DS Central: Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2: March Of The Minis

Mario Vs.Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is a sequel to the GBA game Mario Vs. Donkey Kong. The puzzle game is only on Nintendo DS and was released on:

USA - 25th September 2006
EU - 8th March 2007

Story

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The game begins with an commercial advertising the new Super Mini Mario World Theme Park. Crowds of Toads flock to see the amusment park centred around Mini Mario's, Mini Peach's, Mini Toad's and Mini Donkey Kong's. Amoungst the crowds if Donkey Kong, all watching the opening of the park by Pauline and Mario. Donkey Kong immediatly falls in love and rushes to give her a Mini DK. At the same time Mario gives her a Mini Mario. Pauline chooses the Mini Mario over the Mini DK, leaving Donkey Kong heart broken. With rage Donkey Kong breaks a sales post and crushes a Mini Mario. He goes on to kidnap Pauline and heads for the elevator. Mario, now on the floor after being pushed by Donkey Kong sprints to the elevator but he is too late, Pauline and Donkey Kong are already near the rooftop. Mario doesn't know what to do, but the Mini Marios join together and help Mario battle through the different floors to the rooftop.

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Gameplay

Overall there is a total of 240 Mini Marios in the game to help you. Mario is not a playable character. Each level has usually 2, 3 or 4 Mini Marios to guide to the exit. However some have up to 8 Mini Marios. You have 300 seconds to get all the Mini Marios to the exit door with the "M" on top of it.

Moves

Mini Marios move by different gestures of the stylus. Moving the stylus either left or right, over a Mini Mario will move it in that direction. An upwards stroke of the stylus makes the Mini Mario jump, downwards stroke to make one go down a Warp Pipe.. To stop a Mini Mario just touch the Mini Mario again. If a Mini Mario hits a wall it will turn around and if it comes to a drop it will either fall then stars appear around its head or it will shout "Woah!" and fall and break. Listen out for this.

Scores

The score is determined as follows;

: Each Mini Mario completing the level : 1000
: All Mini Marios on the level completing : 5000 (Bonus)
: Obtaining the Mini-Mario Card in each level : 1000
: Chains of Mini Marios : (i.e. 3 Mini Mario Chain = 1000 + 2000 + 4000)
: All Mini Marios in Chain : 5000 (Bonus as well as chain totals)
: Gold Mini Mario at the back of a chain : Doubled Bonus (i.e. 3 Mini Mario Chain = 1000 + 2000 + 8000)
: Non Stop (Mini Mario never stopped) : 1000 (Bonus)

Your total score for the level will decide if your awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold Stars for that level. These stars can unlock extra stuff at the end of the game.

Floors & Levels

Each floor has 9 levels, a mini-game and when all 9 levels are complete a DK boss battle is unlocked.
Floors are;

Mushroom Mayhem
Tropical Island
Pipe Works
Magnet Mania
Lava Dome
Toadstool Castle
Spooky Attic
Jungle Hijinks

DK Boss Battles

The boss battles at the end of each floor usually involve shooting Mini Marios onto platforms which then when hit release an item which hits DK. If the Mini Mario hits DK before the platform he will break. After enough things hit DK he will eventually be defeated

The rooftop level at the end invloves you using 6 Mini Marios to defeat Donkey Kong. Mini Marios must climb to the top and them defeat Donkey Kong. However Donkey Kong is dropping barrels and fire to break the Mini Marios.

Modes of Play

You can play the game in 3 different way. These include the following;

Main Game

This mode is when you play through the game on the different floors and levels as mentioned previously.

Construction Zone

This mode allows you to create your own levels with various construction kits. These construction kits are unlocked after each DK Boss is beaten at the end of a floor. You can also play these levels too.

Nintendo WFC

This mode lets you send your created levels to friends or recieve levels from them. You can also access exclusive levels from Nintendo here too.

Game Features

Different Minis

Mini Mario
Gold Mini Mario
Fire Mini Mario
Mini Peach
Fire Mini Peach
Mini Toad
Fire Mini Toad
Mini DK
Fire Mini DK

Items

Coins
Large Coins
Mini Mario Cards
Fire Flower
Hammers

Mini Mario Cards

The Mini Mario Cards are spread across the floors. Each level has one card. Level 1 on the floor with have the "M" card, level 2 has the "I" card and so on to spell "M-I-N-I-M-A-R-I-O". Once each card is obtained the extra mini-game on the floor is unlocked.

Ending

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Once the Mini Marios defeat Donkey Kong on the rooftop Mario enters a room full of presents and Pauline. Donkey Kong feels guilty for what he has done. Pauline ends the tension by picking up a Mini Donkey Kong and kissing it. Mini Marios scatter across the floor and Toads enter the room and the credits roll.