Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Developer: NST
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo DS
Release Date: September 25, 2006
Posted: July 5, 2008
The top screen shows the current level's progress; including collected cards, current puzzle, number of mini Marios, collective score, remaining time, and held blocks.Similar to the original Donkey Kong game from the arcade days and sequel to Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis no longer features Mario as the main playable character. Instead, he sends out mini robots of himself out to do his dirty work. In return, Donkey Kong has thrown his own mini mechanical army out into the field against the mini Mario hordes. It is up to Mario and his mechanical clones to rescue Pauline, as per the original title.
The story starts off with the opening of a mini machine toy theme park, during which Mario’s lady friend breaks Donkey Kong’s heart. He then steals her away to the top floor of the amusement park, at which point Mario enlists the toys to assist him in order to reach the damsel.
The game is graphically appropriate. Little mini mechanics are proportionately cute; even the enemies. Almost makes me not want to kill them… almost. Jazzed-up traditional and new Mario tunes are played in every level; the sound effects vary from the reminiscent to new and are as adorable as the characters.
Game play is based off of that of Donkey Kong: there are obstacles that must be avoided in order to survive to the end of each area. Each level is a puzzle in which the player must manipulate the level to allow the mechanical Marios to pass through the exit gate and to safety. All of the controlling is done with the stylus, making it very quick and easy to pick-up. Simple movements with the stylus will make the robots start and stop walking, turn around, and jump. Once tapped to move, the robots will continue on their way without a second thought, even if it sends them straight to their demise; dedicated little machines.
Using the D-Pad will allow the player to move the camera.
Each level’s selection screen contains four elements: the puzzle levels, a tutorial section, a bonus mini-game, and the boss. In total there are eight floors comprised of nine puzzles each, and access to puzzles is restricted until the previous puzzle has been successfully completed. To unlock the level’s bonus stage, all of the playing cards that can be found throughout the puzzles must be collected to spell “Mini Mario.” In the bonus mini games you need do little more than smash shy guys to your heart’s content. Once all puzzle levels have been completed, the boss himself becomes available. In the boss level, you fight Donkey Kong himself, and this mostly involves launching the mini Mario bots across the screen to hit Donkey Kong. The further along in the game the more objects Donkey Kong will throw, making it more difficult to hit him. He only can take six hits, and you have however many Marios you saved while completing the puzzle levels, up to 25.
To defeat Donkey Kong, avoid the falling projectiles and aim for the ape!As the player completes puzzles, new items, environments, and obstacles will be introduced. For each one of these, a mini-tutorial help file will be unlocked to showcase how to utilize, or avoid, the new object. These are very helpful, especially because they are available to be viewed only once the new object first appears.
Depending on each level’s score, the player will be awarded a bronze, silver, or gold star. There are three bonuses that can positively influence this score; chaining the Marios into the end gate one after another for Perfect Chain, never stopping the Marios from moving once they have been started for Nonstop, and All Minis which requires all of the Mario toys to make it to the end gate. It is relatively impossible to obtain a gold star if you do not obtain the Nonstop bonus.
In addition to the eight floors, there is a final boss top floor and a basement bonus area. To access the basement you need 40 silver stars for level one and 40 gold starts for level two. The final boss and first basement bonus are traditional Donkey Kong levels where you are at the bottom with Mario robots and must climb ladders whilst dodging barrels and fire to attack Donkey Kong.
Alongside the Main Game is a Construction Zone that you will periodically earn new pieces for throughout play. In this mode you are encouraged to try your hand at building your own puzzle levels. The levels that you create can also be shared with others of the DS Wi-Fi system.
In the end, everybody wins because all of the mini toys are too adorable. That is always an acceptable resolution.
TLDR: Similar to the first Mario vs. Donkey Kong on the Gameboy Advance, this Mario installment will meet the player with a fair amount of fun and intricate puzzles, but not much difficulty.
