Customer Reviews

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First and foremost, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the successor in gameplay to an old original Game Boy title simply called Donkey Kong, often referred to as Donkey Kong '94 to avoid confusion with the original arcade classic. In that excellent game, the object of each level was to acquire a key and make your way to a locked door to proceed to the next level. However, the puzzles were often very devious and required much thought. At the end of each world, you would have to battle Donkey Kong in order to move on to the next world.

Not much has changed since then, since Mario vs. Donkey follows the same basic format with a few twists. The new aspect of each level is that there are actually two parts with two different objectives to each level. In the first half of the level, you have to get the key in order to unlock the door in typical Donkey Kong '94 fashion. You have to manuever around enemies and spike pits to reach your objective, as well as climbing ropes similar to Donkey Kong Jr., using special-colored switches to make platforms appear, and working with conveyor belts. In the second half of each stage, you have to make your way to a Mini-Mario toy (an aspect of the simple and strange storyline). There are also three presents in each level that, if collected, will give you a chance to win extra lives at the end of each level.

The one major problem I have with the game is the controls. For the most part, they are very good, but they can be unresponsive sometimes, leading to unnecessary deaths and frustrated players. The ropes also tend to give me a fit, since you jump off in different ways depending on if you are grasping one or reaching out for another.

The challenge is very good. The first four worlds serve as an introduction, as the game doesn't start getting difficult until the fifth out of six worlds. The first four may lull you into a sense of false security, but when you get to the fifth, you'll start losing lives like crazy. The puzzles often require quite a bit of thinking and strategy. You can't just breeze through this game without a bit of thought and planning.

The game will keep you busy for quite a while. The box says that there are only six worlds, which is a bit misleading. After you finish the six worlds, you will unlock six more worlds with the same themes but different stages. In addition to this, there are many "Expert" levels that you can unlock by aquiring the high score in the normal levels. And believe me, these high scores are often not easy to get.

The graphics in the game are pretty nice, but they look a bit blocky. The backgrounds look great, though. The sound is a bit iffy, though. The music is wonderful and has many hummable themes, but the sound effects, especially Mario's voice, can be a bit grating.

All in all, the game is quite a bit of fun, and would be nearly perfect if the controls didn't have a habit of being unresponsive at key moments. It is a definite must-buy if you are a puzzle fan or have played and liked Donkey Kong '94.

Donkey Kong vs. Mario is more of a reminder of the Donkey Kong game released on the Gameboy in 1994. Interestingly enough, this combines the best of puzzles with action adventure and that means that the game will not only be fun, but addictive.

Donkey Kong vs. Mario begins with Donkey Kong watching TV and he sees an advertisement for the famous toy that everybody wants. A Mini-Mario. DK decides he wants one but when the toystore is sold out he goes into a rage and decides to steal some instead. Now as Mario you have to go and retrieve all the dolls that Donkey Kong has stolen.

The game presents puzzle mixed with Action/Adventure. It also has six worlds with eight levels each. Each level begins with Mario having to find a key in the first room, and the stolen Mario doll in the next. The first room is a straight out find the key. When you do its much like Super Mario Bros. 2 in which you have to pick up the key. In the next room you've got to dodge obstacles and enemies to get to the Mario doll.

DK vs. Mario has gameplay very similar to Super Mario Bros. 2. In fact, the enemies come from SMB2 and you can pick them up and throw them. That's not all, Mario has lots of moves he can pull off. Not the same old "jumpman" anymore. Now he can do backflips, hang and balance on telephone wires and do headstands. The headstands prevent damage from falling objects. Mario can also hang on vines like in Donkey Kong Jr.

Each world has seven levels. The first six are always straightforward puzzles. But the seventh level of every world Mario has to lead the rescued Mini dolls to a toy chest. This sounds easy but you must protect the dolls. They can be harmed by natural objects and enemies in the levels. In the eighth level you fight DK.

At first the game seems short. Considering the first few worlds are easy and the levels go by very fast. But after you complete the sixth world you unlock six MORE worlds with six levels each. These levels present more of a challenge.

So there is a lot to do in the game but as I said, the game really oes present little replay. Since the game is a puzzle, the puzzles aren't as fun to solve the second time around, especially considering you won't have to think becuase you already know.

The graphics are actually beautiful and look astonishing. Sometimes they look a little blocky but they're a reminder of the graphics on the GBA version of Donkey Kong Country, only more crisp and clear.

The sound is very good. Great tunes for the levels. But as with a lot of Mario games on the GBA you'll probably get tired of Mario screaming, grunting, groaning and all that stuff. In fact, Mario's voice is more annoying than usual in this game. At least the music in the levels will eventually drown out Mario's voice. It's too bad that you can't turn it off.

Overall Donkey Kong vs. Mario is a remarkably fun game. The puzzles are fun and addictive. What the game lacks in replayability more than makes up for the amount of time you'll spend on it.

Story: DK loves the new mini mario toys so much he went to the factory and stole all the mini mario toys. Help mario rescue the mini mario toys and kill DK.

In each level, you must find a key, unlock the door, and rescue the mini mario toy . But while doing this you must overcome puzzle challenges by pressing switches, using moving platforms, and ladders. Also while killing certain enemies and dodging other enemies using mario's different moves.

Once you do this in each level in a world, you must guide the mini mario toys past enemies and through obstacles into a toy box. The toys will follow Mario anywhere, but the only things they can do are move and jump. Using switches and springs, control Mario to lead the mini mario toys into a toy box. Then you must beat DK to complete the world.

Do this in 6 increasingly difficult levels to beat the game. But once you do that, you unlock 6 new worlds at a higher difficulty level, and by getting a lot of high scores you can unlock even more worlds at an even higher difficulty level.

This game is very fun, very addicting, very challenging, and will last a long time. Mario vs. Donkey Kong deserves 5 stars for sure!

Very interesting game. Good thing is that it is made of small and separate challenges. Continue feature allows you to start at the challenge you left off. Dont need to start all over again. Will save your game. Graphics and sound are excellent. Very addictive. Good for both kids and adults.

This is a revamped game concept from the somewhat known gameboy game "Donkey Kong(1994, not the original)". This game was an amazing game at the time to me. There's a puzzles in each level kind of and you have the chase Donkey Kong down. I forgot the storyline in the original 1994 game. I've always borrowed it from some friends about ten years ago.

The new storyline is quite funny and absurd. Donkey wants these Mini Mario becaue he saw them on a commercial on TV and I guess he's really bored and the psychology of the TV makes him and everyone else want these toys. He goes to the store and finds that the little Marios are sold out. He's furious and looks across the street to find the Mario Toy Company. He bust up the toadies and steals lots of Mario toys. Mario is angered ,and he wants the toys back. OK. He chases Donkey Kong down through quite a few levels and catches a mini Mario at the end of each level...once he gets six, Mario must go through a level and lead all the toys in a box...this makes an interesting concept where you must lead the toys and collect letters T-O-Y(like Tony hawk with SKATE) and must be led to a toy chest. Good concept.

The levels are great with conveyor belts, switches, keys, shy guys, birds, etc. Some of the levels are a little easy...some hard...some in between. Mario always banters like he does in Mario 64 with h9is "Mama mias." and etc.

If this sounds good to you...buy it. Because it's quite fun and there's a classic 94 and even 80's feel to the levels, great graphics, mario's banter,etc. The only drawback really is there's not much replay value...it'll only last so long before you beat the game. But you can stop playing anytime and pick off where you left off...it's not like an RPG where you have to play forever.

I don't really care for action games and missed classic Donkey Kong a lot!! This is much better and improved... actually requires thinking, planning, and strategy. I bought the Game Boy Advance SP just for this revival of Donkey Kong :). In the beginning it seems too easy... it's not a horribly hard game either, but it's not about killing or fighting, and that I do like.

The high resolution graphics are awesome on this game. This strategy game will turn your brain to mush. The first five levels are easy, but progress to get harder. There is another 6 worlds and six levels in each world after you complete the first set of 6 worlds. The second set does get tricky and hard! I would recommend this game to any Mario fan or people who love the original Donkey Kong! This game has plenty of hours of enjoyment! This game easily would win for the GBA Game of the year!

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a nice game, nothing really special. I've played better Mario games in the past. The game play was okay and the game itself gets boring after a while. I don't own the game myself (I've only played it from my older brother). But, I wouldn't really recommend it if you're really looking for one of those pick up and play games.

Donkey Kong, a smash hit in the arcades, got a Game Boy version that improved over the original by a lot. It was no wonder it sold so well back then. 10 years later, Mario Vs Donkey Kong comes in as a sequel to that Game Boy classic. Of course, since it's a sequel, it would have the same gameplay as Donkey Kong.

The main gameplay has Mario go fetch a key and then use the key to open up a locked door to move on. The levels are clever, fun to play, and just downright cool. In fact, Mario can use acrobatic skills to help him through the levels. He can somersault, flip, and perform handstand jumps.

This game includes all new levels, enemies, and puzzles. There are also some elements that were fixed or renewed from Donkey Kong, such as adding hit points in the bosses, and a counter for when the key will disappear.

In every world, before the boss, there's a level where you need to lead the Mini Marios into a toy chest. Of course, you must progress skillfully through the level to get to the chest.

After beating the last world (World 6), there are now 6 more worlds named Plus worlds, in which you must guide the Mini Mario (cleverly) to the door. If the Mini Mario dies, so do you. There are also several unlockable Expert levels that you can access by getting stars in the regular levels.

Overall, it's a challenging successor to an update of the classic arcade game that started everything Mario.

Mario versus Donkey Kong revisits the formula that gave a previous generation one of the best Game Boy titles ever, Donkey Kong '94. Using the tried and true formula of Donkey Kong standing at the top of the screen and throwing things at Mario, the game will be immediately familiar to those who played that now-ancient Game Boy title. For younger gamers, you'll find Mario with a host of abilities beyond merely jumping on someone's head, all while trying to defeat the rampaging gorilla with a very loose set of values.

The plot of Mario versus Donkey Kong is somewhat child-like, with Donkey Kong stealing a bunch of Mini Mario toys and Mario needing to retrieve them. The gameplay is fairly complex, thanks to the large number of moves that Mario has at his disposal. You'll be performing backflips, hand stands, and walking tight ropes in an attempt to defeat Donkey Kong through about 100 levels. While that sounds absolutely huge as a game, each level can usually be bypassed in 30 seconds or less. As a result, the game becomes something of a long series of similarly-themed mini-games, with Mario solving quick puzzles and dodging enemies on his way to the top of the screen.

The overall entertainment value of Mario versus Donkey Kong is excellent. It will provide you with several hours of light, fun gameplay that will hold a special appeal for older gamers. The game suffers somewhat from a simplicity of design and the fact that the action can get repetitive sometimes - you'll fight Donkey Kong about a dozen times, and only one or two of those fights will feel unique. Despite these flaws, this is definitely one of the better releases on the Game Boy Advance, and will give you a good amount of entertainment value for your dollar.