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Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Mario vs. Donkey Kong review

System: Switch
Release date: February 16, 2024
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo


For as much as Mario’s continued success can be traced back all the way to his debut in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, outside of the occasional professional sporting tournament, kart race or fistfight, he and the famous ape rarely share the screen these days as much as they used to. And it really isn’t Mario’s fault, now is it? How concerned can we expect him to be with a banana-obsessed gorilla while Bowser is off transforming into floating sentient castles in Super Mario Bros Wonder? That said, I’m pleased to report that the characters’ rivalry is still alive and well, brought to the forefront once again with this release of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. A remake of the titular 2004 Game Boy Advance puzzle-platformer that spawned its own series, this game sports both enhanced visuals and some new stages and modes. But is that enough to warrant a revisit and bring in new players, and how does this enhanced package hold up twenty years after the original?

Mario vs Donkey Kong icons

February 15: Going along with the release of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, new icons for the game have just been added to Nintendo Switch Online.

It looks like there’ll only be a couple of waves for this one. Still, subscribers can spend their My Nintendo Platinum Points on different designs. A bunch of characters – including Mario, Donkey Kong, and Toad – can be picked up for 10 Platinum Points each. Backgrounds and frames are going for 5 Platinum Points each.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong gameplay

Gameplay is here from the final build of Mario vs. Donkey Kong on Switch. This marks the return of the GBA title with new content and features.

As a reminder, here’s what to expect:

Mario vs. Donkey Kong launch trailer

Nintendo has come through with a launch trailer for Mario vs. Donkey Kong. The company is promoting the debut of its GBA remake.

You can find more details in the following overview:

Mario vs. Donkey Kong update 1.0.1

Mario vs. Donkey Kong isn’t out just yet, but Nintendo has already released a version 1.0.1 update for the game.

The patch addresses a specific issue in a couple of stages. Note that the fix is also live in the demo that recently went live.

Here’s the full rundown of the update from Nintendo:

Mario vs Donkey Kong demo

Starting today, Mario vs. Donkey Kong fans can get their hands on a brand new demo ahead of launch.

The demo can be accessed via the Switch eShop. It includes four levels from the first world of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the enhanced version of the Game Boy Advance. Also available is a first look at the new Two Player mode, where you can share one of your Joy-Con controllers with a friend and team up as Mario and Toad. That’s along with access to the game’s new difficulty settings in single-player mode – choose Classic Style to experience the same difficulty level as the original Game Boy Advance version or try out Casual Style with no time limit and the ability to restart from checkpoints.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong Setting the Scene

The promotion for the Mario vs. Donkey Kong Switch remake continues with a “Setting the Scene” trailer. We’re able to see the full opening cutscene for the game here.

If you need a refresher on the title, check out the following overview:

Mario vs. Donkey Kong details

Nintendo has passed along a new set of details for the Switch remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong and also issued a new “Pieces of the Puzzle” trailer.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong includes a Two-Player mode, Merry Mini-Land and Slippery Summit worlds, unlockable Plus Levels and Expert Levels, Time Attack, and the ability to choose Casual and Classic difficulties.

Here’s the full rundown:

Mario vs. Donkey Kong graphics comparison

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is back on Switch with a remake of the original GBA game, and a new graphics comparison video shows how the two versions stack up. This comes courtesy of GameXplain.

Not only did the development team update the in-game visuals, but the cutscenes as well. Although gameplay thus far seems to be largely similar to the original, it’s clear by a quick glance just how much the graphics have changed for the new Switch version.

Mario vs Donkey Kong Switch

After a number of years off, the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series is making a comeback with the just-announced Switch game. It will launch on February 16, 2024.

Nintendo made a number of entries in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series going back to the debut in 2004 on the Game Boy Advance. However, this is actually the first one on Switch. Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, which came out in 2016 for Wii U and 3DS, was the most recent entry (until now).


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