Now, something I don’t talk about often is that, in many ways, I’m a newcomer to the wonderful world of Nintendo. In fact, I’m so green behind the ears that the Nintendo Switch was my first real, hands-on introduction to the gaming juggernaut.
Don’t get me wrong, I saved a princess or two in my childhood, but that was always using a friend’s Game Boy or, sometimes, just sitting watching a friend play on their Game Boy. Still, it wasn’t a console I ever owned, so there’s a massive gap in my gaming education.
Why am I telling you all about my first-world problems? I’m trying to paint the picture of why I enjoy it when an older Nintendo title gets re-released on newer hardware as much as I do. It’s a chance for me to fully appreciate and enjoy a game I missed in my childhood, and who doesn’t love that?
Now, if you’re anything like me, you already spend far too much time in your everyday life trying to find things, so you might not think that doing that in your time off is something you’d be interested in, but I’m here to tell you why you’re wrong.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of a Game Boy Advance game about having to track down and find various Mini-Mario toys.
At its core, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a puzzle platformer that will see the world’s most famous plumber following the love-him-and-hate-him barrel-throwing Donkey Kong throughout a collection of rap-filled levels, grabbing as many Mini-Mario toys as you can.
The remake of the 2004 gem also comes complete with new worlds, extra modes and a substantial visual makeover.
But make no mistake, even though Mario vs. Donkey Kong is prettier and shinier than the original, it’s still very much the same beast that stole the hearts of gamers with Game Boy Advanced consoles everywhere when it first debuted.
The game runs the same way from level to level. Mario must navigate through levels, collecting keys to the locked end.
The core puzzle comes in with the fact that Mario is unable to climb ladders or perform any of his signature moves while holding the massive key. If the key drops for more than a few seconds, it magically teleports back to where Mario first found it.
Throughout all this, there will also be a variety of obstacles to navigate and Mini-Mario toys to collect. Then at the end of a batch of levels, there will be a boss fight against Donkey Kong himself.
Reaching the end of each stage also requires manipulating various items like coloured switches to reveal hidden platforms or reversing the direction of conveyor belts.
However, even with the addition of the new content, completing Mario vs. Donkey Kong shouldn’t take you more than a few hours. Once the game has been completed, there are six new levels and a new boss fight, which should add an extra three hours of playtime.
One of the best parts of the game, though, where it comes into its own and shines, is in the two-player co-op mode. In co-op, One player will be Mario, and one will be Toad, who can join in any mode apart from Time Attack.
It’s a lot of fun together, and because of the relatively quick playtime and approachable difficulty, it’s perfect to casually share with a friend, child, parent or as a fun date night activity with a partner.
