I’ll admit it: I’m one of the silent minority who thinks that Mario headed downhill after he moved to 3D. Don’t get me wrong; Super Mario 64 was definitely a groundbreaking game, and it definitely changed the face of gaming forever. However, while I appreciate the contributions that game has made to platforming today as we know it, I also remember that it took another five years for designers to figure out that not every 3D platform game needed to be exactly like Super Mario 64 (which is to say, a collection-fest). Of course, I’m an old-school gamer at heart, and I secretly yearn for the days when “camera control” only had relevance in terms of home movies, and it took less than fifteen minutes to describe to another person how to play any given game.
Enter Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Now, I should say up front that Mario vs. Donkey Kong isn’t a platform game, at least in the strictest sense of the genre. There is a heavy platforming element to the game, but it’s as much a puzzle game as an action game. If puzzle games frustrate you, and all you want is a standard “get from point A to point B” platform game, then you’re reading the wrong review. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for. For everyone else, though, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a refreshing change of pace with just enough nostalgia to get old geezers like me (at least relatively speaking) hooked on Mario all over again.
The premise of the game is fairly simple. Mario has started a toy company, and he’s producing mini-Mario dolls. Apparently, he also hired the Pokemon ad execs to handle his marketing efforts, because when DK sees a commercial on television for the toys, he immediately wants them all. Unfortunately for DK, the store is sold out. That, however, is not going to stop our simian friend, so he busts into the toy factory and steals all the Mini-Mario dolls within. It’s up to the real Mario to reclaim all the toys, and teach Donkey Kong that patience is a virtue, preferably via a trash can to the head.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is split into six worlds, each consisting of six main stages, a mini-Mario escape stage, and a boss battle with DK. The main stages are fairly straight-forward; the first half requires you to reach a key and carry it into a lock, and the second half has you actually rescuing a mini-Mario. This is easy at first, of course, but more and more obstacles get in the way, and while reflexes and precise movement are obviously important, deciding in what order to tackle the obstacles becomes equally important, as there are switches scattered around the stages that make blocks and obstacles appear and disappear.
To this end, Mario has an array of abilities from various games at his disposal. He can pick up and throw enemies and objects, perform backflips, grab hammers to pound enemies, and even climb from vine to vine just like Donkey Kong, Jr. Mario also gains the ability to perform a handstand in Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Not only does this allow Mario to jump higher, but it also protects him from falling objects (because the bottoms of his feet are now in the air). Not only is it useful, but it’s extremely clever at the same time; I still chuckle when I see a falling brick crumble upon striking Mario’s soles. While there are a number of moves to keep track of, the game does introduce them slowly, complete with tutorial sequences before each level that explain the new move that stage requires.
The game does throw some curveballs, as well. The Mini-Mario stages are a kind of strange cross between Mario and Lemmings, where Mario plays Pied Piper, leading the Mini-Marios safely through the stage until he can get them back to their toy box. These stages do well to keep the player on his toes, and keep the gameplay from getting repetitive. The boss battles are equally entertaining, and, much like the rest of the game, require as much forward thinking as they do reflexes. I especially enjoyed the final boss battle in particular, as it managed to combine this game with the Donkey Kong-style gameplay that we all know and love and create an entirely new experience; I daresay that battle could have been an arcade game all by itself twenty years ago.
At first glance, the game does seem rather short, especially given that the difficulty level really doesn’t begin to ramp up significantly until midway through the fourth world. Even taking frustration breaks into account, the main game can easily be completed within a week. Of course, the game doesn’t end with the initial six worlds; completing the game opens up an additional six “plus” worlds, which turn the premise of the previous stages on its ear and creates an entirely new set of challenges. Plus, for the truly hardcore, there is a star that can be earned in each stage by collecting three presents scattered across the stage, and finishing quickly enough to earn a high score. Earning a star in every stage (and good luck, by the way) unlocks another set of stages with a difficulty level appropriate for the minor gaming deities that can accomplish that particular task. All told, one can easily squeeze at least ten hours of gameplay out of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and the concise nature of the stages makes this a perfect car trip game as well.
The control will feel extremely natural to anyone who has ever picked up a Mario game in his or her lifetime. (And for the three of you who haven’t: Why are you reading this review?) All the moves are executed as they were in the original games, with the only real new move, the handstand, easily executed by holding down and pressing A. The only move that I found difficult to pull off was the backflip, which requires the player to make Mario run in one direction, then quickly press in the opposite direction and press A. This works well with an analog stick in Super Mario 64, but with a d-pad, it’s rather cumbersome, and half the time, you’ll find yourself just performing a normal jump (likely into a pit of some sort, of course). Luckily, jumping from a handstand achieves roughly the same effect (specifically, extra jumping height), so it’s certainly not a show-stopper.
The graphics are every bit as colorful and animated as one would expect from a Mario game. All the sprites are heavily detailed, a la Super Mario World, with plenty of frames of expressive animation. While the stages themselves look fairly alike, the backgrounds are vivid and diverse enough to make each stage seem as though it was set in a completely different locale. Of course, function takes precedence, and the shiny graphics never get in the way of figuring out how to get from point A to point B.
The sound is also excellently done, even through the GBA’s tinny speakers. The background music is subtle, yet enjoyable, and the sound effects do their best to effect a feeling of nostalgia in the player, from the familiar 1-up sound to the ditty from the original Donkey Kong that plays whenever you pick up an item for points. What’s really interesting, though, is that Mario vs. Donkey Kong has, I believe, the most voice acting out of any Mario game I’ve played, which includes Super Mario Sunshine. Mario has a number of actual lines of dialogue in this game (though, to be fair, they’re usually pretty short statements; he’s nor reciting monologues from Shakespeare or anything), and they’re delivered rather effectively. That is to say that you’re not typically ready to throw your GBA across the room in self-defense every time Mario opens his mouth. (Unfortunately, the same can’t necessarily be said for the mini-Marios; after a few hours, you’ll be hearing their shouts of, “Oh, Mario!” in your darkest nightmares.)
Overall, Mario vs. Donkey Kong certainly isn’t for everyone, and it’s not the kind of game you can play for hours on end, but it’s a fun romp that reminds even the most curmudgeonly old-school gamer how Mario games used to be, back in the good old days. (You know, when we walked to the video game store barefoot, in the snow, uphill, both ways…) If you’re thin on patience or hate puzzle games, Mario vs. Donkey Kong will likely just frustrate you, and you’re better off looking elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for something to stretch both your brain and your reflexes, give Mario vs. Donkey Kong a try. You might just forget about all that silly 3D stuff, at least for a little while.
