Summary
The recent announcement of theMario vs. Donkey Kongremake for the Switch seems to be tapping into the titular characters' classic rivalry with the potential for restarting a decades-old spin-off series. While Mario has had his fair share of nemeses over the years, Donkey Kong was and always will be his first, due to when both characters debuted inthe arcade gameDonkey Kong. But since the release ofMario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Movein 2015 andMini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challengein the following year, the spin-off series appears to have been shelved.
Mario vs. Donkey Kongbeing remade for the Switch after so many years of being on hiatus could be a sign that Nintendo has plans to revamp the spin-off as part of its future plans. Especially after he also featured inThe Super Mario Bros. Movierecently, it does seem thatNintendo sees promise in Donkey Kong’s future, withMario vs. Donkey Kongserving as an initial inroad to this. Whether this reignited rivalry will factor into the characters' ever-evolving relationship will remain to be seen, but it all starts withMario vs. Donkey Kongresetting the foundations for future games.
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Donkey Kong was Mario’s First Rival
When Mario and Donkey Kong were first introduced inDonkey Kongback in 1981, it could never have been anticipated that both would go on to become some of gaming’s most well-known and longest-standing characters. Even after going their separate ways, withMario becoming the mascot and ambassador of Nintendoand Rare’sDonkey Kongseries galvanizing fans for both the character and the developer, the rivalry always persisted and characterized much of their relationship moving forward. EvenSuper Mario Odysseywent to great lengths to pay homage to this rivalry, featuring the return of both 8-bit Donkey Kong and Pauline herself.
But tributes and references to the relationships between Mario and Donkey Kong often seem to fall short of player expectations, as many have hoped that thenextSuper Mariogame would reunite the adversariesonce more. Even though the two characters have appeared side-by-side on numerous occasions in other spin-off games likeMario Kart,Super Smash Bros., andMario Party, the duo were never explicitly pitted against one another. WhileMario vs. Donkey Kongis just a remake of Nintendo’s 2004 Game Boy Advance game of the same name, it is the first time the pair are truly back as in-game rivals.
How the Mario vs. Donkey Kong Remake Revamps the Rivalry
SinceMario vs. Donkey Kongwas intended to be a spiritual successor toDonkey Kongon the Game Boy, the gameplay of this crossover shares some similarities with the original arcade game of the same name. Elements of this can be seen even in the recent Nintendo Direct reveal for theMario vs. Donkey Kongremake where Mario scales multiple platforms controlled by Donkey Kong to strike the gorilla with a barrel. But with a greater focus on puzzles and platforming,Mario vs. Donkey Kongand its following sequels are a far cry from both classicSuper MarioandDonkey Konggameplay players have grown accustomed to.
One of the key changes that the remake is introducing as part ofMario vs. Donkey Kong’s comeback is co-op support. Though the announcement trailer only revealed a glimpse of this co-op gameplay with Mario and Toad together, hopefully the remake will also include a choice of playable characters. But more than just friendly co-op, with this new feature becoming a series staple,Mario vs. Donkey Kongcould even see players taking control of both titular characters for a true player-versus-player setup.
Mario vs. Donkey Kongis set to release on May 10, 2025 for the Nintendo Switch.
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