Mario vs. Donkey Kong

"Buy one, buy them all...and then get them all back!"

Ah, Mario and Donkey Kong...these guys have been at it since the 80's, and the last time they squared off was in 1994. Now, ten years later, they're going at it again, in a whole new adventure that will please veterans and newcomers alike.

Interested in how this measures up: Read on...

Story: 10/10

In case you were so excited to start playing that you skipped the story, here's the basic premise:

One evening, DK is relaxing in his humble jungle treehouse (with his gigantic stockpile of bananas) watching TV...and as he flips through the channels, one particular commercial catches his eye...

"It's the amazing new Mini Mario toy!" the announcer declares. "It walks, it talks, it says 'Mamma mia!'! Each one comes with its own crystal ball! Collect one, collect them all! Be the first one on your block to own the new Mini Mario toy! Hurry, before they're all sold out! Buy one, buy them all!...."

Buy them all...buy them all...buy them all....With that one objective in mind, DK races off to the nearest toy store, intent on buying a Mini Mario toy for himself...but when he gets there, the toys are all sold out! What's a toy-crazed ape to do?

Then, DK spots the Mini Mario factory, and gets an idea...why not raid the factory and have the Mini Marios all to himself?

So, one large scuffle, one giant mess, one giant bag, and several zillion Mini Marios later, DK escapes with his new stash in tow....but Mario sees the whole scuffle and chases after DK to get the Mini Marios back!

So begins this delightful platforming adventure...now to see how this game's specs measure up:

Graphics: 10/10

Why: Am I playing my GBA or a GameCube? That's the question I asked when I first turned the game on. The characters may be on a 2-D screen, but they look realistic enough that it may fool you into thinking everything is 3-D. There is no slowdown (or at least none that I remember); and the environments are bright, colorful, and suited to their respective themes.

Audio: 10/10

Why: The music here is a trip down memory lane for the most part; with such bits as the DK "doom" music; and the Mario theme that we should all know and love by now....but complimenting these old favorites are some brand new tracks as well, and there's not a boring track in the bunch! They'll keep your toe tapping and your fingers snapping as you run and jump your way through each world. To enhance the experience even more, get some headphones!

One interesting perk some may find annoying is the game's heaping helping of voice. You heard me right, voice. From DK's grunts to the Mini Marios calling "Oh Mario!", to Mario saying "Get-a back here, you stupid monkey!" the voices will make you think twice as to what that tiny GBA speaker can do! If you do find the voices annoying, simply turn the volume down, but for the most part, you'll want to keep them crankeed up, because the audio really adds to the experience!

Gameplay: 10/10

Why: Simple and straightfoward platforming goodness, to put it briefly. When the game begins, you traverse across the city, through the tropical paradise of Dk's jungle adode, inside a firey volcano, and more. Finish those with high scores, and some new Plus worlds open up for you to explore, and when those are tamed, the expert mode is unlocked for an even bigger challenge! The result is over 100 levels of running, jumping, swinging, flipping, DK bashing, and Mini Mario grabbing goodness for your gaming fancy.

Each world (twelve in all if you count the Plus worlds) is divided up into eight levels. Six of those are levels in which you must survive the barrage of colored switches, enemies, springs, and other gizmos long enough to grab the Mini Mario and get it to safety. In the seventh stage, you guide said Mini Marios back into the toy box; where they will act as your life stock for that stage's showdown with DK. Knock DK out, and your chase will continue...

Control: 9/10

Why: Mario comes into this adventure armed with more than his trademark jump...he can handstand (down+A), super jump (A while handstanding), mega jump (jump again after nailing a super jump), and backflip (left/right, then quickly press A), to name a few moves. However, my only quibble here is that sometimes the control will not always do what you want it to, and you may find yourself losing lives and or wasting time just because you hit the wrong button.

If you ever forget how to execute a move, the game comes to your rescue by showing you a tutorial before hand. Pay attention to these, since the move these tutorials demonstrate is often the move you'll need to nab the Mini Mario.

Fun Factor: 10/10

This game is one of several soon-to-be classics for the GBA; with over 100 levels to explore, and several new modes, how can you go wrong with that?

Final word:

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a real festival of fun for old school veterans and newcomers alike. Go and get the game now, it is well worth that $30 you'll pay.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/27/04