Mario Vs Donkey Kong

Mario and Donkey Kong are back in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, in a game that melds elements from several different Mario/Donkey Kong games, but also adds new content for a fresh take on an old puzzle classic.

The story is that Donkey Kong is watching TV, and sees an AD for a new toy, the Mini-Mario. The store is sold out, so Donkey Kong proceeds to the factory and swipes all the Mini-Marios and takes off with them. Mario is in hot pursuit, though, and is determined to leave no platform unexplored in his quest to collect all the stolen toys.

There are six worlds in the first part of the game, each with six main levels. These are divided into two sections, the first of which involves finding a key and using it in a keyhole to morph Mario into the second section, where he will try to free one of the Mini-Marios. After completing these six levels, a seventh level is opened, where Mario has to lead the six toys he's rescued to safety. Then on to a final level for a boss fight with Donkey Kong.

The first six levels are a mixture of puzzles and platform moves, much in the style of the Game Boy game Donkey Kong. However, there is also a lot of new content, much of which pays loving tribute to past games featuring Mario and Donkey Kong. Mario can pick up and throw enemies and helpful objects, jump from vines and use a hammer to clear out enemies. He can also do some amazing acrobatics, like jump from a handstand and swing on a bar. However, all these moves are only accessories to the main point of this game: figuring out how to open up blocked areas by hitting switches and moving keys around.

Each of the six main levels can be completed by finding the key and the Mini-Mario, but extra bonuses are awarded for topping the set high score and finding all three presents in the levels. If a player finds all three presents, there is a bonus game that can be played to win more lives. The bonus game is one of two different types of games, presented randomly, each of which is just a simple "mash the button" game to choose or swap boxes with hidden bonus lives. If the high score is beaten and all the presents are found, Expert Levels are opened.

As the levels in the beginning are easy and small in scope, the whole game at first glance may appear rather short. However, the levels become harder to solve, and once the initial game is finished, there is an additional six world area that is opened up, each with six main levels. Combine this with the expert levels, and there is quite a lot of game here for even the most experienced gamer.

Mario has a lot of new and improved moves besides his old ones, but each new move is introduced at the beginning of the level where it will first be used. These moves are demonstrated by a short movie, which plays over and over again until skipped by hitting the "B" button. An explanation of the new move can also be brought up by moving Mario through the Help icon in the level where it will need to be used.

The graphics are quite colorful and almost cartoon in nature, for a great look on the GBA. Mario and Donkey Kong have never looked so good on a handheld, and the motions are fluid and smooth. The songs are reminiscent of all the old games, and are quite nostalgic. There is also a lot of chatter going on, which while mostly unintelligible, is interspersed with comments like "hokey dokey" and other Mario-accented asides.

Again, the game may appear too short at first glance, but there is actually a great amount of gaming here, with all the unlockable content in the expert levels. The screens are not large, but the puzzles grow progressively harder, and will take many attempts to finish. Besides the regular levels, the Mini-Mario levels add a new twist with a Lemming approach to puzzle games: Mario must lead the Mini-Marios past obstacles without losing any, in order to be at full strength for the boss battle at final level in each world.