Mario vs. Donkey Kong Review (Switch)

At this point, we never really know what the next remake will be. Mario vs. Donkey Kong was a surprise. I bet you can name at least five games that are more worthy. Still, Nintendo always does a fantastic job splashing that fresh coat of paint on old games and their attempts at nudging us away from the strenuous anticipation for the new console, but I digress. Mario vs. Donkey Kong was an odd duck back in 2004. It picked up on the original Donkey Kong formula. However, the mini-Marios in the game stole the show, so much so that they went on to spiral their own game. 

In any case, Mario vs. Donkey Kong did please the masses and, by definition of remakes, revamped outdated visuals while maintaining the classic charm of its original counterpart, Mario vs. Donkey Kong should be a blast. Well, shall we find out how big of a blast that is? Is Mario vs. Donkey Kong worth your time and money? Tag along on our Mario vs. Donkey Kong review to find out.

Rivalry Forever

Mario’s co-star, Donkey Kong, or Nemesis, falls desperately in love with the mini-Marios in a commercial. He swears to scoop up one of the toys for himself. However, when he gets to the shop, he finds the toys have sold out. So, what does Donkey Kong do? He swears no one shall own a mini-Mario, not while he’s alive and well, to do something about it. In his rage, he storms into the toy factory and steals every last remaining mini-Mario. And henceforth, the hunt for mini-Marios begins.

You control Mario on a quest to retrieve his toys from Donkey Kong. You’ll need to navigate a part platform and part puzzle gameplay in a side scrolling manner. All across six thematic worlds, plus two completely new ones added in the remake. The puzzles aren’t the brain teasers you may be looking for. They’re, more or less, crafty challenges for casual gamers ages ten and above. The same goes for the platforming sequences, which you can quickly figure out without having to pull out your hair in frustration. 

Let’s not hold the arguably simplified gameplay against Mario vs. Donkey Kong. It has similar gameplay to the original, which is exactly what you expect to feature in the remake. In fact, the only difference is the visuals that, straight off the bat, grab your attention through to the end. They’re ever so striking, with the most vibrant colors and details. Sure, the base concept is the same as the original. The platforms are familiar to anyone who played the game nearly two decades ago. The moves and skills you use are largely the same. But the graphics are much more enticing for the contemporary eye. 

Step by Step

So, the stages are structured in the sense that you need to collect six mini-marios, one by one, to complete a level. Along the way, you’ll run into all sorts of enemies, environmental hazards, and obstacles, which you must figure a way through. Once you collect all six toys, you’ll lead them, pied-piper style, to a toy chest. Thereafter, you’ll face the mighty Donkey Kong in the final boss battle. The same process repeats over and over until you complete all the worlds in the game. 

Now, as much as Mario has a limited move set in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, he’s still fun to lead across the puzzle platforms. He can run, jump, double jump, triple jump, climb, hop backwards, and pounce around. The main goal, as opposed to fighting enemies, is helping Mario solve puzzles to get to the end goal. He’s no acrobat or brawler but rather a simple plumber who wants some extra help maneuvering through each level. 

The more you progress, the more abilities you unlock. You also enjoy new changes from the original. For instance, you can now pick up enemies and throw them onto spikes to walk over them safely. Avoid the cannon balls, though. Those will kill you on impact. The best part about Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the variety and intricate detail of the level designs. From moving platforms to color-coded switches, every minor platform technique you can think of is here. You flick switches to move platforms up and down. You move in swings to reach higher levels. Trash cans can be used to smack enemies as cover from falling blocks, and so on.

Slightly More 

Sure enough, most of the solutions are carved in stone. As far as creativity goes, you’re forced to think along the same lines as the developing team. And once you’ve figured out the solution, well, it’s only less fun to repeat. Of course, the time limits put your problem-solving skills to the test in ways that truly feel satisfying to pull off. Mario is also heavier to move and, thus, needs extra precision to safely jump to safety. If the time limits feel too stringent, you can choose to play casually without the stress-inducing time constraints. You also get mid-level checkpoints, so if you die, you’re not set back a couple of screens. 

What’s more? Mario vs. Donkey Kong now has a two-player couch co-op mode starring Toad. It’s also not just a mere addition of another player to the same level. Instead, you each get individual objectives, with each player chasing a key in each level and a couple of changes to the levels to make it challenging for two people. Even so, the second player can sometimes feel like a passive participant, with not enough variety to create a distinct experience for the two. The new worlds are also quite interesting. You’ll skid across the Slippery Summit’s icy floors. Additionally, the game adds the Merry Mini-Land amusement park that uses wind to give Mario or Toad a boost.

Casual Strolls

Despite the seemingly plenty of gameplay to unpack, Mario vs. Donkey Kong can clock out a little too soon. It can take around six hours to beat, with ten hours or so for my fellow completionists. Worth noting is that this game isn’t the kind to finish in one sitting. You’ll easily get bored of its repetitive puzzles. The boss fights against Donkey Kong at the end of each world are often the same, with only slight variations. It can grow tiresome after playing for a while. And so, the best way to go about it is to play for a few minutes or an hour maximum and return later. A skilled gamer may want to take breaks in between to avoid unnecessary frustration. In any case, the game adds bonus levels and post-game content to keep your playthrough interesting. 

Despite all the good, you can’t help but feel the game’s missed opportunities to devise more complex puzzles down the line. Take the walking on-your-hands mechanic, for example, which you can use to shield yourself from falling blocks. The same technique repeats throughout your playthrough. But what if you could use it to evade an enemy or different environmental hazards? It’d help to incorporate instances of thinking on your feet and carefully considering the tools at your disposal. For now, though, Mario vs. Donkey Kong feels rather straightforward. Put simply, it’s a pick-and-play game that anyone can jump into. You anticipate danger and react before you’re hurt: that’s all there is.

Verdict

It feels like games like Donkey Kong (1994) should have made it to Nintendo’s remake priority list before Mario vs. Donkey Kong. However, it is still welcome to experience the nostalgic reaction of an age-old rivalry that dates back decades. Right off the bat, the visuals and detailed character models jump off the screen. The Mini-Marios are much more defined than ever before, along with enemies donning conceivable facial expressions. Furthermore, the remake has added new worlds and mechanics for veterans to enjoy fresh content. Mario moves smoothly and responsively, in addition to new skill sets that come in handy in the treacherous level designs of the game. 

Perhaps the only drawback is the game’s relatively short length. In just under six hours, you’ll reach the end of an often repetitive gameplay sequence. It helps to play the game for 20 to 30 minutes at a time to avoid pulling out your hair in frustration. Puzzles can be too easy to solve, and while they can keep younger gamers engaged, skilled gamers will move on to the next one after just a few minutes. Of course, the same cannot be said of diehard Mario fans and the classic Donkey Kong arcade. Mario vs. Donkey Kong is definitely the game for fans of straightforward puzzle platforming who simply want to pass the time solo or with a buddy in tow. 

No matter the straightforwardness of the game, which conversely has a certain elegance and charm to it, it’s no secret that Mario vs. Donkey Kong improves on the original with revamped visuals that easily jump off the screen. It also adds new content in the form of whole new worlds, modes, and challenges. If you enjoyed the original, you’ll definitely have a blast playing Mario vs. Donkey Kong.