Mario vs. Donkey Kong is not for the faint-hearted

Any yet again, I’ve died. This time I was hit from behind by a cannonball. I swear I didn’t touch it. Annoying. Ok whatever, I’ll start the level again, it can’t be that difficult. The damn cannonball wipes me out again. This time, I’m 100 per cent sure I didn’t touch it. My heartrate’s at 180 but I’m not giving up. «Just one more try», I tell myself, knowing full well it won’t be the last.

I often find myself in this cycle of frustration and pleasure when playing Mario vs. Donkey Kong. The game’s impressive with its clever puzzles but it also gets me pulling the hairs on my head. Mamma mia!

More of a puzzle game than platformer

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of the GBA puzzle game of the same name from 2004. In addition to completely revised graphics, Nintendo has added new game modes and additional levels to the new edition.

Donkey Kong has stolen tons of Mini Mario toy figures and gifts from a toy factory. So Mario has to recapture them in eight thematically different worlds and across 130 short levels. These aren’t structured like classic platform game levels, but like puzzles. I still run and jump around with Mario in the game, but the focus point is solving puzzles.

The majority of them are switch puzzles. I have to activate and deactivate coloured platforms to make my way through the puzzle levels and free the Mini-Marios. As time goes on, new elements such as teleportation boxes, trampolines or ventilators are added which I can use to my advantage. I can also pick up various objects and enemies and throw them around.

There are two special levels at the end of each world which add variety to the daily puzzle routine. In the first, I guide the freed Mini-Marios through various obstacles to a toy box. They behave like headless chickens running after me and throwing themselves into abysses or running into enemies. The more Mini-Marios I collect in the toy box, the more lives I get for the second special level. That’s where I have a boss battle with the Donkey Kong himself.

«Just one more level»

The game begins with simple puzzles and ends with some rather tricky brainteasers. This means the pace of play is fast at the beginning. I puzzle my way through the levels at the speed of light and get addicted to solving them. Just one more level. And then another. And another.

After finishing the first eight worlds I unlock more special worlds and a best-time mode. If I find all the hidden gifts in the levels, I get stars which I can use to unlock the Extra Levels. It took me around 10 hours to play through the story and unlock most of the stars.

As the game progresses, and the complexity of the puzzles increases, the pace slows down noticeably. I would have preferred a few more simple puzzles to break up the flow of play. And to calm my nerves.

My nerves are too weak for this game

The later levels not only require more brain power, but also more dexterity. While I can easily get through the levels with simple jumps at the beginning, I have to use Mario’s entire moveset in the later worlds. It’s in these moments that I’m reminded that Mario vs Donkey Kong isn’t a «real» Jump’n’Run, but a puzzle game first and foremost.

Compared to the recently released Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the chubby plumber is sluggish in his movement. He runs too slowly and his jumps have a strange trajectory. Again and again, I jump too far or too short and miss the platform and my opponents. I also keep triggering some special jumps by mistake.

The strange collision detection is also annoying. I jump onto an opponent and get killed. Although it looks like I’m dodging a projectile, I get hit by it. Grrr. If I die in regular Mario platformers, I blame myself. Here, on the other hand, I often get the impression there’s something wrong with the game itself.

I also notice the strange collision detection in co-op mode. In this game, one player is Toad. He’s visually much smaller than Mario. Although it looks as if he would easily fit into small passages, the mushroom can’t get through them.

Just relax

The later levels often turn into annoying trial-and-error passageways because of the sluggish controls and the strange collisions. One hit’s enough to kill Mario. I then have to re-start the level from the very beginning.

The joy in solving the clever puzzles fades. Luckily I find a suitable antidote to my frustration, that is, the new Casual game mode. It eliminates the time limit, gives me checkpoints and five attempts per level. That way I don’t have to start from scratch after dying. Although my gamer honour initially prevented me from doing so, I’m glad I can activate this mode when necessary. In other words, when I’m at breaking point.

Despite the confusing size of Toad, I can also spare my nerves in co-op mode. You only have to start the level from the beginning if both characters are dead at the same time. Fortunately, dying in pairs is much more difficult. Multiplayer mode is therefore a perfect starting point for inexperienced Mario fans. Thanks to the additional goals at each level, it also also brings a refreshing twist to the gameplay.

Conclusion: Solid remake with room for improvement

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a successful remake of a GBA classic. At that price though, I’d have expected more additional content or a more spectacular visual presentation. If price isn’t an issue for you, Mario vs. Donkey Kong will offer you fun puzzles and addictive capabilities. At the later levels, the game suffers from its imprecise controls and strange collision detection. Nevertheless, these shortcomings can be counteracted with the new Casual or Co-op mode.

I’m definitely hooked and hope Nintendo will continue the series with a real sequel after the remake.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is available from 16 February on Nintendo Switch. Nintendo provided me with the game for testing purposes.

Video games

EUR56,54

Nintendo Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Nintendo, DE, FR, IT

38

Video games

EUR56,54

Nintendo Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Nintendo, DE, FR, IT

38