Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again
Encyclopedia
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (formerly known as Mario vs. Donkey Kong 3) is a puzzle video game for the Nintendo DSi
. Announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009
, it is the third game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong
series. It was released via the Nintendo DSiWare download service in North America on June 8, 2009, in Europe on August 21, 2009 and in Japan on October 7, 2009. It is the first DSiWare game to feature a level editor
in which players can create custom-made levels and send them to players on other devices via a wireless Internet connection.
, Mario must lead his Mini-Mario toys to the end of the level. Like with Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
, players do not control Mario
but instead miniature wind-up versions of Mario, Princess Peach
, Toad
, and Donkey Kong—referred to as "Minis"—in order to rescue Pauline from the game's antagonist, Donkey Kong. In each level, players must get all their Minis to the end of the level at a designated exit while avoiding obstacles and enemies (mostly consisting of enemies from the other games in the Mario series
).
One difference of the predecessor Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
is that all of the end of level bonuses are now required. In the previous game, extra points were earned by getting all Minis to the exit, getting them to the exit with no long time intervals between any two Minis, and getting them to the exit without stopping any of them. In Minis March Again, the door is boarded up and the player fails the level if any Minis don't make it to the exit within a few seconds of another Mini getting to the exit, and none of the minis may be stopped or turned directly by the player. Only items and obstacles can be used to control their direction.
The game features a level editor
called the Construction Zone in which players can select the types and locations of power-up
s, enemies, and trap
s in custom-made levels. More items will be added, and more Characters will be unlocked as you progress through the main game. Players can then either play them locally or share them with friends on other Nintendo DSi devices via a wireless Internet connection. Changes to the level editor have been made such as increasing the number of levels one could create from only 8 stages in March of the Minis to 140 stages in Minis March Again. Also, unlike Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
, created and downloaded levels use the same counter; there can only be 140 levels between the two types.
The sequel, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! was released in November 2010.
ranked it as the 14th best DSiWare game, praising it for helping them become less disillusioned with the service after many of its titles proved to be rehashes of retail Nintendo DS games. They also praised it for being significantly more customizable than its predecessor. Nintendo World Report
editor Neal Ronaghan praised it for its content, level creator, and gameplay, though found fault in its boss battles. Game Focus editor Marko Djordjevic similarly praised it for these qualities, though thought it may have been too easy and felt like an expansion.
Nintendo DSi
The is a handheld game system created by Nintendo and launched in 2008 and 2009 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions. It is the third iteration of the Nintendo DS, and its primary market rival is Sony's PlayStation Portable...
. Announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009, commonly known as the E3 2009, was the 15th Electronic Entertainment Expo held. The event took place on June 2, 3, and 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. E3 is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment...
, it is the third game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a Game Boy Advance spiritual sequel to the first Donkey Kong game for Game Boy. The game concept revolves around a combination of platform and puzzle elements, challenging Mario to find keys, reach a locked door, and rescue mini-Marios. This game revives Mario and Donkey...
series. It was released via the Nintendo DSiWare download service in North America on June 8, 2009, in Europe on August 21, 2009 and in Japan on October 7, 2009. It is the first DSiWare game to feature a level editor
Level editor
A level editor is a software tool used to design levels, maps, campaigns, etc and virtual worlds for a video game. In some cases the creator of a video game releases an official level editor for a game, but other times the community of fans step in to fill the void...
in which players can create custom-made levels and send them to players on other devices via a wireless Internet connection.
Gameplay
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! features puzzle-solving gameplay, which was made popular in the previous two games in the series. Just as in the game LemmingsLemmings (video game)
Lemmings is a puzzle computer game developed by DMA Design and published by Psygnosis in . Originally developed for PC and Commodore Amiga, Lemmings was one of the most popular computer games of its time, and several gaming magazines gave it some of their highest review scores at the time...
, Mario must lead his Mini-Mario toys to the end of the level. Like with Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is the sequel to the Game Boy Advance game Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a follow up to the Game Boy Donkey Kong game, though it is more puzzle-oriented, now that the player controls several Mini Marios with the touch screen instead of Mario himself...
, players do not control Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
but instead miniature wind-up versions of Mario, Princess Peach
Princess Peach
is a character in Nintendo's Mario series of video games. She is the Princess of the fictitious Mushroom Kingdom, and often plays the damsel in distress role within the adventure series. In 2007, Princess Peach landed on Forbes magazine's Wealthiest Fictional People list, with a fortune upwards of...
, Toad
Toad (Mario)
Toad, known in Japan as , is a fictional character belonging to an anthropomorphic mushroom-like species of the same name in the Mario series, created by Shigeru Miyamoto. A citizen of the Mushroom Kingdom, Toad is one of Princess Peach's most loyal attendants and is constantly working on her behalf...
, and Donkey Kong—referred to as "Minis"—in order to rescue Pauline from the game's antagonist, Donkey Kong. In each level, players must get all their Minis to the end of the level at a designated exit while avoiding obstacles and enemies (mostly consisting of enemies from the other games in the Mario series
Mario (series)
The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
).
One difference of the predecessor Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is the sequel to the Game Boy Advance game Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a follow up to the Game Boy Donkey Kong game, though it is more puzzle-oriented, now that the player controls several Mini Marios with the touch screen instead of Mario himself...
is that all of the end of level bonuses are now required. In the previous game, extra points were earned by getting all Minis to the exit, getting them to the exit with no long time intervals between any two Minis, and getting them to the exit without stopping any of them. In Minis March Again, the door is boarded up and the player fails the level if any Minis don't make it to the exit within a few seconds of another Mini getting to the exit, and none of the minis may be stopped or turned directly by the player. Only items and obstacles can be used to control their direction.
The game features a level editor
Level editor
A level editor is a software tool used to design levels, maps, campaigns, etc and virtual worlds for a video game. In some cases the creator of a video game releases an official level editor for a game, but other times the community of fans step in to fill the void...
called the Construction Zone in which players can select the types and locations of power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
s, enemies, and trap
Trap (tactic)
A trap is a device intended to catch an intruder or prey. "Trap" may also refer to the tactic of catching or harming an adversary. Conversely it may also mean a hindrance for change, being caught in a trap.-Device:*Animal trapping*Bird trapping...
s in custom-made levels. More items will be added, and more Characters will be unlocked as you progress through the main game. Players can then either play them locally or share them with friends on other Nintendo DSi devices via a wireless Internet connection. Changes to the level editor have been made such as increasing the number of levels one could create from only 8 stages in March of the Minis to 140 stages in Minis March Again. Also, unlike Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is the sequel to the Game Boy Advance game Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a follow up to the Game Boy Donkey Kong game, though it is more puzzle-oriented, now that the player controls several Mini Marios with the touch screen instead of Mario himself...
, created and downloaded levels use the same counter; there can only be 140 levels between the two types.
Story
Mario and Pauline are selling Mini Mario toys. There is a long line. At the end of the line is Donkey Kong. As the line moves along, Donkey Kong finally ends up in the front. Just then, the Mini Mario toys run out. In rage, Donkey Kong snatches Pauline from Mario. As Mario trips and tears Pauline's dress in pursuit of them, he sees the Mini Mario toys standing before him. Thus, Mario gets the idea of using them to catch Donkey Kong. After the credits, a secret ending appears. When Mario defeats Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong turns out the lights, grabs Pauline again, and runs. Once again, Mario must get Pauline back. This time, the levels are more challenging and the minis will automatically start after tapping "start" and a three-second countdown.The sequel, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! was released in November 2010.
Development
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! was announced on June 2, 2009 by Nintendo during E3.Reception
IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
ranked it as the 14th best DSiWare game, praising it for helping them become less disillusioned with the service after many of its titles proved to be rehashes of retail Nintendo DS games. They also praised it for being significantly more customizable than its predecessor. Nintendo World Report
Nintendo World Report
Nintendo World Report is a Nintendo-specific video game website that covers Nintendo's current consoles, the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, and Wii.-History:...
editor Neal Ronaghan praised it for its content, level creator, and gameplay, though found fault in its boss battles. Game Focus editor Marko Djordjevic similarly praised it for these qualities, though thought it may have been too easy and felt like an expansion.