Whether in jump'n'runs or kart racing, Mario is without question one of the most famous video game characters ever.
But in his very first appearance back in 1981, he was still in the shadow of Donkey Kong, the gorilla who threw barrels at a then unknown Italian plumber.
Today their dispute continues in the puzzle adventure “Mario vs. Donkey Kong” for the Nintendo Switch. Once again, players take on the role of Mario, who enters the toy business with wind-up mini Marios.
His adversary Donkey Kong is full of envy so he breaks into the factory and takes all the mini-figures he can find. Mario follows on his heels.
Unlike in Mario or Donkey Kong jump'n'run games, the two-dimensional levels here meant that you can't just sprint from left to right, but need to take a more tactical approach.
The path to the exit is blocked by obstacles that you first have to clear. If you press switches, certain walls and platforms disappear into thin air and, in the right combination, clear a path to the keys you need.
Once you've saved the first mini Marios, they will follow you wherever you go. However, this isn't necessarily an advantage, as they first have to be led through tricky levels to the exit. In boss fights you also duel with Donkey Kong, who, unsurprisingly, uses wooden barrels as projectiles.
For a new edition of a game that was released 20 years ago for the Game Boy Advance, “Mario vs. Donkey Kong” seems pretty modern on the Switch. That’s because the game principle still works today and also adds new worlds and a co-op mode.
If you like both classic Mario jumping and puzzles you’ll probably enjoy “Mario vs. Donkey Kong.” The game costs around €50/$50.
