Proto:Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

This page details one or more prototype versions of Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.

To do: Game resources are in the arm9 binary. Is there any unused data?

Download Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (Playable Demo) File: MarioVsDK_Minis.nds.zip (1.69 MB) (info)

This playable demo of Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 is the one broadcast from DS Download Station: Volume 3 stations.

(Source: David Rorex (Demo Information), Einstein95 (File extraction))

Title Screen

Proto	Final

Besides the lack of other menu options (it is a demo, after all), the Main Game button is much different. The Mini-Mario heads are arranged in a small cluster rather than a column, and the text is displayed below the button in a standard font rather than being part of the button graphic. The bottom also makes no reference to using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The top screen is identical to what is seen in the final version, except the transparent pixels in the Mini Mario sprites are blue, instead of black.

Level Select

Proto	Final

The interface for the level select screen was completely redesigned between the time of the demo and the final release. In the demo, the level buttons are placed in a separate blue panel that doesn't fill up the bottom screen, with the background showing through behind it. The top screen only features the name of the Floor in a rather plain black bubble, and has no life counter or spots for the collected cards. Mushroom Mayhem is called Mushroom Kingdom in this demo, and features a different background. The design is similar, but only has one tree layer and a sky with no visible horizon. The sky gradient is also flipped.

Gameplay

Proto	Final

The game screen was also redesigned between the time of the demo and the final release. In the demo, the cards are placed inside a grey-blue panel and the timer and block count are below the panel. The background features larger Mini Mario heads than the final, and displays all the score calculations in real time, rather than at the end of the level.

Map Function

A map can be accessed by pressing Select, but it doesn't include the terrain or Cards. A map was later (fully) implemented in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!

Audio

Floor 1

The final version is much higher in pitch.

Track 1

Prototype	Final

Gimmicks

The coin graphic is based the one from New Super Mario Bros..

Backgrounds

Floor 1

BG1

Prototype	Final

BG2

Prototype	Final

BG3

Prototype	Final

Levels

The demo proper contains 6 levels, with 3 left unused. The layouts were mostly finalized at this point, with the exception of 1-1, which got a complete makeover in the final version.

(Final Game Mapping: Peardian)

Used

1-1

Proto	Final

1-2

Proto	Final

1-3

Proto	Final

1-4

Proto	Final

1-5

Proto	Final

1-6

Proto	Final

Unused

To access 1-7, 1-8 and 1-9, tap twice on a level icon and set 022B0CB8 to 06, 07 or 08 during the transition.

(RAM Addresses: Spikestuff)

1-7

Prototype	Final

1-8

Prototype	Final

1-9

Prototype	Final

Unused Text

To do: compressed text

Development Text

TITLE\option_button

There is no folder or file like this in the final game.

DATA\backgrounds\BG_ROOMSELECT_F02.mbb

In the final ROM, the name of the "DATA" folder in the root of the file system isn't capitalized.

help_selected

crystal

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Normal Text

Prototype	Final
You defeated DK	You defeated DK!

The game is more enthusiastic in the final. This text isn't used in the demo as you cannot access any boss levels.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Thanks for Playing