Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Last updated
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Mario vs. Donkey Kong logo.png
Logo from 2013 until 2023
Genre(s) Puzzle-platform
Developer(s) Nintendo Software Technology
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Platform(s) Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch
First release Mario vs. Donkey Kong
May 24, 2004
Latest release Mario vs. Donkey Kong
February 16, 2024
Parent series Mario
Donkey Kong

Mario vs. Donkey Kong [lower-alpha 1] is a puzzle-platform game series published by Nintendo. A spin-off of both the Mario and Donkey Kong franchises, the series marks the return of both Pauline and the rivalry between Mario and Donkey Kong.

Contents

Mario vs. Donkey Kong , released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance, was followed by March of the Minis for the Nintendo DS, Minis March Again on DSiWare, Mini-Land Mayhem in 2010 for the DS, Minis on the Move for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013, and Tipping Stars for the Wii U and 3DS in 2015. The latest title, a remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong , was released on Nintendo Switch in 2024. [1]

Development

The history of the series can be traced back to the Game Boy version of the original Donkey Kong. Adding new abilities for Mario and 96 new levels, the game brought new emphasis to the puzzle element of the game's concept.

At E3 2002, a title called Donkey Kong Plus was put on display. During the show, Plus had a feature that allowed players to design and save their own levels on the GameCube, then copy them to the Game Boy Advance using a link cable. It was essentially an updated version of Donkey Kong '94 , but the game had disappeared by the following year. It was replaced with the pre-rendered graphics and gameplay additions of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. The Create-a-Level feature was removed from this version, but appears in its sequel. A level editor still exists within the game's programming, and can be enabled through a modification. [2]

Main games

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series release timeline
2004 Mario vs. Donkey Kong
2005
2006 March of the Minis
2007
2008
2009 Minis March Again!
2010 Mini-Land Mayhem!
2011
2012
2013 Minis on the Move
2014
2015 Tipping Stars
2016 Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Mario vs. Donkey Kong [lower-alpha 2] is a 2004 puzzle-platform game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and released for the Game Boy Advance. The game is the spiritual successor to Donkey Kong , which was released in 1994 for the Game Boy.

The game concept revolves around a combination of platform and puzzle elements, challenging Mario to find keys, reach a locked door, and rescue mini-Marios.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong was a return to the earlier arcade-style games that incorporated many elements from the Game Boy version. While its style was that of other games, the Rare design for Donkey Kong carried over. Donkey Kong, originally a villain, returns to this role in the game: wanting a Mini Mario clockwork toy, he finds that they are sold out at a local toy store. Enraged, he terrifies the Toads at the factory and steals the toys. This sets up the game's plot, where Mario chases Donkey Kong until he can take the Mini Marios back from Donkey Kong.

The game has hidden e-Reader support. [2] [3] Nintendo held a competition in Japan in which cards were distributed to 1,000 participants. Five level cards were released by CoroCoro Comic and another card was given away at the 20th World Hobby Fair. [4] [5] The game can save up to 12 extra levels. [2]

A remake of the original game was released on February 16, 2024, for Nintendo Switch. [6]

March of the Minis!

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis! [lower-alpha 3] is the sequel to the Game Boy Advance game Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a follow-up to the Game Boy Donkey Kong game, though it is more puzzle-oriented, now that the player controls several Mini Marios with the touch screen instead of Mario himself. The game also features the return of Pauline, whose last appearance was in the 1994 Donkey Kong 94 for the Game Boy; a 100 level sequel, to the original Donkey Kong . It features Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The DS Download Station Series 3 set of games features a short demo of the game. This is the sixth Mario game for the Nintendo DS.

Minis March Again!

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! [lower-alpha 4] is a puzzle video game for the Nintendo DSi. It is the third game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. It was released via the Nintendo DSiWare download service in North America on June 8, 2009, [7] in Europe on August 21, [8] and in Japan on October 7. It is the first DSiWare game to feature a level editor in which players can create custom-made levels and send them to players on other devices via a wireless Internet connection. [9]

Mini-Land Mayhem!

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! [lower-alpha 5] is a puzzle video game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. The game was released in North America on November 14, 2010. It is the fourth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.

Tipping Stars

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars [lower-alpha 6] is a puzzle video game for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and the sixth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. It was released in March 2015 on the Nintendo eShop for all regions, although it was also available at retail in Japan. This is the first Nintendo-published title to support a cross-purchase concept.

A possible entry for the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series for the Wii U was displayed as a demo at GDC 2014. It was developed with Nintendo Web Framework to show their capabilities. Like the other entries, the goal of each level is to guide the Mini Marios to the exit, creating paths through the positioning of platforms and other interactions with the setting made through the Wii U GamePad. The first level shows the basic capabilities of the program, but the second has more complex lighting effects and animations. [10] The game was released as downloadable Wii U eShop title. [11]

Other games

Minis on the Move

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move [lower-alpha 7] is a puzzle video game for the Nintendo 3DS and is the fifth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Unlike in previous entries, Donkey Kong no longer has an antagonistic role and instead serves as one of the game's hosts along with Mario and Pauline. Using the touch screen, players must place blocks on a grid to guide the Mini characters to the end of each course. It was released exclusively via the Nintendo eShop download service on May 9, 2013, in Europe and North America and July 24 in Japan. [12] [13] [14]

Amiibo Challenge

Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge , a free downloadable game for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, was released on April 28, 2016. This game has similar gameplay to the previous Mario vs. Donkey Kong games, and allows players to unlock various characters—including Mini versions of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Diddy Kong, Yoshi, and Rosalina—by scanning their respective Amiibo figures. [15]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: マリオVSドンキーコング, Hepburn: Mario tai Donkī Kongu
  2. ↑ Japanese: マリオVSドンキーコング, Hepburn: Mario tai Donkī Kongu
  3. ↑ Japanese: マリオVSドンキーコング2 ミニミニ大行進!, Hepburn: Mario tai Donkī Kongu tsū Mini Mini dai Kōshin!, lit. Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: Mini Mini Grand Prix!
  4. ↑ Japanese: マリオVSドンキーコング ミニミニ再行進!, Hepburn: Mario tai Donkī Kongu Mini Mini sai Kōshin!, lit. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini Mini March!
  5. ↑ Japanese: マリオvs.ドンキーコング 突撃!ミニランド, Hepburn: Mario vs. Donkī Kongu Totsugeki! Mini Rando, lit. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Assault!
  6. ↑ Japanese: マリオ vs. ドンキーコング　みんなでミニランド, Hepburn: Mario vs. Donkī Kongu Minna de Minirando, lit. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Everyone in Miniland
  7. ↑ Japanese: マリオ & ドンキーコング ミニミニカーニバル, Hepburn: Mario & Donkī Kongu Minimini Kānibaru, lit. Mario & Donkey Kong: Mini Mini Carnival

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References

  1. ↑ Vogel, Mitch (13 January 2016). "Mini Mario And Friends Amiibo Challenge Launches In Japan This Month". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mario vs. Donkey Kong". The Cutting Room Floor. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Cards". Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Mario vs. Donkey Kong Card e+". Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Undumped". e-Reader Encyclopedia. No-Intro. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  6. ↑ Brian (2023-09-14). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong announced for Switch". Nintendo Everything. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  7. ↑ "March, Fight and Fish Your Way to World Domination". Nintendo of America. 2008-06-08. Archived from the original on 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  8. ↑ "Mini Marios march onto Nintendo DSiWare, and Pilotwings takes flight on Virtual Console!". Nintendo of Europe. 2009-08-18. Archived from the original on 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  9. ↑ Chiappini, Dan (2009-06-02). "Mario vs. Donkey Kong return exclusively to DSiWare". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  10. ↑ Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Wii U Demo Playable at GDC Archived 2014-03-20 at the Wayback Machine . Mario Party Legacy. Retrieved on 2014-05-12.
  11. ↑ McMahon, Conor (10 June 2014). "E3 2014: New Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Title Marching For Wii U In 2015". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move for Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo. Archived from the original on 2013-07-16. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  13. ↑ East, Thomas (2013-04-17). "3DS News: Mario And Donkey Kong: Minis On The Move release date confirmed". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. Archived from the original on 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  14. ↑ NintendoJPofficial (2013-07-02). "ちょっとNintendo Direct Wii U/ニンテンドー3DS ダウンロードソフト 2013.7.3". YouTube (in Japanese). Google. Archived from the original on 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  15. ↑ "Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge – Characters". Archived from the original on 2020-11-21. Retrieved 2016-04-20– via www.youtube.com.
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