Mario vs. Donkey Kong preview: Back in the swing of things

Mario vs. Donkey Kong has been given a new lease of life in this remake of the puzzle platformer, which pits the mustachioed man himself against Donkey Kong in a battle over Mario toys.

The Mario franchise has taken several twists and turns over the years, so it’s somewhat fascinating to look at the plumber being blasted around space in Super Mario Galaxy and remember that this all started over a spat with a gorilla in the arcade game called Donkey Kong.

While the two franchises have their distinct styles nowadays, Nintendo tried to pay homage to that classic arcade title nearly twenty years ago with Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a fun puzzle platformer with more depth than you’d expect, that sees Donkey Kong on a mission to steal all the Mini-Mario toys.

Here we are now, in 2024, and Nintendo is bringing this GBA game to the Nintendo Switch in an expanded remake that adds a fresh lick of paint and some brand-new features. So the main question is, is this still worth your money, and did it need a full remake?

A puzzling playstyle that takes time to wind up

Nintendo

I’m lucky enough to be the sort of age where I remember this game’s original release, as well as the smattering of sequels over the years, including some that focused much more on the Mini-Mario concept and had folks controlling them instead of Mario himself.

However, this very first entry is simply called Mario vs. Donkey Kong back on the GBA, and for some reason called the same here without so much as an HD slapped on. While it does ape the gameplay of the original Donkey Kong arcade machine, it takes some of Mario’s platforming skills and utilizes them.

Mario must make his way through the Mini-Mario toy factory, occasionally watching out for enemies like wind-up Shy Guys, Rhinos, and plenty more.

It’s not quite as simple as reaching the goal, however, as Mario must use both the Mini-Mario toys and his wits to master the platforming challenges and switches, enemies, and other puzzles that block your path.

What starts as fairly simple, with Mario climbing up ladders and avoiding spikes before grabbing a key and transporting it to the goal, eventually does add some fun wrinkles, especially as players are incentivized to get a “Perfect” score in levels by grabbing all collectible presents.

For those coming back to the game, this does feel like an accurate remake, with the puzzles largely intact, though Mario himself does feel a tad more limber. However, if you’re a newcomer expecting Mario to feel like his normal acrobatic self, this is slow, thoughtful, and demands brains instead of platforming skills.

Mario’s toys have a new lick of paint

Nintendo

The main change is aesthetically, as this unassuming little puzzle game is genuinely gorgeous, especially the CG cut scenes that give our main monkey Donkey Kong the sort of personality he’s been missing for years. After Seth Rogen’s fun-loving performance, it’s nice to see DK given some love again.

Other additions include casual mode, which allows players to take a hit without dying, and return to a bubble ala New Super Mario Bros, etc, alongside a new two-player cooperative mode, where a second player can control a Toad, and help Mario solve puzzles or grab key items and collectibles.

It says something about the classic Nintendo level design, and the strength of their puzzles, that this title feels very intuitive even as a two-player game, despite being designed twenty years ago and for single-player.

Even younger players will find it simple to hop into the mode, and it adds a great layer to the puzzles when working with someone nearby and barking commands at each other.

A great entry point to the larger Mario world

Nintendo

One thing that is still very clear about Mario vs. Donkey Kong is while it seems stifling to go from the fluid movements of something like Mario Wonder to this, the methodical playstyle and vibrant world are an ideal way to get kids into the series at large.

The music is rearranged but uses a lot of the original melodies, and the added instrumentation adds a lot of flavor to the levels. Especially as the levels tip over into slightly more interesting settings, like Donkey Kong’s Jungle or the Spooky House, there’s a pleasant if unsurprising vibe throughout.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong didn’t set the world on fire during its original release, but there are plenty of great ideas here that do warrant a playthrough in the modern day.

Surprisingly complex puzzles are waiting even after the first few levels, plus the boss battles and Mini-Mario mechanics add a lot of genuine strategic challenge to a seemingly simple concept.

We’ll have to get a bit further in to see if this title genuinely warranted a full remake, because while it looks absolutely lovely, right now it’s tough to see why folks wouldn’t have been better served by this title just being dropped on Nintendo Switch Online.

Still, it feels ideal for young gamers eager to learn about Mario after the success of his big movie, especially if they can’t quite get to grips with Mario Wonder’s manic mechanics.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a deceptively complex puzzle platformer with buckets of charm, and it’s a loving reintroduction to these two gaming titans. If this helps get eager young gamers hooked and then triple-jumping in Odyssey, then it’s a fantastic way to start the Mario journey.

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