Let me start with a simple apology for getting the review of this game out later than what's normally expected. I think, however, that you'll be quick to forgive me when I explain why I'm a wee bit tardy. Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis is best described as a little bit of Lemmings with a little bit of the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Developed by NST, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 is really a unique title when compared to the rest of the DS library. So what sets it apart, and what was it about the game that delayed this review? Read on to find out.

Facts and Features:

• Your favorite toys, with brand-new friends. Mini-Marios are just the beginning. Donkey Kong® has some toys of his own in his arsenal, including Capture Kong and Crash Kong, plus new enemies such as Mummy Guy and Snap Claw, who do their best to make sure that the Mini-Marios do not reach their goal. And Pauline, the original damsel in distress, returns for the first time since her debut in the original Donkey Kong game.
  
  
• Overcome all obstacles. Lead the Mini Marios to their goal. Use the DS stylus to absorb and move blocks to create new paths, ride elevators and conveyer belts to escape fireballs, Thwomps and other killer enemies, and guide the minis across platforms past deadly water obstacles and lethal lava.
  
  
• Players create their own levels. Players create game maps with a new level editor, then send them to friends via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. This unique feature is sure to be a smash hit with puzzle fans everywhere.
  

Grand Adventure
When you first fire up Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 you're greeted with a charming video that sets up the story plot. Basically Donkey Kong is angered that Pauline (yes, the same Pauline from the original Donkey Kong arcade title) has taken a liking to Mario's wind-up toy while shunning DK's offering. In a fit of gorilla rage, DK grabs the helpless babe and escapes to the top level of a ten story building. Never one to allow dastardly deeds to go unpunished, Mario sends his wind-up toys after DK to help Pauline. The video itself is beautiful and really pops on either the standard or DS Lite's screens. I really wish that Nintendo titles would use more of this type of FMV; it really endears the characters to the audience and immediately creates a memorable setting for the game. Fun and interesting cutscenes break up the action between certain levels and boss battles, but the opening sequence is the most impressive on the cart.

Diving into the gameplay isn't too hard for gamers of any skill. The first few levels really are a snap and help you get acclimated to the controls before any sort of complicated twists are thrown in your direction. Using the stylus, you will guide Mini-Mario wind up toys towards an exit located somewhere within the map. You simply drag your stylus across any of the toys in the direction you want them to go and they will start moving. The toys will continue to travel in that direction until they either bump into an obstacle that causes them to reverse direction, until they are destroyed by a trap, or until you tap them to make them stop. You can also make your Mini-Marios jump by sliding the stylus vertically across their body. While simple, the control scheme works very well as long as you don't get too far ahead of yourself. Since the Mini-Marios walk until stopped, you really are forced to keep an eye on all of them. Any complaints of clunkiness or difficulty shouldn't be attributed to the game, but rather to one's own impatience or lack of mastery.


There go the minis...

The levels are fairly simple to get through if you are playing to simply pass them; and this may be what holds the game back from being truly great. Often times you'll find that you don't need to think much to get through many of the game's levels, even into the later stages of the game. However, if you are concerned with collecting every coin, defeating every enemy, grabbing every bonus letter, and earning a gold star rating on each level, you'll certainly need to play each level multiple times. On my first play through the game I was very easily able to score silver stars on any level, but I didn't earn a single gold. In order to gain a gold star, you'll have to have a pretty good knowledge of the level and how to attack it in the most efficient manner possible. For perfectionists, the 90+ levels in the game will take you quite some time to get through. Earning these gold stars took me quite a while and is partially to blame for delaying this review.