Mario vs. Donkey Kong review: Teaching an old ape new tricks

An often overlooked GBA title is given a new lick of paint and a few new bells and whistles in the Switch remake of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong. But, it’s held back by the design decisions of old.

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is a gorgeous remake of the GBA original. It’s been given a lot of attention, as all Mario games do, but it’s wonderful to see that even a title that has been slightly forgotten by time can look this clear and charming on the Nintendo Switch today.

A 2D platformer mixed with puzzle-solving elements, Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is a progression of the Donkey Kong arcade formula, as Mario battles Donkey Kong across a plethora of levels after the bulking ape takes off with a bag of Mini Mario toys. Who knows why, honestly?

Mario isn’t quite as nimble as in his other modern entries here, instead taking a methodical approach, that rewards patience and brain power as much as platforming prowess. But, what felt great on the GBA, can occasionally feel outdated on Switch, especially after Super Mario Wonder.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong Key Details

• Price: $49.99  | £39.99
• Developer: Nintendo
• Release Date: February 16, 2024
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Less stomping Koopas and more scratching heads

Nintendo

For anyone going in completely blind, here’s the gist of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. This title is a sequel – of sorts – to the old Donkey Kong arcade cabinet, as Donkey Kong goes on a rampage and steals the new Mini Mario toys from a factory, and Mario must ascend the factory to earn them all back.

Yes, this is a 2D platformer, but all the action is on a single screen instead of spread across a sprawling level, with the player having to guide Mario through traps, tapping switches, and avoiding spikes and enemies to get to the end of each level in the style of some mad Rube Goldberg-esque contraption.

One thing off the bat to know about Mario vs. Donkey Kong is that this is a much slower game than other modern Mario titles. Some will hold that against it, understandably, but those quicker games are still there for Nintendo Switch players to pick up.

Spring into action

Nintendo

As anyone who has played the original will know, as this is largely the same game, Mario vs. Donkey Kong does a lot with a little. This might sound like a criticism but it’s not, back on the GBA this small set of obstacles and enemies was used cleverly across dozens of levels.

While Mario Wonder had a different thing happening every few seconds, Mario vs. Donkey Kong establishes some very simple rules with items like springs, switches, and such, and then builds logical puzzles around them.

What’s new here is a couple of fresh worlds, padding out the early levels, and adding some variety to mixed results. The first of the two new worlds is Merry Mini-Land, a vibrant world that makes smart use of teleporting blocks for some really fun puzzles.

This is also an area that benefits greatly from one of Mario vs. Donkey Kong’s best elements, the fantastic score. With much of the original soundtrack intact, Nintendo has seen fit to record each track with actual instruments adding richness to every level.

Other new world Slippery Summit especially benefits here, swapping the circus-esque comedy found in Merry Mini-Land, for a somber piano-led piece reminiscent of the sort of evocative tone found in Donkey Kong Country’s Aquatic Ambiance.

A toy story told in two parts

Nintendo

Mario vs. Donkey Kong isn’t the toughest game in the world, and I occasionally found myself frustrated more with the patience needed to wait for moving platforms or wandering enemies, instead of any challenge posed by platforming challenges.

But the game does open up dramatically in the second half, as reaching the initial credits unlocks Time Attack and the ‘Plus’ version of each world. These harder levels see Mario grabbing his Mini-Mario pals, and really demand some thought straight from the off.

A lot of the elements that seemed simple in the first half of the game are repurposed in some brilliant ways, and while this is largely the same game. New levels and a couple of subtle changes to Mario make this an overall much better experience.

Mario himself feels a touch more limber, and pulling off triple jumps to get around is a satisfying achievement. Between the already huge amount of levels, the new worlds, and Time Attack, there is plenty to do here for fans of this series.

I will say I have never enjoyed this type of boss level, as each boss fight has Mario taking down Donkey Kong by chucking a barrel or bomb at the massive monkey. While the platforming of regular levels still feels fun, even when slowed down, the boss fights are glacial in pace and just not satisfying enough.

Mario’s puzzle antics are perfect for younger players

Mario vs. Donkey Kong’s biggest strength is also something that I often get frustrated with, and that is this intentionally slower pace. This game is designed for younger players, those kids wanting to pick up a Mario game after the blockbuster movie, and this is perfect for that audience.

For anyone coming back to this title after the GBA original nearly 20 years ago, the biggest two changes. are the addition of a Casual mode, and local co-operative play.

It’s pleasantly surprising how Casual changes the title, as younger players will be able to ignore some of the more punishing elements of the ‘Expert’ version that can get so annoying. Casual adds checkpoints, as well as lives, meaning players have plenty of chances to make mistakes while completing the level.

Then, local co-op play is a fantastic addition, hammering home that this is a title meant to be shared with younger players. Anyone picking up the second controller can control Toad and assist Mario on his mission, with subtle tweaks to levels like extra keys to find giving everyone something to do.

However, this title is still weirdly finicky at points and is still limited by the design decisions made when this was a GBA title. Mario might feel a tad more spritely, but there are still plenty of moments where it feels like the game is doing something wrong instead of the player.

Some of the later levels such as ones using ghosts or even the dreaded falling bricks can often be incredibly slow, or even punishing, and while Casual gives the player more chances to survive, there is still the odd moment where just the level itself poses a frustrating challenge instead of a fun one.

Verdict – 3/5

If you loved the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong, great news. This is a gorgeous version of that title, filled with more levels, some smart changes, and a renewed sense of joyous energy thanks to the fantastic soundtrack and charming 3D visuals.

While there are some new levels, this is still largely the same game, so if you’ve played the original several times the great new worlds might not justify your purchase. But, if you have a younger player or a friend to share the title with, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is multiplayer bliss for families, slowing down the action enough for everyone, yet still offering a challenge for the veterans coming back after two decades.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong might not set the world on fire, but it’s a fantastic entry point to both Mario’s platforming antics and the Donkey Kong character. Plus, while platforming experts might get frustrated by some design decisions and slow puzzles that were meant for the GBA, the clever changes and new content still mean this is a satisfying ride if you like to test your brain as much as your thumbs.

Reviewed on Nintendo Switch

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