Mario vs. Donkey Kong

"Nobody wins"

Only an ignorant gaming novice would deny the impact the original Donkey Kong had on the video game industry. No timeline or documentary is complete without it. Nintendo, always wanting to make a little money off past successes (see: Classic NES series), has brought Mario and Donkey Kong back to their roots of barrel-rolling and hammer-grabbing in Mario vs Donkey Kong. The package has been slicked up considerably to make it feel more at home on the Game Boy Advance than it could on the NES, but you'll be hard-pressed to make this one of your nostalgic favorites.

Graphics:
I must give credit where it's due, and Mario vs Donkey Kong looks pretty darn good. I don't really like seeing 3D sprites in a 2D world, but the effect works, because the animation is impressive. Mario has usually been a stiff runner, having enough animation frames to fit in one tidy character sprite sheet. This time around, he flops and wiggles and hoists and collapses in a believable -- and notably cartoony -- fashion. Nintendo may downplay graphical technology, but they certainly like to show off the GBA's capabilities.

Sound:
This is the most expressive Mario has ever been. It's like watching a child learn to talk. Mario is now saying things I never would have thought he would say... especially on a little device like the Game Boy Advance. Mario never had a soothing voice, however, and just about everything he says is easier to ignore than to try and decode. Setting Mario aside, this game is still a din. The soundtrack is cheap and sounds like it was produced in Noteworthy Composer in under five minutes. The different fanfares and loud sound effects are so irritating, I find myself mimicking them in an attempt to alleviate my anger.

Gameplay:
Mario vs Donkey Kong is a puzzle platformer. Now prepare yourself for a big disclaimer: there is very little cleverness here to warrant much of a puzzle atmosphere. The "puzzles" can't really be considered puzzles, even in a non-traditional way. Beating a level only requires you to decipher what path needs to be taken. From then on, it's simply a matter of timing jumps appropriately. Mario vs Donkey Kong is straightforward, clear-cut platforming. Conveyor belts, spikes, ropes, hammers, color-coded switches, and moveable enemies turn the experience into something similar to Super Mario Bros. 2, but the levels are all nearly single-screen, and the potential magic feels stilted and confined. It's periodically unexciting, to put it harshly. Perplexity only comes into play when you're struggling to beat the time limit. Yeah, time limits! These were a staple in the NES/SNES days, but they get a little annoying in this current generation of games (aside from the occasionally mandatory mini-game or bomb threat).

Fortunately (it's about time I said that), Mario vs Donkey Kong never actually grows stale. It may have its dull moments, but the game makes a solid attempt to keep things fresh. Every level, another little quirk is introduced to the mix. Sometimes it's an insignificant addition like throwing a key onto a higher floor (that could have been figured out without the pre-level tutorial), but other times it will be a bomb (for instance) that becomes a crucial part to the rest of the game. Every level also has three presents floating around just waiting to be snatched up. Presents not only give you a better score, collecting all three gives you the chance to earn extra lives at the end of the round. The majority of levels shifts between bringing a key to a locked door or just reaching a certain point, but there are also retro-inspired boss battles between Mario and Donkey Kong, and some levels take on a Lemmings approach with Mario being followed by several mini-Marios.

Controls:
Nowadays, no 2D platformer can escape being compared to Mario. The Super Mario Bros. series had some absolutely simple -- but absolutely brilliant -- controls. It would seem that Mario vs Donkey Kong is trying to reinvent the basics... and messes up in a few places. Mario now does much more than just run, jump, duck, and pick up enemies (a la Super Mario Bros. 2). In this adventure, Mario can climb ropes, back flip (compliments to Super Mario 64), and walk on his hands. The hand-walking is a silly supplement we could have done without, but the back flip is a terrific and very useful function. However, because the back flip exists, this means Mario takes a brief moment to turn around (allowing you enough time to flip if you desire). This can cause a bit of trouble when... well... immediate turning is required. Mario's jump also seems a bit flaky in itself, sometimes choosing not to jump at all and sometimes choosing to only jump very short distances.

Frustration:
I wouldn't call this game frustrating. No, I would call it extremely annoying. Mario vs Donkey Kong really is a bit of annoying fluff, from the grating audio to the inconsistent controls. Traversing a level comes across as more troublesome than it should initially be. Of course, Mario is on the "one hit kills" rule, and that's quite understandable. A game of this sort wouldn't work if you could just run over the pit of spikes to the exit. But the game is filled with niggling nuances that cause you to die in unfair ways. Time limits are the biggest culprit. Come on, Nintendo, you can still reward people for being fast and not punish those who are a little slower. Also in the "undue death" category: Mario happens to forget to grab onto a rope and instead falls into a pit of spikes. The mega barrel to defeat Donkey Kong isn't available yet, so you try the only other option (jumping on his head) and die! You back flip into dangling spikes that were hidden behind status information on the top of the screen. Mario doesn't turn around fast enough, and the bomb you are holding goes off in your hands. I can't go on...

Lasting Appeal:
This game has levels! That sounds remarkably obvious, I know, but Mario vs Donkey Kong is overflowing with levels. The main game itself spans six worlds with eight levels each (where every level is actually two levels back to back). After "beating the game," suddenly another six worlds are open. Trust me, these "plus" levels are entirely different from the normal worlds. Every plus level is a mix between a regular level and a mini-Mario level and requires a bit more trial-and-error. A star can be earned in each level of the game, too. Stars are obtained by meeting a certain score. For every nine stars earned, an expert level (aptly named) becomes available. This setup does a great job of keeping the game alive, but it will eventually die, and you will probably never be inclined to play Mario vs Donkey Kong again.

Overall:
Mario is in need of a good 2D platformer. His reputation has been at stake ever since Super Mario Sunshine shipped (even though I liked that game). It's obvious his better days were without the third dimension. Maybe New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS will restore his glory. Mario vs Donkey Kong isn't going to. The firm platforming structure is mildly amusing and works to support all the levels, because the game never stops introducing new gimmicks. Not all these gimmicks, are fun, however, and Mario vs Donkey Kong falls victim to "I should be doing something besides playing this" thinking. No video game wants to accomplish that. The annoying parts of this game don't bring it down by themselves, but combined they create a salad that's difficult to digest. If you're wanting an ingenious puzzle platformer, grab a copy of one of Klonoa's adventures. Klonoa may not have the same well-established name as Mario, but his games are a lot more creative.

Points:
+ Straightforward platforming
+ Continuing additions
+ Levels, levels, levels
-- A little unexciting
-- A lot of annoying

Score: 6/10

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 07/06/05