Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a game for the Game Boy Advance. The game brings back Mario and Donkey Kong's rivalry from the Mario series' first game, Donkey Kong. The game's sequels are Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis for the Nintendo DS, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again for Nintendo DSiWare, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! for the Nintendo DS.

Development
The game was initially planned as Donkey Kong Plus, an updated version of the 1994 Game Boy remake of the original Donkey Kong arcade game. The only known difference between the original and Plus, aside from the graphics, was the addition of a level designer, to be used through the Nintendo GameCube's Game Boy Player. However, the game vanished the following year, and was replaced by Mario vs. Donkey Kong, with the level editor gone and the graphics were replaced with pre-endered graphics. However, the game's sequel, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis had this feature and took advantage of Wi-Fi Connection.

Story
The game's story begins with DK watching TV. As he flicks through the channels, he sees an ad about the new Mini Mario Toys. He is disgusted with them but, still, DK falls in love with the toys instantly. He goes to the Toy Store, but they are sold out. DK turns around and sees the Mario Toy Company and decides to loot the store of all of the toys. Eventually, DK checks his bag, only to see all the Mini Marios he stole have dropped, with Mario, the toys, and 3 Toad employees laughing at him. In anger, he grabs the 3 Toads, climbs the building, and Mario must rescue the 3 Toads and fight Donkey Kong again. However, he must make his way through the 6 worlds to get to the battle on the top of the building. After the fight, he falls off onto a truck full of Mini Marios, and steals five more. Mario gives chase once again, until a similar cutscene of the one before the defeat, but only Mario laughs, until 6 Mini Marios come out. After that, it is the final scene. Mario is scolding Donkey Kong for what he did. Donkey Kong is crying in pity and shame. Mario cheers him up by letting him have a Mini Mario. The Mini Marios and Mario cheer with Mario's mission successfully done.

Game Play
Each of the games six worlds is divided into eight levels. For the first six levels within each world, Mario must find a key and open up a door to the second half of the level. There, Mario will find the toy that Donkey Kong dropped. The seventh level in each world is a Mini-Mario level. Mario leads the six mini Mario toys he collected back to their toy chest; however, he must make sure they avoid obstacles along the way. This leads into a battle with Donkey Kong, with each Mini-Mario saved becoming a "hit point". For example. If Mario saves all six of the Mini-Mario toys, he'll be able to be hit six times by Donkey Kong before losing a life. If the player fails to defeat Donkey Kong and chooses to replay the fight without doing the Mini-Mario level, Mario will start the fight with four hit points.

After beating the six worlds, Donkey Kong will fight Mario. Nothing will happen after he's defeated, but if the player collected all of the presents, six 'Plus' Worlds are unlocked, numbered 1+, 2+, and so on. In the Plus Worlds, Mario must get to a Mini-Mario holding a key and lead it to the exit doorway. There is only one part per level in the Plus Worlds, and they are designed to be more difficult than the main worlds. There are still Donkey Kong boss levels in the Plus Worlds.

After beating all of the Plus Worlds, Mario fights Donkey Kong once again, for the final time. If the player found all of the remaining presents in replay mode, the 'Expert' levels will unlock; instead of completing them one at a time, the player must beat the game's default high scores (from the 'Main' and 'Plus' levels) to progressively unlock the levels.

Worlds
After clearing Twilight City, Mario will go straight to the semi-final battle.
 * 1) Mario Toy Company - The first world, where Donkey Kong stole all of the Mini-Mario toys. This world features trash cans, Shy Guys, and a few other gimmicks.
 * 2) Donkey Kong Jungle - Donkey Kong's next stop, where Mario must navigate through to collect the toys. This world features ropes, Piranha Plants, and RamRams.
 * 3) Fire Mountain - A fiery mountain, possibly a volcano. This world features Podoboos, fiery birds, and Lava.
 * 4) Spooky House - A haunted mansion, featuring Boos, Shy Guy Ghosts, Thwomps, and others.
 * 5) Mystic Forest - A world featuring Bob-ombs, Conveyor Belts, and many other gimmicks.
 * 6) Twilight City - A city featuring Robots, electrical shocks, and more.

Plus Worlds
After clearing Twilight City Plus, Mario will face Donkey Kong for the final battle.
 * 1) Mario Toy Factory
 * 2) Donkey Kong Jungle Plus
 * 3) Fire Mountain Plus
 * 4) Spooky House Plus
 * 5) Mystic Forest Plus
 * 6) Twilight City Plus

Items and Features

 * Key
 * Mini-Mario
 * Switch
 * Spring
 * Conveyor Belt
 * Elevator
 * Garbage Can
 * Hammer
 * Present
 * Letters
 * Toy Box

Enemies

 * Shy Guy
 * Boo
 * Sir Shovalot
 * Bob-omb
 * RamRam
 * Monchee
 * Garbage Can
 * Oil
 * Fire
 * Podoboo
 * Ninji
 * Plant
 * Nitpicker
 * Klaptrap
 * Thwomp Block
 * Thwomp
 * Thwimp
 * Boo Guy
 * Sleeping Spear Guy

Trivia

 * This (and the sequels to follow) is the only instance in which Mario actually speaks more often, forming complete sentences.