Not-so Mini Adventure:

After the success in Mario’s toy business he decides to open a theme park; ‘Super Mini Mario World’.

At the grand opening of the new park, the (alleged) Guest of Honour Pauline is snatched by Donkey Kong – one of Mario’s hairiest employees - in a fit of lust fuelled jealousy, and dragged into an elevator which proceeds to the top floor of the theme park. You’d have thought they would have checked Donkey Kong’s references before hiring him?!

Unsurprisingly Mario wants a piece of Pauline so vows to pursue Donkey Kong, stop him in his tracks and obviously dock his wages.

The intro movie visuals are excellent in the smooth cartoon style you expect with Mario titles utilising both screens on the DS nicely.

Minis, Do Battle!

Mario VS Donkey Kong 2 consists of many small levels which are grouped into floors of an elevator. The aim in each level is to return as many (if not all) of your Mini Toy Marios to a door inspirationally marked M. It’s relatively simple just to return your Mini Toy Marios to this door however the trick is in the points which you will earn by collecting coins or cards, by defeating enemies (which can be done if there are weapons available in the level) and by having time left over after level completion.

Once you have completed a level your scores are added and you are given a rating of either bronze, silver or gold. If you’ve collected all of the pick ups available then you’ll easily get a bronze rating.

However to have a hope of attaining are more valuable rating you need to aim for the bonus points. To get bonus points you must; finish with all your Mini Toy Marios, have all your Mini Toy Marios enter the completion door together (or within a few seconds of each other), and have completed the level without stopping any of your Mini Toy Marios once you have started to move them.

This last point can be especially tricky when you have got more than one Mini Mario moving at the same time.

After completing all 9 levels on a floor you will then unlock the floor’s Mini-game and once that is completed, the floor’s Boss. The Boss is always Donkey Kong however the game design and difficulty will obviously vary from floor to floor. Again with this Boss level your performance will be rated bronze, silver and gold.

When you proceed to a new floor you will encounter new level features and enemies to add further challenge and each new feature is explained in a short and clear tutorial video.

If you were especially quick at picking up this game and played it in a carefree manner; you could hope to complete all the available levels within about 10 hours. But it will take 3 to 5 times that long (at least) to properly complete the game, attaining all gold ratings and thus unlocking all the hidden levels.

If you are motivated by such goals then like most Mario games made, this is the one for you. However, it is not very deep and if you are trying to attain a gold rating in a particular level, it can become quite repetitive repetitive repetitive…

Mario VS Donkey Kong 2 is another good example of a game that will become your travelling companion as it’s pick up and play characteristics cannot be beaten elsewhere. However play on a crowded train at your peril: You will shout out “COCK!” at least once per journey.

Wearing Your Stylus Down:

Prepare to need spares as Mario VS DK 2 is totally reliant on the DS’ stylus. You will guide each Mini Mario with strokes of your stylus in the direction desired. Sweeping your stylus from south to north on your Mini Mario will cause it to jump and by tapping on your Mario will order him to stop (not to be used if you want that bonus!).

Frustratingly, with the controls, sometimes if you try and make your Mario jump you will accidentally interact with parts of the level. For instance your upward sweeping movement make cause some removable blocks underneath your Mini Mario to be removed thus destroying your plans! Also my Mario has stopped rather than change direction as I have wished which has inevitably resulted in me shouting loudly, apologising to young person next to me and then re-starting the level in search of that elusive bonus. (Not to mention moving to a seat away from the angry parents who now have to explain to their 5 year old who Mario is and why I think him such a “useless good for nothing bum biter”).

Views to please:

Graphically, Mario VS DK 2 isn’t groundbreaking however it seems that the DS has been taken to it’s visual limits so I can’t imagine to expecting any surprises during it’s no doubt highly successful life.

The cut-scene visuals are excellent with fitting music and the in game visuals are smooth and colourful however sometimes slightly pixelated due to the amount of level needed to be viewable on the screen at any one time.

Beats In Your Head:

Sound wise Mario VS DK 2 is to be expected with light hearted and shallow music which relevant and suitable for this type of game. I myself very rarely play on my DS with the sound – due mainly to the locations I am in – and like with most other DS games, Mario VS DK 2 does not suffer without sound.

Customization:

Not just a single player? In a Mario game? Well yes, and what’s more there’s not just a multi-card multiplayer. You can also make your own levels which can be traded with your friends and uploaded to Nintendo to make them available to anyone!

Summary:

This is a cute little game of spatial awareness and tactical consideration. The graphics are colourful and smooth, the music and sound more than suitable and successful. Although some will consider the requirement to attain gold stars in all the levels in order to truly complete the game a chore and transparent technique to increase the lifespan of Mario VS DK2 I personally found this set-in-stone target motivating to continue playing. Prepare to swear a lot but enjoy the satisfaction of success – for there is no real correct method, therefore the pride in completion is maximised.

The Scores:

Gameplay: 8 / 10 – It’s easy to pick up and a breath of fresh air from the norm, requiring a bit more brain power. Can be repetitive.

Graphics: 8 / 10 – Nothing ground breaking, but everything that it needs to be. Also, great cut-scene animation.

Sound: 8 / 10 – Nothing special however nothing awful either!

Multiplayer/Customisation: 8 / 10 – WiFi capable and greatly easy to use level customisation features.

Lifespan: 9 / 10 – If you enjoy this sort of thing, then it will last you for ages

Overall: 82%

Rank: B