In the timeless clash between plumber and primate, Mario vs. Donkey Kong for 2024 revitalizes the classic rivalry with a fresh twist. This iteration earns its stripes with upgraded graphics, engaging cutscenes, and addictive puzzle gameplay that will please fans of both franchises.
The Iconic Rivalry
While we have seen Mario and DK team up to be allies in the recent Super Mario Bros. Movie, having them at odds with each other isn’t so far-fetched, especially when you find out that Mario has given into capitalism and has opened a toy factory selling Mini-Marios in between gigs of rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser. DK rejects this, breaks into the factory and steals all the toys in at attempt to protest against Mario’s money-hungry ways. This leads to a spirited pursuit across a whopping 130 levels.
While the premise may raise eyebrows at Mario’s entrepreneurial pursuits, it sets the stage for a delightful romp through increasingly challenging puzzles that can be re-played after completing the main story via a time trial mode. The game boasts eight initial worlds, each housing eight levels. There are also eight additional worlds to unlock down the track, with levels inside them and a further 16 challenges that will help test your limits.
The puzzle mechanics, while accessible in both casual and standard modes, manage to strike a superb balance between accessibility and complexity, ensuring ample replay value.
Players navigate through levels, in a bid to retrieve keys, all while contending with timers and environmental obstacles. Each level culminates in a showdown with DK, where solving puzzles based on colour and movement becomes the key to victory. This departure from traditional platforming injects a refreshing dynamic into the Mario franchise, seamlessly integrating into the evolving Mario landscape through recent years.
While the absence of an online mode may disappoint some, the inclusion of local couch co-op via separate joy-cons with the option to play as Toad still manages to add a charming cooperative element to the experience. After you have unlocked all of the initial eight worlds, there is a time trial mode that allows you to go back and revisit the game.
Regrettably, the lack of being able to see other players’ times across the world, or even little ghost Mario’s like in Super Mario Wonder, renders this a little flat. If you do choose to jump back in and play in this mode, it adds another roughly three hours to the game.
When playing as Toad with your second player, two keys appear in each level and both players have to work together to get both. This does change the mode to Classic and can’t be shifted, which means one strike and you’re out. If you are playing with someone new to gaming, like I did, then you may find this extremely challenging.
Look the Part
Visually, Mario vs. Donkey Kong shines with stunning graphics and benefits from a rather iconic art style. It is the perfect setup for a new Donkey Kong Country game that is otherwise horrendously overdue. The character models have received a modern facelift, fitting right into the DK Country and 2024 Mario aesthetic.
The cut scenes now include a story and are beautifully rendered and look great in both handheld on the OLED screen and in docked mode. There are times when the controls just astonishingly kind of glitch out, and your well-timed jump on a monkey’s tail to grab a collectible just doesn’t happen. This doesn’t happen enough to break the experience, but enough to be memorably annoying.
Final Thoughts
Mario vs. Donkey Kong was the remake no one was expecting but, is certainly an extremely welcome one in 2024. Delivering a delightful blend of nostalgia and innovation, fans of the original on the Game Boy Advance will enjoy and appreciate the amount of care that has been put into this re-working of the game. That being said, it’s also extremely accessible for newcomers to the series and for fans of all ages. With its upgraded visuals and addictive puzzle gameplay, it’s a worthy addition to any Mario fan’s collection.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Satisfying gameplay; Plenty of variety through upgrades; Slick and vibrant visuals
Lowlights: Controls aren’t always in sync; Lacks and online functionality
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Available: Now
Review conducted on the Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher.
