Mario vs. Donkey Kong review: the Nintendo Switch enters its filler era

Mario vs. Donkey Kong MSRP $50.00 Score Details “Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a fun, if unremarkable way to kill time while you wait for the Nintendo Switch 2.” Pros Cons With Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the video game industry’s current remake craze has reached a tipping point. We’re no longer just seeing foundational classics modernized to maintain their historical impact; everything is on the table, so long as it can help plug holes in a publisher’s product release schedule.

Square one While the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series never rose to the heights of spinoff franchises like Mario Kart, there was a 12-year period where Nintendo was all-in on the series. Seven entries launched within that time frame, spanning the Game Boy Advance to the Wii U. It would be tempting to label it a “dead series” in need of a reboot due to its eight-year absence, but that would be a premature diagnosis. It hasn’t skipped multiple console generations, unlike other Nintendo series.

The development team seems aware of how frustrating that reliance on perfect execution in an imperfect game can be. It’s clear that the remake has young players in mind. That’s reinforced by a few additions in the remake, including co-op play that’s perfect for parents and a Casual mode that’s far more forgiving. While it won’t challenge older players much, Mario vs. Donkey Kong works better as an approachable, kid-friendly puzzler that anyone can pick up.

The only thing that feels like a missed opportunity here is that the package doesn’t include any of the original’s lost levels, which have an odd history. The game originally supported Nintendo’s e-Reader peripheral. Players could scan cards to unlock two additional levels. However, only five of those cards were seemingly released, and the functionality was cut from the European version of the game entirely.

I can’t help but wonder if that small change was an attempt to squeeze more replay value out of a short game repackaged with a hefty $50 price tag. Time Attack technically doubles the potential runtime for completionists, but through forced repetition. It all leads me back to my feeling that the project’s main function is to help fill a potential software drought on the road to the Switch 2.

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