The beloved handheld classic Mario vs. Donkey Kong is making a comeback on the Nintendo Switch with a fresh coat of paint and new co-op capabilities, Nintendo revealed during today’s Direct livestream event.
The announcement came alongside a colourful trailer showcasing the game’s core premise and gameplay. After DK snatches the mini-Mario toys, we see the iconic plumber spring into action, running and jumping his way through puzzle-filled courses in pursuit.
Along the way, players must pay close attention to obstacles and use deductive reasoning to find solutions. In one section, Mario has to grab the tail of a wind-up monkey to safely cross a pit of spikes and reach a key on the other side. Catch the full video footage below.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong Nintendo Direct Trailer
Mario and Donkey Kong’s storied rivalry dates back to 1981’s arcade sensation Donkey Kong, where the titular ape first kidnapped Mario’s girlfriend Pauline. Though the two have since buried the hatchet and even become allies in series like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros., their legendary feud lives on through Nintendo’s Mario vs. Donkey Kong line of puzzle-platformers.
The series launched in 2004 on the Game Boy Advance with a game that blended elements of both genres. As Mario, players had to navigate stages and utilise his abilities like handstand jumps and backflips to find keys, manipulate structures, and defeat enemies. His goal: to rescue miniature toy versions of himself that Donkey Kong had pilfered in a fit of jealousy.
Several sequels followed over the years across multiple Nintendo platforms, with the last entry Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, landing on the Wii U in 2015. Now, the franchise’s roots are being revisited with a Switch remake of the original game set to release on February 16th, 2024.
New Co-Op Play Adds Fresh Twist
Veterans will feel right at home with Mario’s usual repertoire of moves, like bouncing on enemies’ heads, triggering switches, and utilising precise jumps and acrobatics to collect keys and rescue mini-Marios. But the remake has one new twist in store – full co-op support for two players, with the second character being Toad. Now friends can team up to take on the game’s challenges together as the heroic plumber and his trusty mushroom assistant.
Upon its original release, the title was praised as an underrated gem in the Game Boy Advance library. This remake will allow fans to either relive it with a fresh coat of paint or experience it for the first time when it launches for Switch next February.
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Whether you vividly remember the original or the name only rings a distant bell, the game’s re-release on Switch is a great chance to revisit this unique chapter in the never-ending rivalry between two of Nintendo’s most iconic mascots.
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong arrives on the Nintendo Switch on February 16th, 2024.
Source – Nintendo Direct YT
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