Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis: Difference between revisions

'''''Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis''''' is a [[Genre#Puzzle|puzzle]] game and the sequel to ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' for the [[Nintendo DS]]. This time, the focus is on the Mini toys created by the [[Mario Toy Company]]; along with the [[Mini Mario (toy)|Mini Mario toys]] returning, more new toys were added for this game including the [[Mini Donkey Kong]], [[Mini Toad]], and [[Mini Peach]] toys. This game also marks the first appearance of [[Pauline]] in the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'' franchise]] since the [[Game Boy]] ''[[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Donkey Kong]]'' game. The game's title is an allusion to the orchestral piece "{{wp|March of the Meanies}}" from the film ''{{wp|Yellow Submarine (film)|Yellow Submarine}}''.

Unlike the Game Boy Advance predecessor, Mario plays only a supporting role in this game; he is seen in the beginning of each floor, and before each boss fight and in the final boss fight and following cut-scene. Instead, the task is to control the Mini Mario toys through eight diverse floors of nine levels each to reach Pauline. At the end of each floor is a boss battle with DK. There are 240 Minis in all - generally, there are more minis in a level as the difficulty increases (going as high as 8 in a level called 8-3). This change in game-play laid the foundation for the two ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' games that followed on the DS.

 

The player can scroll around the level using the {{button|ds|Pad}} or the {{button|ds|A}} {{button|ds|B}} {{button|ds|X}} {{button|ds|Y}} buttons. Aside from this, gameplay uses only the {{button|ds|Stylus}} [[Nintendo_DS#Stylus|stylus]] and Touch Screen:

To guide the Minis to the goal, the player must manipulate elements of the level itself as well as the Minis, so they can reach the goal without being destroyed. Level elements that appear frequently throughout the game include [[Color Block (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|Color Block]]s, which can be placed if the player has a sufficient number of them stored, as shown in the inventory on the Top Screen. For example, in [[Room 1-1 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|Room 1-1]], a wall of [[Pink Block]]s can be picked up and placed elsewhere to form a floor, allowing Minis to cross and reach the level's [[Mini Mario Card]]. Other examples of level elements include [[elevator]]s, which can be moved up and down with two separate buttons, and [[conveyor belt]]s, which can be reversed using a conveyor belt switch.

**If a [[Gold Mini Mario]] ''is at the back of a perfect Chain Goal'', the last bonus is doubled again (for example, 3 Minis = 1000 + 2000 + 8000 = 11000 point bonus).

The following is a table of the bonuses for the number of Minis that appear in each level, and the minimum scores needed to obtain each type of star. A [[File:Gold Mini MarioS.png]] indicates that a Gold Mini Mario is present in the level.

Finding every Mini Mario Card on a single floor unlocks a minigame (parsed as a '''Mini Game''') for that floor. In the minigame, titled '''Shy Guy Smash!''', the player uses the {{button|ds|Stylus}} stylus to tap Shy Guys that appear out of [[Warp Pipes]]. Tapping a Shy Guy breaks it, adding 1 point to the score. Starting in Tropical Island, [[Bob-omb]]s also appear from the Warp Pipes; however, tapping them causes them to explode, losing 5 points. The player must earn at least 25 points within 30 seconds to reach the minigame's goal. If the player exceeds this goal, it is set to the player's new record.

Each floor concludes with a boss battle against [[Donkey Kong]], with a time limit of 180 seconds. Players must shoot Mini Marios upward from a cannon to hit Donkey Kong either directly or indirectly. On odd-numbered floors, the cannon can be moved left and right by swiping its '''handle'''<ref name=manual/> with the {{button|ds|Stylus}} stylus, and the cannon only shoots Minis directly upward. On even-numbered floors, the cannon can be rotated in an arc formation by swiping its handle, and can shoot Minis at various angles. To shoot a Mini Mario, the player must tap the '''Attack Button'''<ref name=manual/> labeled "SHOOT". Additionally, the player can hold {{button|ds|L}} or {{button|ds|R}} to activate the '''Boss Cannon Indicator''',<ref name=manual/> a guideline that indicates where a Mini Mario will travel when fired.

|Floor 4<br>'''[[Magnet Mania (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|Magnet Mania]]'''<br>A floor that introduces and highlights magnet-based objects, including {{conjectural|magnetic surfaces}}, Magnetic Blocks, Rotating Magnet Sticks, and Sparkies. This floor also introduces Swing Bars, Donut Blocks, and Cool Kongs.<br>'''Rooms'''<br>[[Room 4-1 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|4-1]] • [[Room 4-2 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|4-2]] • [[Room 4-3 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|4-3]] • [[Room 4-4 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|4-4]] • [[Room 4-5 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|4-5]] • [[Room 4-6 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|4-6]] • [[Room 4-7 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|4-7]] • [[Room 4-8|4-8]] • [[Room 4-9|4-9]] • [[Boss Game 4]]

|Floor 8<br>'''[[Jungle Hijinks]]'''<br>A floor that introduces Bomb Blocks. When picked up, they allow the player to place bombs that can destroy {{conjectural|stone blocks}}. New enemies that appear on this floor include Kongā, Snapjaws, Snifits, and a single Bird during the battle against Donkey Kong.<br>'''Rooms'''<br>[[Room 8-1|8-1]] • [[Room 8-2|8-2]] • [[Room 8-3|8-3]] • [[Room 8-4|8-4]] • [[Room 8-5|8-5]] • [[Room 8-6|8-6]] • [[Room 8-7|8-7]] • [[Room 8-8|8-8]] • [[Room 8-9|8-9]] • [[Boss Game 8]]

|align="center"|[[Color Switch|Sliding doors]]

|align="center"|[[Color Switch|Sliding bridges]]

|align="center"|{{conjectural|[[Rock Block]] (pale)}}

|Rock Blocks crumble and disappear shortly after a Mini walks over them.

|align="center"|{{Conjectural|Wood platforms}}

|align="center"|{{conjectural|[[Rock Block]] (dark gray)}}

|Dark gray Rock Blocks obey gravity and do not crumble upon contact with a Mini, but can instead be destroyed by an explosion from a bomb.