut via Virtual Console as part of the ambassador program. This offer was available in all territories, and only to those who became eligible in the Ambassador program (by accessing the Nintendo eShop before the date of the price-cut). Although the game was released on December 16 the same year, to Ambassador users, Nintendo never released it to the general public in paid form on Nintendo 3DS[5] unlike the Wii U version, which was later released in 2017.
Remake
Mario vs. Donkey Kong | |
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multiplayer |
A remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong was released on the
Reception
Aggregator | Score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
GBA | NS | |||
Metacritic | 81/100[b][10]
| 76/100 Nintendo Life | [29] | |
Nintendo Power | 4.5/5[30] | |||
Video Games Chronicle | [31] |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong received "favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[10][11] GameSpot named it the best Game Boy Advance game of May 2004.[32] It received a runner-up position in GameSpot's 2004 "Best Puzzle/Rhythm Game" award category across all platforms, losing to Katamari Damacy.[33] In March 2007, IGN listed it as #25 in their list of the top 25 Game boy Advance games of all time, calling it "a great game that fits the Game Boy Advance's pick-up-and-play environment since players could whip out the system, solve a puzzle, and put it away for later".[34] The game sold 1.37 million copies worldwide.[35]
Remake
The remake for Nintendo Switch also received "generally favorable" reviews, though lower than the original.[11]
Video Games Chronicle felt that the majority of the game is "far too easy", with the only truly satisfying challenge to be found in the Expert levels, of which the critic said "It's just a shame there aren't more of them."[31] Conversely, Destructoid said that the game was surprisingly "demanding" for a 2D Mario platformer, particularly the levels in which Mario must guide Mini-Mario toys to a Toy Box.[12]
Game Informer and GameSpot both praised the controls. The former said, "it's a blast to move from one side of the stage to another"[21] and the latter called the movement "natural" and "intuitive". While they say it doesn't feel as good to play as other 2D Mario platformers, they acknowledge the need to make a moveset that can facilitate complex puzzles, and conclude that "it's a very well-made middle-ground."[24]
Digital Trends lamented the exclusion of the original's e-Reader levels, the majority of which were never made officially playable. The "Time Attack" feature was also criticized, which functionally replaces the high score system from the 2004 release; the reviewer considered it "an attempt to squeeze more replay value" out of a short game with a high price tag.[13] Eurogamer, on the other hand, praised the amount of content, calling it a "lovely package" that "unroll[s] before you".[17]
The remake performed well commercially, topping the UK physical video game charts.[36] As of April 14, 2024, the game has sold 146,788 physical copies in Japan.[37]
Notes
References
- ^ a b c "Mario vs. Donkey Kong". The Cutting Room Floor. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ [1] Archived January 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Card e+". Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ "Undumped". e-Reader Encyclopedia. No-Intro. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ Newton, James (July 31, 2011). "FAQ: Nintendo Ambassador Program and Free eShop Games". NintendoLife. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- Nintendo of America. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- Nintendo of America. January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ "Mario vs. Donkey Kong - How to Get the Plus/Expert Levels, True Final Boss, and All Stars". WCCFTech. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ "Mario vs. Donkey Kong new details revealed, "Pieces of the Puzzle" trailer". Nintendo Everything. 11 January 2024. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ a b "Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2004) Game Boy Advance Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2024) Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ GAMURS Group. Archivedfrom the original on February 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Colantonio, Giovanni (February 14, 2024). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Review: the Nintendo Switch enters its filler era". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Edge staff (August 2004). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong". Edge. No. 139. p. 103.
- ^ EGM staff (July 2004). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 180. p. 108.
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (November 11, 2004). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
- ^ a b Donlan, Christian (February 14, 2024). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Review - the Switch's protracted farewell continues in style". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ "マリオVSドンキーコング". Famitsu. No. 809. June 18, 2004.
- ^ "マリオvsドンキ". Famitsu. No. 1837. February 14, 2024.
- ^ Mason, Lisa (June 2004). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong". Game Informer. No. 134. p. 137. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
- ^ a b Harte, Charles (February 14, 2024). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Review - The Rivalry Lives On". Game Informer. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Dr. Chapstick (May 24, 2004). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Review for Game Boy Advance on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (May 24, 2004). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
- ^ a b Watts, Steve (February 14, 2024). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Review - Silly Gorilla, Mini-Marios Are For Kids". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Williams, Bryn (May 26, 2004). "GameSpy: Mario vs. Donkey Kong". GameSpy. Archived from the original on November 20, 2005. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
- ^ Hollingshead, Anise (June 1, 2004). "Mario Vs Donkey Kong Review - Game Boy Advance". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ Harris, Craig (May 24, 2004). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong". IGN. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
- ^ Ogilvie, Tristan (February 14, 2024). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Archivedfrom the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ "Mario vs. Donkey Kong". Nintendo Power. Vol. 181. July 2004. p. 119.
- ^ a b Robinson, Andy (February 14, 2024). "Review: Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a faithful revamp of the GBA original, to a fault". Video Games Chronicle. 1981 Media. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Staff (June 1, 2004). "GameSpot's Month in Review for May 2004". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004.
- ^ "Best and Worst of 2004". GameSpot. January 5, 2005. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005.
- ^ "Top 25 Game Boy Advance Games of All Time". March 17, 2007. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ISBN 978-4-902346-43-5.
- ^ "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Debuts on Top of UK Charts, Skull and Bones Underwhelms". GamingBolt. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (April 4, 2024). "Famitsu Sales: 4/8/24 – 4/14/24 [Update]". Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
External links
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong at MobyGames
- Mini Mario Toy Papercraft at IRP Papercraft