Summary
Mario vs. Donkey Kongtakes many steps to modernize the 2004 game it’s based on. However, one part of the original post-game that has been maintained inMario vs. Donkey Kong’s remake should have been given more tweaks.
Many modern comfortshave been given toMario vs. Donkey Kongthrough its remake. This not only includes new content in the form of extra worlds and a time attack mode but the option to play in co-op as well as in Casual mode. Casual mode gives the player extra hit points, infinite time, and checkpoints, bringing a nice accessibility feature into the fold. Co-op allows a second player to join in as Toad, who can walk through 1-block tall gaps and cause a silver key to appear in a level.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2024 Should’ve Changed Up Its Post-Game Escort Missions
One facet of the original game that didn’treceive Nintendo’s remastering touchis the post-game’s core conceit. After the initial eight worlds of levels are beaten, the player gains access to 48 more puzzle levels (six more for each world). These ‘+’ worlds are a nice big chunk of content that houses fittingly brief stages, with each level only taking up a single screen rather than the typical two. In addition, the gameplay is switched up to resemble the Mini-guiding stages that come before the base worlds' boss fights. ‘+’ levels see Mario guiding a Mini-Mario with a key to the exit—an escort mission-type that could have really used some modern changes.
The Problem With Escort Missions
Games likeResident Evil 4cemented escort missions as the bane of players everywhere, and it’s not too hard to see why. Escort missions remove some level of player agency, adding an AI companion that the player can’t completely control. In a solo mission, if a game is well-designed, the player will be able to feel responsible for their failures. An AI companion, especially one that doesn’t perceive a threat as the player does and will happily run head-first into an enemy’s maw, will sometimes die of its own accord, even with the tightest of coding. This is a surefire way to enrage and annoy the player.
Mini-Marios Are Too Sensitive
The ‘+’ levelsinMario vs. Donkey Kongaren’t all bad, with many being fun and challenging. There is the nuance of these missions being a solid idea; they remix prior stages in a way that totally changes the game. Undeniably, the Mini-Mario escort missions keep the game fresh.
What could’ve used some ofMario vs. Donkey Kong’s modernizationis the AI of the Mini-Mario. These clockwork plumbers might be plenty cute, but they’re far too sensitive to Mario’s movements. Should the player so much as flinch, a Mini-Mario may send itself careening into a pit of spikes. It’s hard enough to keep track of two characters through all of a puzzle’s moving parts without a Mini-Mario’s erratic behavior. The remake should’ve given him some self-preservation instincts. Not enough to thwart the potency of the game’s puzzles, but enough to make the player not want to yell obscenities through the scream at an adorable toy robot.
Mini-Marios Behave Inconsistently in Mario vs. Donkey Kong
On the subject of being erratic, Mini-Marios are often unpredictable. Sometimes they’ll jump over a small gap, whilst others they’ll fall right down. They might go down a step in one level but launch themselves in an arc in another, despite the player moving the same way. This inconsistency, combined with sensitive movement, makes the Mini-Marios easily one of Nintendo’s most frustrating mechanics. In addition, the inconsistency can hamperMario vs. Donkey Kong’s unique puzzles. Its puzzles often benefit from lateral thinking, but this only works if the player’s toolset is iron-clad in its consistency.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2024)
WHERE TO PLAY
The rivalry reignites! Donkey Kong has stolen all the Mini-Mario toys from the factory, and it’s up to Mario to get them back! Run, jump, and backflip your way to retrieving them across over 130 levels in this puzzle-style twist on classic platforming action. The rivalry that originally heated up on the Game Boy™ Advance system returns on the Nintendo Switch™ system with newly added co-op play, brand-new worlds, updated music and visuals, and other new ways to play.Put your brain to work and figure out the best way to reach the Mini-Mario toys in puzzle-platforming challenges across eight distinct worlds. Watch for enemies, dodge hazards, and use the tools scattered around. See if you can earn a Perfect rating on each level!
