Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! is an action puzzle game for the Nintendo DS and the fourth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Notably, it is also the last Mario game released for the console, being first launched in late 2010. The base gameplay and objectives of this game are mostly the same as in previous titles, being centered on bringing all the Mini toys safely to the goal in each level. This is done by modifying the environment in various puzzles of increasing difficulty. Mini Pauline toys make their debut with this game, joining the cast of Minis. They are the highlight of Mario's new theme park, despite them appearing late in the game as playable characters. Alongside the main game, a level editor is also present in a mode called the Construction Zone, where players could design their own levels. A significant feature of the game was its Wi-Fi compatibility, using the same system as in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, adding challenges where players submit their levels and other players rate them.

Story
Mario is opening his new theme park with his honored guest Pauline, and as an opening gift he is giving Mini Pauline toys to the first 100 guests to arrive at the park. Donkey Kong desperately wants a Mini Pauline and charges through the line of Toads to get to the front, only to find out that he is the 101st guest to arrive and Mario informs him they are all out of stock. Donkey Kong loses his temper and kidnaps the real Pauline in a fit of rage, leaving Mario and his force of Mini Marios to rescue her.

After venturing through many attractions, the Minis reach the Final Ferris Wheel and defeat Donkey Kong. Pauline is then freed and Mario runs to hug her. However, Donkey Kong jumps and kidnaps her again, which allows the player to play the Plus Mode. In the second ending, when Donkey Kong is about to kidnap Pauline again, Mario offers him a Mini Pauline. Happy, Donkey Kong takes it and gets into the Ferris wheel along with Mario, Pauline, and some other Minis. Several Toads can be seen celebrating the end of the conflict between Mario and Donkey Kong.

Gameplay
The game inherits the basic gameplay of its two closest predecessors, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, in which the player has to complete levels by guiding a number of automated Mini toys to the goal door, under a time limit of 300 seconds. The Minis rely completely on the player dragging and moving objects such as girders, springs, conveyor belts, pipes, and ladders to modify their path, using the touchscreen to perform any action. In most levels, the player can set the course of the Minis in advance, then start the Minis by tapping on them. Minis are also set marching if other Minis bump into them. The toys have to be driven out of danger in every level, as taking one hit from an enemy or an obstacle is enough to grant a Game Over. Levels are laid across eleven attractions of the Mini-Land, two of which are extra attractions whose levels are unlocked under certain conditions. Most levels end in a single exit door that all Minis share. However, once the door is entered by a Mini, a timer is activated which shuts the door shortly after, locking the other Minis out if they do not group close together as they head for the exit. On the other hand, a few other levels designated as Multi-Door contain multiple doors that are only used by Minis shown on them, and which do not activate a timer upon being entered. In these levels, most Minis are trapped in capsules which can only be broken by a free Mini.

An M-Token is found alongside a Mini Mario Card in each level. Collecting M-Tokens is necessary to unlock levels in Rainbow Summit, a bonus attraction, while Mini Mario Cards enable the player to play Minigames in each attraction.

The performance in a level is measured through a score, which takes into account the items collected along the way and the time remaining to complete the level. A goal score is established for every level, which the player can pass to earn a gold trophy. With every ten trophies that are earned, the player unlocks a new level in Secret Storage, another bonus attraction.

The final score of a level, or "Total Score," is the sum of the following:
 * a "Game Score," which is the score obtained by collecting coins, large coins, Mini Mario Cards, and M-Tokens; they are worth 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 points, in this respect;
 * a "Time Bonus;" 20 points are earned for each second left in the timer;
 * a "Collection Bonus," which is a set number of 6000 points awarded by grabbing all collectibles in a level.

Unlike in previous games, Minis themselves do not award any points upon reaching the exit, as the one-hit chance mitigates the option to lose Minis on the way.

Every attraction culminates with a battle against Donkey Kong, where the objective is slightly changed from other levels. Instead of a goal door, Minis are to be brought into certain devices or objects that inflict damage on Donkey Kong. However, as they attempt to reach these, Donkey Kong tries to impede them by changing the environment himself, such as making certain Red Girder rivets unusable, or by sending direct attacks.

Additionally, the game features an optional "Mini Guide." If the player chooses to play the guide, they can see an example of how to get the Mini Marios to the end of the stage.

Construction Zone
Construction Zone is a mode which allows players to build their own levels, using assets that are unlocked over the course of the main game. However, before delving into their own stage design, they must first complete a short tutorial presented in four lessons, which restrict the player to only using a specific type of object. These objects are ground tiles and Red Girders, which are essential concepts for the gameplay.
 * The first lesson, titled Ground Tiles 1, has the player position up to three ground tiles to form a staircase, enabling the Minis to reach a goal door.
 * The second lesson, titled Ground Tiles 2, is similar to the first lesson in that it requires the player to form a staircase and a bridge over a gap using eight ground tiles.
 * The third lesson, titled Red Girder Rivets 1, has the player position two Red Girder Rivets beside two other that are already set up, then build a bridge of three Red Girders between them. During gameplay, this set up would allow the player to conveniently reposition the Red Girders, so as to prevent the Minis from falling into spikes.
 * The fourth lesson, titled Red Girder Rivets 2, has the player similarly place four Red Girder Rivets on different levels and a stretch of five Red Girders between two of these rivets.

When play-tested, these lessons function as actual levels where the Minis can collect M-Tokens and Mini Mario Cards, and the player can earn a score based on their performance. Once all of these lessons are complete, the player can begin using all features of the Construction Zone.

Create
The feature that prepares a level for editing. Before starting a new level, the player must choose a Game Rule and Template Type for the level. The Game Rule refers to any of the four level types, whether they are Normal, Multi-Door, Key, or Magnet-based. Template Type refers to the default proportions of a level, designated as standard, wide, or tall. However, the dimensions of a level can later be adjusted by dragging a special cursor on the top-right corner of the editing space. After choosing a preference, the player should tap "OK" to begin editing.

Play and Edit
The feature that represents the level editor, which is grid-based. Building starts out from a floor of ground tiles, where a Mini Mario, a Mini Mario Card and an M-Token are ordered before an exit door. These elements cannot be removed, as they are mandatory to exist in each level. The player has a number of editing options to choose from a toolbar at the top of the screen. In order, the toolbar contains:
 * two buttons which open drop-down menus where the player can locate and select elements to use in the level; each menu is divided into two separate columns that are navigated via a scrollbar;
 * the first menu features fixed objects (e.g. tiles, pipes, cannons) in one column and resource items (e.g. Red Girders, Springs, Green Pipes) in the other;
 * the second menu features Minis and collectables in one column and enemies in the other;
 * a button that allows the player to change the theme of the level
 * a hand cursor that can be used to move elements on the screen; dragging it across multiple objects allows the player to move them all at once;
 * an eraser tool that can be used to remove elements on the screen; dragging it across multiple objects removes them all at once;
 * a flip tool that can be used to swap the direction of Minis and enemies;
 * a button depicting a gear, which the player can tap and then select to save, play-test, reset, or exit the level;
 * two buttons that undo or redo actions.

In addition, the toolbar features a blue bar that drains as more entities are placed on the screen.

In the process of saving a level, the player has to give it a name. After play-testing a level, the player is given the option to retry it, edit it, create a new level, or exit.

Characters
Mario, one of the titular characters, only plays a role in the story cutscenes. In cutscenes that play between attractions, he is seen chasing Donkey Kong and Pauline in a locomotive, the Super Mini Mario Express, where he is accompanied by a few Minis. After dropping at a station, Mario demonstrates the elements of the new attraction with the Minis. Meanwhile, Pauline cries for help in Donkey Kong's arms. Aside from cutscenes, Donkey Kong also appears in boss levels, where he is fought. Pauline is always kept beside him, where she watches the actions of the Minis as they unravel. Toads appear as visitors of Mario's newly opened theme park, but they are only figurant characters.

Only the Minis are directly used in gameplay, the help of which Mario uses to rescue Pauline. Although designed after various characters from the Mario franchise, Minis do not act differently from each other. Being automated clockwork toys, they simply walk from side to side and are likewise able to jump over blocks to continue their march. However, they turn around when encountering a wall of two or more blocks, a tight entrance, or a conveyor going in the opposite direction. They are destroyed at contact with obstacles such as Spikes, Shy Guys, Pokeys and Thwomps, but can fight back with a pair of Hammers or a Slope Slide.

Attractions
There are a total of 103 levels in the game, counting both main levels and extra levels, spread across eleven attractions. Each one of these attractions, except for Rainbow Summit and Secret Storage, acquaint the player with a new gameplay mechanic that is the focus of that attraction. The levels in all main attractions are built in a certain respect: a new mechanic is always introduced in the first level (and, sometimes, the second level), multiple doors appear in the fourth level, an enemy or more appear in the fifth level (though they are not exclusive to it), a type of Kong toy is present in the seventh level, a locked exit and a Mini Mario with a key are allocated to the eighth level, and the area closes with a boss battle.

Levels in the main game are unlocked one after the other in a classic manner, but levels in Rainbow Summit are unlocked with every ten M-Tokens collected in previous levels, while levels in Secret Storage require ten trophies each. Secret Storage is to be noted for puzzles that are more complex to solve than those of earlier levels, serving as an ultimate challenge for the player.

Plus Mode
After defeating Donkey Kong in Final Ferris Wheel, he manages to run off with Pauline once more, prompting the player to traverse all levels again in a new mode called Plus Mode. During Plus Mode, Minis must enter the goal door in a certain order, which is indicated at the beginning of each stage and also shown on the top screen on the console. The layout in each level is otherwise unchanged in Plus Mode, and no other important changes are made to the gameplay either, although the background in each attraction gains slightly different aesthetics. The game's attractions in Plus Mode are called the following:
 * Coaster Hills+
 * Jumpy Jungle+
 * Teatime Twirl+
 * Warped Mansion+
 * Sandstorm Steps+
 * Cosmic Adventure+
 * Cannon Cove+
 * Super Skywheel+
 * Final Ferris Wheel+
 * Rainbow Summit+
 * Secret Storage+

Pauline is rescued and the game is beaten after defeating Donkey Kong in Final Ferris Wheel+.

Items and Obstacles

 * Blockers
 * Blue Ladders
 * Cannons
 * Coins
 * Conveyors
 * Conveyor Pickups
 * Crumble Blocks
 * Girders
 * Girder Pickups
 * Mini Doors
 * Hammers
 * Horizontal Springs
 * Ladders
 * Ladder Pickups
 * Magnet Rod
 * Mini Mario Cards
 * M-Tokens
 * Purple Conveyors
 * Red Girders
 * Spikes
 * Vertical Springs
 * Warp Pipes

Enemies

 * Barrel
 * Capture Kong
 * Circus Kong
 * Fire Piranha Plant
 * Fireball
 * Pokey
 * Shy Guy
 * Snifit
 * Magnet Sparky
 * Thwomp
 * Donkey Kong