Mario vs. Donkey Kong Remake: A Fusion of Nostalgia and Innovation
Mario vs. Donkey Kong makes a triumphant return to the Nintendo Switch as a full-fledged remake of the classic 2004 title that originally debuted on the Game Boy Advance. While the original game was an iconic production of the GBA era, the new remake may well be the primary reason why the original has not yet been added to the library of games available on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is an evolution of classic arcade games featuring Donkey Kong, combining familiar platforming gameplay with unique puzzle-solving elements.
Upon watching the opening scenes of the game, the first differences are immediately noticeable. Twenty years ago, we embarked on the adventure of Mario vs. Donkey Kong with a charming illustration presentation that told the story of the game. Now, we have a fully animated cutscene that faithfully reflects the original. We see Donkey Kong at home, lounging on the couch and flipping through television channels when suddenly a toy called “Mini Mario” appears in an advertisement. Enthralled by the new product, DK rushes to the store, only to find out that the toy is sold out (a situation surprisingly familiar to amiibo collectors). Disappointed by the lack of inventory, Mario’s nemesis breaks into the Mario Toy Company factory and steals Mini Mario figures straight from the production line. Mario, in pursuit, catches him in the act and embarks on a chase to retrieve the stolen goods.
Despite Charles Martinet stepping down from voicing Mario in mid-2023, we can once again hear his distinctive voice in Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Most of the sound effects are taken from the original GBA version of the game but without compression and with significantly improved audio quality. It will be interesting to see if Nintendo will continue using archival voice recordings by Martinet in future remakes and re-releases of Mario games or if a new voice actor, Kevin Afghani, will assume the role in all future projects. Regardless, I am delighted that this aspect of the game has remained unchanged.
When it comes to gameplay, one of the biggest changes is the removal of the score counter. Achieving a perfect completion of a level and obtaining a golden star no longer requires defeating all enemies and reaching the end as quickly as possible. Now, you just need to collect three presents scattered throughout the level before time runs out. Obtaining these presents often requires additional puzzle-solving skills, which are not necessary for completing the level and reaching Mini Mario at the end (which is the main objective).
Unlike traditional platformers, in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, you can see the entire level at once. If a level is too complex to fit on the screen, you can use the free-scrolling mode to see everything around you and plan your next move. For example, if there is a key somewhere on the level and a door with a lock in another place, you need to find a way to retrieve the key and bring it to the door to open it. There are often multiple solutions to 100% complete a level.
Playing as Mario, you can jump, crouch, handstand, flip, pick up and throw objects and enemies, activate color switches, swing on wires, climb ladders, ropes, and chains using just two buttons and the left joystick. The controls are responsive, and the difficulty level gradually increases with the introduction of new enemies and obstacles. If you touch something you shouldn’t, you lose a life and start from the beginning of the section. However, in “Casual” mode, which can be toggled at any time from the pause menu, Mario turns into a bubble and returns to where you left off before taking damage.
Similar to the main Super Mario game series, the levels in Mario vs. Donkey Kong are divided into worlds with different themes. The remake includes two brand-new locations not found in the original game, namely Merry Mini-Land and Slippery Summit. In each world, there are six regular levels, followed by a Mini Mario level and a DK level. The Mini Mario levels involve guiding an army of Mini Marios through areas that Mario himself couldn’t pass through, collecting three letter blocks from the word “TOY,” and bringing them to a toy box. The DK levels are intense boss battles where you must avoid various attacks from Donkey Kong and deal enough damage to defeat him.
While Mario vs. Donkey Kong may not be the most graphically impressive game on the Switch, the difference between the remake and the original is colossal. The technology used in game development has undoubtedly advanced over the past two decades. This means that almost none of the old sprites, models, or assets could be reused, and practically everything in the game had to be built from scratch. The visual style retains the charm of the original while presenting more modern interpretations of iconic worlds and characters. Of course, many animations had to be completely rebuilt, as watching Mario burn in 16-bits was already terrifying enough, and an HD version of that scene would be a nightmare. Thank you, Nintendo, for taking on the remaster and delivering this exceptional game on the new console.
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The source of the article is from the blog meltyfan.es