Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Encyclopedia
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 Mario
s with the touch screen instead of Mario himself. The game also features the return of Pauline, whose last appearance was in the 1994 Donkey Kong
game, a Game Boy
remake of the original Donkey Kong
. It features Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
. The DS Download Station
Series 3 set of games features a short demo of the game. This is the sixth Mario
game for the Nintendo DS
. A sequel, called Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! was released in June 2009; it is available for download via the DSiWare service for 800 Nintendo Points.
The name of the game is an allusion to the song "March of the Meanies" from The Beatles
' album Yellow Submarine
.
presents her with a Mini-Mario toy. Pauline ignores the Mini-Donkey Kong, taking the Mini-Mario instead. This infuriates Donkey Kong, who grabs Pauline and storms off with her into the elevator, going up to the roof of the amusement park. Mario, unable to follow, sends the Mini-Marios in a small entrance to save Pauline.
, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis uses the touch screen to control the Mini-Marios. To move, the player must use the stylus to turn a Mini-Mario's direction to move them in that direction. Swiping up enters pipes, climbs ladders, or makes them jump. Swiping across the Mini-Marios left or right causes them to move in that direction, and swiping down causes them to enter a pipe that is below their feet. Tapping once causes them to stop. The D-Pad
and the face buttons move the camera (i.e. X and Up move the camera up), and in DK stages pressing L and R causes a line to appear temporarily showing the path the launched Mini-Mario will take. The timer does not start until the player either moves blocks or taps a Mini-Mario. However, the player may move elevators, change the direction of pipes or conveyor belts, and scout the level out without starting the timer.
The game consists of 8 worlds, or floors, each with 9 levels, or rooms, a minigame, and a DK stage. In addition to these levels are the Roof, which consists entirely of the final DK stage, and the Basement, which consists of two extra boss stages that are only accessible by earning 40 Silver stars and 40 Gold stars. When a chain of Mini-Marios enters the door at the end, a combo occurs, meaning 1000 for the first, 2000 for the second, 4000 for the third, etc. If the stage contains a Gold Mini-Mario and it is the end of the chain, the point bonus doubles. For instance, if there are two normal Mini-Marios and a Gold Mini-Mario in a stage, and they enter in that order, the points will go like this: 1000, 2000, 8000. At the end of every room, the player's score is tallied up with 100 points for each second remaining. The player may also earn any combination of three bonuses: All Minis, which means every Mini-Mario made it into the door; Perfect Chain, which means that there was no break between Mini-Marios entering the door; and Nonstop, which means that at least 1 Mini-Mario was not stopped by being tapped with the stylus (stopping on elevators or waiting for platforms don't ruin this bonus). There are three medals, or stars, that can be earned upon meeting their requirements; Bronze, Silver, and Gold. However, it is possible to not earn a star at all.
In each room there are cards and coins. Collecting all nine cards in a floor will spell out MINIMARIO and unlock that floor's minigame. The minigame involves tapping ShyGuys as they come out of pipes and avoiding the Bob-Ombs that occasionally come out as well. There are two types of coins: small and large. Small coins are worth 50 points and large ones are worth 500. Collecting coins will definitely help in meeting the score required for a Gold Star.
The DK stages play a bit differently than the main game. In these stages the bottom screen shows a cannon loaded with a Mini-Mario, a belt upon which the cannon moves on, and a button labeled Shoot that the player must tap to fire the Mini-Mario. The top screen shows your remaining hits, which depends on how many Mini-Marios the player led to the door throughout the entire floor, DK's remaining hits, which always starts out at 6, DK's location, and objects the player needs to hit with a Mini-Mario in order to damage him. If a Mini-Mario collides with DK's side, that will damage him as well. The only way to get lose your own health is if your Mini-Mario is hit with an object or if DK breaks it. DK's movement varies with the stage. In some, it is like the shell game in that there are three locations he can appear and you can somewhat guess where based on a pattern. In the others, he is on a swinging platform that will kill a Mini-Mario if the Mini-Mario collides with it. Floor 8's DK Stage involves him moving between vines. Once the player hits DK 6 times, the stage ends and the score is tallied up with 100 points for each second remaining and 1000 points for each surviving Mini-Mario. The extra 3 DK stages are modeled after stages in the original Donkey Kong arcade game.
. The player can create levels and upload them wirelessly or over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
for friends
to play. For each floor completed in the main game, its corresponding kit is unlocked for use in the construction zone. In addition, when the player completes the minigames for the first 3 floors, 6 floors, and all 8 floors, Special Kits 1, 2, 3, and 4 are unlocked, respectively. The player can save up to 8 of their own levels, and download up to 24 levels made by their friends
. The special kits resemble the Pipe Works Kit, Toadstool Castle Kit, and Jungle Hijinks Kit, with similar music except for the first kit, which plays a different version of the Mushroom Mayhem kit. Another difference is that the player moves Mini-Toad
, Mini-Peach
, Mini-DK, and Mini-Luigi respectively, instead of a mini mario.
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
game 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...
, a follow up to the Game Boy Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
is a platform game developed in 1994 by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game system, which also contains puzzle elements. Donkey Kong is loosely based on the 1981 arcade game of the same name and its sequel Donkey Kong Jr. The game was known under the working title Donkey Kong '94 before...
game, though it is more puzzle-oriented, now that the player controls several Mini 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...
s with the touch screen instead of Mario himself. The game also features the return of Pauline, whose last appearance was in the 1994 Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
is a platform game developed in 1994 by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game system, which also contains puzzle elements. Donkey Kong is loosely based on the 1981 arcade game of the same name and its sequel Donkey Kong Jr. The game was known under the working title Donkey Kong '94 before...
game, a Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
remake of the original Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (video game)
is an arcade game released by Nintendo in 1981. It is an early example of the platform game genre, as the gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main character across a series of platforms while dodging and jumping over obstacles. In the game, Jumpman must rescue a damsel in distress, Lady, from a...
. It features Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
. The DS Download Station
DS Download Station
DS Download Station is an in-store demo service launched by Nintendo in early 2006. As the name implies, these are stations that can be used to download game demos and trailers to a Nintendo DS. The range of a Nintendo DS Download Station is approximately 65 feet...
Series 3 set of games features a short demo of the game. This is the sixth 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...
game for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. A sequel, called Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! was released in June 2009; it is available for download via the DSiWare service for 800 Nintendo Points.
The name of the game is an allusion to the song "March of the Meanies" from The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' album Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine (album)
Yellow Submarine is the tenth studio album by The Beatles in the United Kingdom, released on Apple Records. It was issued as the soundtrack to the film of the same name, which premiered in the United Kingdom seven months prior to the album's release....
.
Plot
Mario is sponsoring the grand opening of the "Super Mini-Mario World" amusement park, with his guest of honor Pauline. Donkey Kong is among the crowd witnessing the opening when he notices Pauline. Kong becomes infatuated with her at first sight and offers her a Mini-Donkey Kong toy as a token of his affection, while at the same time MarioMario
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...
presents her with a Mini-Mario toy. Pauline ignores the Mini-Donkey Kong, taking the Mini-Mario instead. This infuriates Donkey Kong, who grabs Pauline and storms off with her into the elevator, going up to the roof of the amusement park. Mario, unable to follow, sends the Mini-Marios in a small entrance to save Pauline.
Gameplay
Instead of controlling with the D-padD-pad
A D-pad is a flat, usually thumb-operated directional control with one button on each point, found on nearly all modern video game console gamepads, game controllers, on the remote control units of some television and DVD players, and smart phones...
, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis uses the touch screen to control the Mini-Marios. To move, the player must use the stylus to turn a Mini-Mario's direction to move them in that direction. Swiping up enters pipes, climbs ladders, or makes them jump. Swiping across the Mini-Marios left or right causes them to move in that direction, and swiping down causes them to enter a pipe that is below their feet. Tapping once causes them to stop. The D-Pad
D-pad
A D-pad is a flat, usually thumb-operated directional control with one button on each point, found on nearly all modern video game console gamepads, game controllers, on the remote control units of some television and DVD players, and smart phones...
and the face buttons move the camera (i.e. X and Up move the camera up), and in DK stages pressing L and R causes a line to appear temporarily showing the path the launched Mini-Mario will take. The timer does not start until the player either moves blocks or taps a Mini-Mario. However, the player may move elevators, change the direction of pipes or conveyor belts, and scout the level out without starting the timer.
The game consists of 8 worlds, or floors, each with 9 levels, or rooms, a minigame, and a DK stage. In addition to these levels are the Roof, which consists entirely of the final DK stage, and the Basement, which consists of two extra boss stages that are only accessible by earning 40 Silver stars and 40 Gold stars. When a chain of Mini-Marios enters the door at the end, a combo occurs, meaning 1000 for the first, 2000 for the second, 4000 for the third, etc. If the stage contains a Gold Mini-Mario and it is the end of the chain, the point bonus doubles. For instance, if there are two normal Mini-Marios and a Gold Mini-Mario in a stage, and they enter in that order, the points will go like this: 1000, 2000, 8000. At the end of every room, the player's score is tallied up with 100 points for each second remaining. The player may also earn any combination of three bonuses: All Minis, which means every Mini-Mario made it into the door; Perfect Chain, which means that there was no break between Mini-Marios entering the door; and Nonstop, which means that at least 1 Mini-Mario was not stopped by being tapped with the stylus (stopping on elevators or waiting for platforms don't ruin this bonus). There are three medals, or stars, that can be earned upon meeting their requirements; Bronze, Silver, and Gold. However, it is possible to not earn a star at all.
In each room there are cards and coins. Collecting all nine cards in a floor will spell out MINIMARIO and unlock that floor's minigame. The minigame involves tapping ShyGuys as they come out of pipes and avoiding the Bob-Ombs that occasionally come out as well. There are two types of coins: small and large. Small coins are worth 50 points and large ones are worth 500. Collecting coins will definitely help in meeting the score required for a Gold Star.
The DK stages play a bit differently than the main game. In these stages the bottom screen shows a cannon loaded with a Mini-Mario, a belt upon which the cannon moves on, and a button labeled Shoot that the player must tap to fire the Mini-Mario. The top screen shows your remaining hits, which depends on how many Mini-Marios the player led to the door throughout the entire floor, DK's remaining hits, which always starts out at 6, DK's location, and objects the player needs to hit with a Mini-Mario in order to damage him. If a Mini-Mario collides with DK's side, that will damage him as well. The only way to get lose your own health is if your Mini-Mario is hit with an object or if DK breaks it. DK's movement varies with the stage. In some, it is like the shell game in that there are three locations he can appear and you can somewhat guess where based on a pattern. In the others, he is on a swinging platform that will kill a Mini-Mario if the Mini-Mario collides with it. Floor 8's DK Stage involves him moving between vines. Once the player hits DK 6 times, the stage ends and the score is tallied up with 100 points for each second remaining and 1000 points for each surviving Mini-Mario. The extra 3 DK stages are modeled after stages in the original Donkey Kong arcade game.
Construction Zone
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis incorporates a feature that was meant to be included in the cancelled Donkey Kong PlusMario 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...
. The player can create levels and upload them wirelessly or over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
for friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
to play. For each floor completed in the main game, its corresponding kit is unlocked for use in the construction zone. In addition, when the player completes the minigames for the first 3 floors, 6 floors, and all 8 floors, Special Kits 1, 2, 3, and 4 are unlocked, respectively. The player can save up to 8 of their own levels, and download up to 24 levels made by their friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
. The special kits resemble the Pipe Works Kit, Toadstool Castle Kit, and Jungle Hijinks Kit, with similar music except for the first kit, which plays a different version of the Mushroom Mayhem kit. Another difference is that the player moves Mini-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...
, Mini-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...
, Mini-DK, and Mini-Luigi respectively, instead of a mini mario.