Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)

Template:Series-infobox Mario vs. Donkey Kong (known as Mario and Donkey Kong in Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move) is a sub-series of the Mario and Donkey Kong franchises. The first game, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, was heavily inspired by the Game Boy follow up to the original Donkey Kong game, and was initially planned as Donkey Kong Plus. This series features a comeback of Pauline and Donkey Kong's rivalry with Mario.

Gameplay

The original Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a puzzle-platformer where Mario is the sole playable character. Here, he must traverse various courses to obtain a key to unlock the level's door, then collect the Mini-Mario within the second part of the stage. There are also levels where Mario has to lead all the Mini-Marios he collected to a toy chest, whilst protecting them from obstacles along the way. The final level in each world is a boss-fight against Donkey Kong.

From Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis onwards, the player takes control of the Mini-Toys instead. The Minis can be controlled using the stylus and the touch screen, and must be guided to the end of the level, usually represented by a door. In these games, various items can be moved around or added from an in-game inventory in order to clear a way or make a path for the Minis.

Games

It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information.

Title
Cover, original release and system	Synopsis
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Template:Released Game Boy Advance	Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the first game of the series. The game was created for the Game Boy Advance, as the game brings back Mario and Donkey Kong's rivalry from the Mario franchise' first game, Donkey Kong. But instead of fighting over Pauline, they fight over the Mini Marios instead, at the end of the game, Mario gives Donkey Kong a Mini Mario as a gift.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Template:Released Nintendo DS	Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is a platform game and sequel to Mario vs. Donkey Kong. The game is for the Nintendo DS. It was released on September 25, 2006. Instead of the first game's plot of the player using Mario and rescuing the Minis, Mario and the Minis now fight to rescue Pauline, as the player go through stages, guiding the Minis to the end of the level.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
Template:Released Nintendo DSi	Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! is the third installment in the series. The game is for the Nintendo DSi's DSiWare. Similar to the second game in the series, Mario once again sends the Mini Marios to rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
Template:Released Nintendo DS	Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! is the fourth installment in the series and the second for the Nintendo DS. As in the two previous games, Mario and the Minis set out once again to rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong. This introduced the Red Girders that would be used for the rest of the series.
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move
Template:Released Nintendo 3DS	Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is a Nintendo 3DS Nintendo eShop game, as part of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. In this game, Donkey Kong and Pauline join to run a carnival. This is also the first three-dimensional game in the series, but its gameplay is similar to the past games'. In this game, the player must place falling tiles on a field and guide Mario to the goal. Besides the main game, three extra modes and four minigames are available.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
File:MVSDK Wii U TIPPING STARS.jpg Template:Released Nintendo 3DS/Wii U	Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is a Wii U and Nintendo 3DS game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. It is based on the Mario vs. Donkey Kong demo shown at GDC 2014. The gameplay is the same as in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-land Mayhem. Several new features are added in the game, including Mini Luigis and the Workshop Store, where players can buy new parts for the Level Editor. Levels can be be shared online and commented on through Miiverse.
Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
Template:Released Wii U/Nintendo 3DS	Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge is a Wii U and Nintendo 3DS game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Players have to use certain amiibo in order to play the game.

Characters

Character
Image	Description
Mario
File:MarioKey MvsDK.png	The series introduces Mario as an entrepreneur running a company that focuses on producing and distributing automated clockwork toys designed after himself. As they prove to be a large success in subsequent games, Mario also opens various theme parks that celebrate these toys. He is only playable in the first game of the series, where he chases Donkey Kong to retrieve the stolen Mini toys. Here, he exhibits an extensive repertoire of movements including the handstand, backflip and wire spin, much like in Donkey Kong for the Game Boy. Mario gains a supporting role in the following games, transporting the Minis to different areas and helping them defeat Donkey Kong without direct involvement.
Donkey Kong
	Donkey Kong is the main antagonist and the character that rises the action in most games. He presents great interest for the Mini toys and goes as far as to steal the entire stock from the Mario Toy Company in the first game. However, in the following games, his interest is directed to Pauline, whom he impulsively kidnaps as a result of being lovestruck. Donkey Kong poses as the boss at the end of each world throughout most of the series, where he often occupies one position from which he sends various attacks at the playable characters. He always comes to terms with Mario and Pauline at the end of each game and even has a protagonistic role in Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, where he participates in the activities of other characters.
Minis
	The Minis are the series' highlight and the principal element of gameplay. They are miniatural versions of characters from the main Mario cast. As they move automatically, they often need to be guided through a number of obstacles to the exit of each level, which is done by manipulating the environment in various ways. Only Mini Marios are shown in the first game, in which they are stolen by Donkey Kong from the Mario Toy Company. The company expands its production in the sequel with other Minis, namely Mini Peaches and Mini DKs, and subsequent games continue to introduce more Mini characters, although it is unclear whether these are also produced by the Mario Toy Company. Despite their variety, all Minis behave the same in most games. However, this is not true in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, a game where Minis take the leading role and are distinguished by a special ability.
Pauline
	Pauline is a damsel and victim of Donkey Kong's kidnapping in several games. She is a friend of Mario and often accompanies him at the grand openings of his theme parks, during which she also gets kidnapped.
Toads
	Toads of various colors take the role of figurant characters throughout the series. They attend Mario's theme park openings in large numbers and some are also shown to work at the Mario Toy Company. Their only significant role in gameplay is in the first game, where they help Mario bring down Donkey Kong in the final level of the main worlds.

Recurring enemies

Enemy
Image	Description	First appearance in the series	Relatives in the series
Shy Guy
	Shy Guys are automated toys that simply move from one side to another on the ground and can generally be defeated by smashing them with Hammers. In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Mario can stand on top of them, then pick them up and toss them at other enemies to defeat them. In both this game and its successor, the playable characters can also mount Shy Guys and ride them to another place. The enemies are immune to spikes and can thus safely pass the characters over these obstacles. Mounting Shy Guys is no longer possible from Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! onwards, where they become completely harmful.	Mario vs. Donkey Kong	Katakata Kaen Heihō Polterguy Katakata Yarihō Katakata Spanner Heihō Mummy Guy Snifit Spy Guy
Pokey
	Pokeys behave just like Shy Guys, gliding from side to side on a platform; however, they are taller. Although completely harmful, they can be defeated by any form of attack, including a Hammer stomp, a Slope Slide and a Cannon shot.	Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!	(N/A)
Thwomp
	Thwomps are among the few enemies in the series not to appear in toy form. They wait the playable character in one place and attempt to crush them with a plummet. In the first game, Thwomps fall quickly to the ground as Mario moves underneath them. In subsequent games, they shake in place for a few seconds before dropping down, which is a result of the less dynamic gameplay. Thwomps are invincible and harmful to touch from any side.	Mario vs. Donkey Kong	Thwimps Kurasshā Kongā
Nitpickers
	Nitpickers spawn from nests and fly horizontally across the stage, descending a bit and changing direction when they encounter a side. They occasionally attempt to drop eggs on the playable character. They cannot be defeated in any way, and in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, they only appear in the boss fight of Jungle Hijinks.	Mario vs. Donkey Kong	Firebird
Robot Monkeys
	Robot Monkeys are robust toys that appear to be based on Donkey Kong. Different shapes and types with various capabilites are encountered. Minis can exploit their capabilties to progress through a puzzle or collect bonuses, but the Robotic Monkeys can also serve as a hinderance depending on the situation. They are indestructible, but when needed, they can be stunned for a period of time with Hammers or any other sign of attack.	Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis	This enemy group encompasses the following: Circus Kongs Crash Kongs Capture Kongs Cannon Kongs

Table of Minis

The following table constitutes the appearances of Mini toys throughout the series:

Character	Template:Color-link-piped	Template:Color-link-piped	Template:Color-link-piped	Template:Color-link-piped	Template:Color-link-piped	Template:Color-link-piped	Template:Color-link-piped
Mini Marios
Gold Mini Marios
Mini Peaches
Mini DKs
Mini Toads
Mini Paulines
Mini Luigis
Mini Diddy Kong
Mini Yoshi
Mini Bowser
Mini Bowser Jr.
Mini Rosalina

Trivia

• All games in the series were initially released outside Japan, usually in North America, before any other regions. This is due to the fact that all games were developed by Nintendo Software Technology Corporation, which is a division of Nintendo located in North America.
• All of the handheld games can be played on the Nintendo 3DS, as the first game can be played in the Ambassador Program, the second and fourth are DS games, the third can be system transferred and bought on the eShop, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh are eShop exclusives.