I often joke that Nintendo has perfected the fine art of selling me the same games over and over again via clever sequels and next-gen remakes, and, while there may be a little truth to that, it seems that the Big N has recently entered an exciting new epoch; now they’re selling me updated versions of games that I know I enjoyed… but can’t exactly remember.
It’s rather like watching a movie on a coast-to-coast redeye flight; I recall the overall shape and color, and I know that I dug it, but I can’t quite recollect the details.
Such was the case with (the appropriately titled) Another Code: Recollection, and I found myself in a similar situation with this week’s new release, Mario vs. Donkey Kong. I know I played the original on the GBA—some *gasp* 20 years ago—and I know I had a lot of fun with it, but I could’ve sworn the game was a simple Lemmings-style strategy puzzler!
Now, that is definitely an element of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, but it’s only one small part of what this unique title has to offer.
Donkey Kong, it would seem, has lost his banana-loving mind over the new Mini-Mario toys, and he’s absconded with the factory’s entire stock of these wind-up marvels. Obviously, it falls to Mario to liberate them with some inspired puzzle-platforming.
Each themed world is split up into eight levels. First, there are the initial six two-part levels—with the first phase involving Mario acquiring a key to unlock a door, and the second seeing him actually collect a missing Mini-Mario—followed by the aforementioned shepherding of the Minis to their toybox, and finally a boss battle against DK himself. Sure, it’s not a particularly elaborate setup, but it gets the job done while also mixing up the gameplay.
Counting all the secondary content and unlockables, that adds up to more than 130 levels of fast-paced platforming, obstacle dodging, and switch flipping, with each world providing some nicely cohesive theming, including familiar enemies from both parent franchises. Some of them even sport their own charming toy analogs. (Toy Shy Guy is the real MVP!)
In addition to Mario’s classic move set—jumping on/picking up enemies, employing that punishing Donkey Kong hammer, etc.—he can also swing on horizontal bars, combo jump, backflip, and even perform a handstand. The latter is especially useful as, in addition to setting up a special handstand flip, the handstand walk allows Mario to pass under falling items (like bricks and other debris) without sustaining damage.
With two difficulty levels (Classic and Casual), Mario vs. Donkey Kong recognizes the playstyles of a diverse audience, though, admittedly, even the less-challenging Classic Style—with its ample checkpoints and timer-free gameplay—tested my skills on a number of occasions. It also includes optional goals like a trio of red, yellow, and blue presents spread across each two-part core level to give completionists more bang for their proverbial buck.
Coupled with a new two-player mode—with player two controlling a helpful Toad—tricky Plus Worlds, devious Expert Levels, and Time Attack challenges, Mario vs. Donkey Kong always seemingly has something else to offer, but it still retains that bite-sized, pick-up-and-play aesthetic that typified so many of the best releases from throughout Nintendo’s storied handheld gaming legacy. But that barely scratches the surface of all the old-school gaming goodness on display.
Sure, its updated music and visuals clearly mark this as a Nintendo Switch release, but much of the underlying gameplay dates all the way back to Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Nintendo’s earliest arcade hits. With massive open worlds like Hyrule and countless Pokémon to collect in other first-party Switch releases, it’s really satisfying to see Nintendo stripping things back to these proverbial basics, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong is all the better for it.
Climbing vines, timing jumps, and avoiding enemies are some of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to traditional platformers, and so many generations later they still retain both their fun and their inherent challenge. Add in a switch mechanic (that can be used to cycle on and off appropriately colored platforms), moving conveyor belts, and a little follow-the-leader-style puzzling between Mario and his Minis, and it all magically morphs into something delightfully special.
Honestly, I enjoyed my time with Mario vs. Donkey Kong so much that I’ve been inspired to revisit the NES-era Donkey Kong titles, which, thanks to the NES library available through Nintendo Switch Online, are always thankfully close at hand. If you too relish those classic gameplay elements of pattern recognition, obstacle avoidance, and creative problem-solving, then Mario vs. Donkey Kong is likely just the game you’ve been looking for.
Somehow, decades later, the battle of Mario against his original rival still feels satisfying, as Mario vs. Donkey Kong manages to recapture all that original magic with plenty of modern bells and whistles that even younger gamers will appreciate.
Give the free demo a look, and if it scratches that old-school itch, pick up the full release when it drops this Friday, February 16.
Review materials provided by Nintendo of America. This post contains affiliate links. Watch out for those spikes!
