Mario vs. Donkey Kong" Play Review: Inspiration is key in this exhilarating puzzle action game!

• Also read
• 2024] 117 Switch Absolute Recommendations! From the latest February releases to classic titles, we carefully select and introduce the best of the best!
• The 10 new PS5, PS4 & Switch games recommended by our editorial team that you should buy this month!

Mario and Donkey Kong, a showdown of fate!　Get your toy mini Mario back!

Mario vs. Donkey Kong" is a puzzle-action title that pits the world-famous video game character Mario against Donkey Kong, another world-famous video game character, in a battle of wits.

Mario and Donkey Kong have a long history of battling each other in "Donkey Kong," the launch title for the Family Computer (Famicom), and their powerful battle on the silver screen in the worldwide blockbuster "The Super Mario Brothers Movie" is still fresh in our minds. The film is the first time that Mario and Don have appeared together on the silver screen. This title is a revival of the original Donkey Kong GBA battle between Mario and Donkey Kong, with various improvements and enhancements made 20 years later on the Switch.

Let's start with the story of this title.

One day. Donkey Kong is relaxing watching TV when he learns of the popular "Mini Mario" toy and can't wait to get his hands on it.

Donkey Kong rushed to the store, but the toy was already sold out due to its popularity. Unable to get Mini Mario, Donkey Kong breaks into the toy factory, takes all of the Mini Mario toys, and escapes. Mario witnesses the scene and sets off on an adventurous journey in pursuit of Donkey Kong to get Mini Mario back. ...... The unusual and comical story of a getaway over a toy Mini Mario draws players into the game world.

The puzzle stages are full of tricks!　Use your inspiration and action to break through!

This title is a stage-clearing puzzle action game, with a single world consisting of three stages: "Puzzle Stage," "Mini Mario Stage," and "Donkey Kong Stage.

The majority of the world is occupied by the "Puzzle Stage. The player's objective is to control Mario through the stages, conquer various tricks, and retrieve the stolen toy, Mini Mario. The first half of the puzzle stage consists of two parts: in the first half, the goal is to carry the key placed on the stage to the door, and in the second half, the goal is to lift up Mini Mario in the capsule placed on the stage to clear the stage.

As this is a "puzzle action game," there are numerous puzzle-like gimmicks placed on the stage.
The most typical ones are the color switches and color blocks. There are three colors (red, yellow, and blue), and the trick is that blocks of the same color as the color of the switch you step on will appear, and blocks of a different color will disappear.

The game requires a kind of "inspiration," as the player must think ahead to determine where to step on a switch to advance and where to step off.

In addition, there are gimmicks familiar from the Mario series, such as ladders, jump platforms, and chikuwa blocks that fall after a while, as well as gimmicks and items reminiscent of the original "Donkey Kong," such as ropes and chains that Mario can climb up and down, a hammer that he can swing and attack when held, and even a switch that allows him to switch directions. Mario can also enjoy a rich variety of puzzle action with gimmicks such as a conveyor belt that can be switched to a different direction with a switch and a slippery ice floor.

The process of repeatedly advancing through the stages by trial and error, trying out Mario's various actions while understanding the characteristics of each gimmick, such as not being able to climb a ladder while holding a key, is so enjoyable that it is easy to lose track of when to stop. The stages are not too large in size, which is also a plus for the game's affordable playability.

Another key feature of this title is that Mario's actions are the key to the game, not just the puzzles that make full use of gimmicks. In addition to the familiar Mario action of "jumping," there is also "Gyakudachi," which allows Mario to protect himself from falling obstacles, "Gyakudachi Jump," which can be performed from a standing position, and "Gyakudachi Double Jump," which allows Mario to jump even higher by pressing the right button at the right moment upon landing. The "Gyarashirin," or "big wheel," which allows the player to jump with acceleration while holding onto the bars, and many other vivid gymnast-like actions are available. There are also actions reminiscent of the old "Super Mario USA" games, such as grabbing keys and enemy characters and throwing them.

The sense of accomplishment that comes from successfully using these actions to break through a stage is outstanding, and the game is not only a puzzle game, but also an exhilarating action game. The fusion of these two elements in a perfect balance, not too much on the puzzle side and not too much on the action side, is the main attraction of this game, and is the root of its unique fun.

There is also a challenging element of clearing the stage by obtaining the three gift boxes placed on the stage. You can clear the stage without obtaining any of the three gift boxes, but if you aim to clear the stage by obtaining all of them, the puzzle game becomes much more challenging. The depth of the game, which can be played to one's own skill level, is one of the charms of this title.

The "Mini-Mario Stage," where you guide the toy Mini-Mario, and the "Donkey Kong Stage," where you directly face off against the action-packed Donkey Kong.

At the end of each world, there are two different stages, the "Mini Mario Stage" and the "Donkey Kong Stage.

In the " Mini Mario Stage," the player must guide the six Mini-Marios recovered in the puzzle stage to reach the goal, a toy box, by collecting all three panels marked "T," "O," and "Y." The Mini-Marios are placed on Mario's cow, and the Donkey Kongs are placed on the Donkey Kongs' cow, which are placed on Mario's cow. Mini Mario and his friends follow behind him, but there are some restrictions on their behavior, such as not being able to climb ladders.

On the other hand, Mini Mario has the advantage of being able to pass through narrow passages that Mario cannot. The game requires a different kind of thinking than in the puzzle stages in order to make the best use of this feature of Mini Mario to find the best route to the goal, and it adds a nice spice to the overall game. Personally, I found the Mini Mario stages to be more riddling than the regular puzzle stages, and I had a lot of fun racking my brains to solve them.

The Donkey Kong stage, which begins after the Mini Mario stage is cleared, is a stage in which the player faces off directly against Donkey Kong. The stage is cleared by dodging Donkey Kong's attacks and dealing a certain number of damage by hitting items and enemy characters. This stage has a very different feel from the puzzle and mini Mario stages, with more action elements. However, it also includes an element of thinking, such as reading the patterns of Donkey Kong's attacks and thinking about the next move, which is appropriate for a boss stage in a puzzle-action game.

Another unique aspect of the game is that the number of Mini-Marios put away in the toy box in the previous Mini-Mario stage determines Mario's remaining life count in this stage, so it is necessary to succeed in the Mini-Mario stages without making any mistakes.

After clearing all worlds, a "Plus World" appears. In this Plus World, the player must take Mini Mario, who has a key in his hand, to conquer stages full of tough enemies and tricks, requiring harder play.

A whole host of additional elements from the GBA version are introduced, including 2-player play, a new world, casual mode, and more!

The Switch version of this game has been revived for the first time in 20 years, and many elements that were not in the GBA version have been added. Let's take a look at some of these additional elements.

The second player controls Kinopio, who must work together with Mario to advance through the stages. This is a different experience from the one-player experience. The game also supports "split-play" using the Joy-Cons, making it easy for two players to enjoy the game together.

The number of stages has also been increased, from 6 worlds in the GBA version to 8 in this title. The new stages include "Merry Miniland," which is based on an amusement park motif, and "Crane Mountain," where snow falls. The Merry Miniland has a fluffy flower that creates wind in conjunction with a color switch, while Crane Mountain has an icy floor where Mario, his keys, and other items can slide around, making each stage unique.

In addition, a "Casual Mode" has been added. This mode removes the time limit of the stage and allows players to start over from a checkpoint up to a certain number of times even if they make a mistake. This allows players who are not confident in their puzzle or action skills to play at their own pace. In fact, when I played the GBA version, the time limit set for each stage left me wishing that I could think more carefully about the puzzles, but this time, the casual mode makes that possible and allows me to enjoy playing at my own leisurely pace. The "Classic Mode," which offers the same content as the GBA version, can be switched at any time, allowing players who are confident in their skills to enjoy the game in this mode.

In addition, the GBA version has an additional challenging element: if certain conditions are met, players can challenge Time Attack in stages that have already been cleared. This is a nice addition for players who have already completed the GBA version.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong" is a masterpiece of puzzle action that can be enjoyed by one or two players!

So there you have it, our first impressions of "Mario vs.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong" is a unique game experience that combines puzzles that require inspiration with Mario's lighthearted action, and with a wealth of additional elements, including two-player play, those who have played the GBA version in the past can enjoy the game with a fresh perspective. This game can be played in a variety of ways: you can sit back and relax, you can play a single stage quickly before bed, or you can play with two players and enjoy the feeling of a lively party game. If you are interested in this game, please check it out.

Title Information

Mario vs. Donkey Kong" (Nintendo)

Release date: February 16, 2024

Price: 5,478 yen for packaged version (including tax)

Download version: 5,400 yen (including tax)

Official website: ##

Nero Hyakkabe

Writer who buys too many games. Currently has a stack of more than 300 games. He is also a novelist. His works include "Todorouni tantei no chozen taru jikenbouki (Roaring Luck Detective's Chosen Case Book: Detective Annihilation Hall Murder Case)" (Seikai-sha) and "Yubisaki kaidan: 140 kanjaku no kaihon (Yubisaki ghost stories: 140 scary stories) (PHP Kenkyujo).
X (Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/KINGakiko
about.me: https://about.me/nero100kabe/