Summary

• The remake of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong adds new levels, features, and graphics while maintaining the original story.
• The game features 130 levels filled with puzzles and boss levels where Mario must defeat Donkey Kong.
• The remake includes new quality-of-life features, multiplayer mode, and two new worlds with unique mechanics.

The new Mario Vs. Donkey Kong remake is a perfect example of what a remake should be by not only updating the graphics but also adding all-new levels, quality-of-life features, and so much more to the experience. The original game, of the same name, was released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance as a spin-off from both the Super Mario series of games and the 1994 game, Donkey Kong. Blending the two together, it introduced fun puzzle mechanics and transformed many familiar Super Mario enemies into wind-up toy versions of themselves.

As a remake, Mario Vs. Donkey Kong keeps to its roots and does not change the story that is told, but rather updates it with fresh cinematic cutscenes and beautiful graphics. The puzzles are truly at the heart of this game, with 130 levels full of different mysteries to solve involving manipulating the environment to save the Mini-Mario toy friends. Although he doesn't get the benefit of power-ups other than One-Up Mushrooms, Mario gets to utilize some fun skills, such as being able to do handstands.

What Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Is

The Story And Gameplay

The basic story of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong involves Mario chasing down the big ape after Donkey Kong steals all the Mini-Mario toys from the Mario Toy Factory. Beautifully animated cinematics tell the story of poor Donkey Kong simply wanting one of the toys and getting upset when the store was sold out. This silly premise sets the foundation for why Mario is chasing Donkey Kong across eight crazy worlds filled with puzzles.

Each world has a total of eight levels, beginning with six basic levels where Mario has to make his way to a golden key that will unlock a door leading to another section of the puzzle, and then find and rescue a Mini-Mario toy that fell from Donkey Kong's bag. After those six levels, there is a level where Mario must lead the previously found Mini-Marios to the safety of a toybox, and then a culmination to that world in a level where he comes face to face with Donkey Kong himself. These boss levels also incorporate puzzles for how to defeat Donkey Kong in clever ways.

Don't stop playing after the credits roll the first time, there is so much more to this game!

There are a total of 130 unique levels in Mario Vs. Donkey Kong and with eight levels across eight worlds, it doesn't quite add up. In fact, after the player "beats" the game and the credits roll, there is much more to experience with all new levels in the Plus Mode and Expert Mode, as well as time trials. The Plus Mode should not be mistaken as a traditional New Game Plus, as it offers all new puzzles and even completely changed game mechanics for each of the worlds, and an incredible second end to the game.

Changes Made With The Remake Of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong

Much More Than Fresh Graphics

For the remake, Mario Vs. Donkey Kong includes many new quality-of-life features as well as new worlds, levels, and the addition of a multiplayer mode. Players who experienced the original game will enjoy seeing the new Merry Mini-Land and Slippery Summit worlds, and there is a new Casual Mode for those who want to play the game without worrying about the timer or dying as frequently. It is remarkably easy to switch between the Classic mode and Casual mode, so if playing one particular level becomes too difficult, changing to Casual has no penalty and awards the same star for full completion.

Fun Multiplayer Featuring A Mario And Toad Team

Local Co-Op Only

Another fantastic addition in the remake of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is adding a two-player local co-op. Every level in the game can have a second player in by simply connecting a second controller. As Toad, the second player can do all the same things as Mario but has the added benefit of being slightly shorter and able to get to some areas that Mario could not, and both characters can jump on the other's head as an added boost, or just to be funny. In two-player games, to balance the levels a bit more, there are now two keys that must be found and brought to the door rather than just one.

New Worlds And Levels In Mario Vs. Donkey Kong

Merry Mini-Land And Slippery Summit

For this remake, two new worlds which were not seen in the original 2004 Mario Vs. Donkey Kong are added, with clever new game mechanics. The Merry Mini-Land world is an amusement park with spinning flowers that blow wind in directions to push or lift Mario or Toad into the air, even carrying them across chasms. Meanwhile, Slippery Summit levels include many areas where the ground is covered in ice, adding new ways to solve puzzles and dangers when trying to run from falling ice chunks.

Review Score And Final Thoughts

Throughout 130 levels, Nintendo's puzzle-filled platforming game has just the right amount of increase in challenge as the game goes on, and plenty of surprises for players to discover. The variety of game mechanics and ways to solve puzzles are engaging and fun, and the game is incredibly difficult to put down as it is too easy to want to try just one more level. Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is a must-play for puzzle lovers, and is a perfect example of what a remake should be.

A digital code for Nintendo Switch was provided to Screen Rant for the purpose of this review.