Pros: higley addcitive puzzle game action
Cons: The orginal gameboy was better, Mario dosen't shut up.
The bottom line: Mario VS Donkey Kong, I thought we all ready at that fight on super smash bros.
I got Mario VS Donkey Kong a few months ago because I wanted to try it out. Now if you don’t know Mario VS Donkey Kong is a sequel of sorts to the gameboy Donkey Kong. And the Gameboy Donkey Kong was kind of a remake (or I should say remix) of the popular arcade game Donkey Kong. The original Gameboy game had the first few levels of the arcade Donkey Kong and then after that it went into an action puzzle game where Mario would have to find the key to get out of every level. Now that a sequel is hear on the GBA Mario VS DK is it worth getting.

Story.
Well since it would look like Mario was two timing Peach his old girlfriend Pauline has been completely removed from the picture and instead there are now Mini Marios that are the things that Mario is out to rescue. It seems that Mario as gotten so popular in the mushroom kingdom that he has a wind up toy made in his image and the ad campaigns to sell them has worked to well on Donkey Kong. Since all the stores are sold out Donkey Kong goes to the source the Mario toy factory and swiped all the mini Mario’s. Now it’s up to Mario to get all the mini Mario’s back from the greedy ape.

Graphics.
The graphics are well done on the GBA, rather then an old classic look they gave Mario and Donkey Kong 3d looking sprites. There nice and rounded out and even though the GBA is a 2d console they are given quite a lot of depth. The backgrounds of the stages are also nicely done and fit each scenario.

Sound.
We get a few nice remixes of some of the classic music from the arcade game and I like the blending of the Super Mario Bros and Donkey Kong themes at the title screen. There are a few new tunes as well and there pretty catchy to when you can hear them above the VA’s. If there is one negative spin I have to put in the game is there are way to many voice clips. Mario, DK, and the Mini Mario’s never shut up. Each move done by Mario as a whoop or a holler to it. Mario even talks through the credits at the end of the game and a few of his quotes makes you wonder if Mario next film will be called Brokeback Plunger. Oh well there is always the mute button.

Gameplay.
All right there are two parts of the game the first quest and the 2nd quest of the game. In the first areas of the game Mario will have to find the key and get it to the door before time runs out. These play like puzzles from the first one you will have to hit switches and use converior belts to try to get the key to the door. Then there is a 2nd part to each stage in which Mario will have to find a Mini Mario and pick it up to move on. At the end of every stage before the boss fights Mario will have a lemmings type stage where he will have to guide all the mini Mario’s he found to the toy box and pick them up. The more you get in the box the more hits you will have against Donkey Kong. Each fight with Donkey Kong as a theme around it to. You will have to usually find something and throw it at him but the way you get the items and the way you throw it at him may change. Sometimes he may have switches that change the platforms or, he can make things like the barrels disappear. If you succeed in KO’ing the monkey it’s off to the next stage.

Each world also as a theme that Mario will have to get around to get the keys, like climbing vines or dodging lasers. And after he completes the first 6 worlds and beats Donkey Kong he moves on the + world, same theme different type of puzzles. In the + worlds instead of finding and carrying keys Mario will have to guide mini Mario’s to the lock door and have them open it for him. The mini Mario’s can’t climb latter’s so he will have to guide him to springs or have them stand on boxes to get them to the door. If the mini Mario’s get hit you loose a live and have to start all over.

Like the original Gameboy there are bonus stages that can be unlocked by finding three items in the stage. This time they come in forms of presents. Get all 3 presents and it’s off to a bonus stage to try to win 1-ups.

Finally despite a few challenging stages the overall game is actually a bit easier then the original Donkey Kong game of the Gameboy. Mainly because there are fewer boss fights and the puzzles seem a bit simpler. Especially seeing how DKJR has been taken out, no more worrying about getting killed because he’s busy flipping switches. Not saying that the game is a cake walk but it’s a lot easier then the original game.

Final Recommendation.
If you’re a big fan of the gameboy version of Donkey Kong then Mario VS DK is right up your alley. If you haven’t tried the game play out it’s not a bad place to start because it looks like Nintendo is cranking out sequel to this for the DS.