M v. DK

[OB1]

Nintendo has a nice preview up of the game which hits stores on May 24th, and it's looking mighty fine.

In 1994, Mario and Donkey Kong laid their rivalry to rest in a collosal remake of the original arcade hit Donkey Kong. But now, ten years later, it seems trouble is brewing once more between plumber and simian. Mario's started a toy factory, producing toys modeled after all of his friends -- except for Donkey Kong. Before you know it, the big ape's gone bananas, reverting to his old barrel-chucking ways and stealing all of Mario's toys. Can Mario patch things up in time?






Impressions
This game is shaping up to be a full sequel to the 1994 classic Donkey Kong for Game Boy. The original combined elements from Donkey Kong and Super Mario Brothers 2 and sprinkled it with special moves and abilities that would later become the cornerstones of Super Mario 64. Expect a lot of classic platforming action with a heavy emphasis on puzzles and problem-solving.

Word on the Street
Details about the game are still rather nebulous. The project began its life as Donkey Kong Plus. While the original build was basically a port of the Game Boy original, it did have one noteworthy feature: players could link up to the Game Cube (in a way that was never fully explained) and create their own levels. It's unknown if this feature has been carried over, but considering the huge makeover the game has received and Nintendo's subsequent silence, it's safe to say the idea's been canned.

Nintendo promises six "worlds" to their new DK game, each with eight levels. Six "normal" levels will be similar to the 1994 version, but with a twist. After finding a key to unlock the level door, players will be taken to a "mini-Mario" section. To finish off the level, players will have to find and rescue a mini-Mario toy and lead it to safety. Each world will also contain a special level where players must rescue several mini-Mario toys, as well as a boss level showdown between Mario and Donkey Kong. Although 48 levels falls short of the original's ambitious 100, Nintendo also promises a higher difficulty mode for the game's second run through.

From the Horse's Mouth

-Puzzle-intensive platforming based on the 1994 Donkey Kong
-All of the moves from the 1994 version: handstand jumps and kicks, hammer throwing, and more
-All-new mini-Mario challenges where players must safely guide toys through the factory.

Conclusion
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is shaping up to be quite the sleeper hit. We'll have more details as they develop.