| Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
| Developer | Nintendo Software Technology[4] |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Director | Stephen Mortimer |
| Producer | Akiya Sakamoto |
| Designers |
|
| Artist | Brian McNeely |
| Composer | James Phillipsen |
| Series | Mario vs. Donkey Kong |
| Platform | Nintendo 3DS |
| Release | |
| Genre | Puzzle |
| Mode | Single-player |
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, known in Japan asMario & Donkey Kong: MiniMini Carnival (マリオ & ドンキーコング ミニミニカーニバル,Mario & Donkī Kongu MiniMini Kānibaru), is a 2013puzzle game developed byNintendo Software Technology for theNintendo 3DS. The fifth entry in theMario vs. Donkey Kong series, it was released exclusively via theNintendo eShop download service on May 9, 2013, in the PAL region and North America, and on July 24 in Japan.[2][3][1]
The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its unique gameplay, puzzle design, and level editor. A sequel, titledMario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, was released for both the 3DS and theWii U in 2015.
In the main game, the player must place blocks on a grid with the goal of making a path for a Mini—a small walking robot resembling Mario or anotherMario series character—to travel from awarp pipe to a star goal, while avoiding obstacles such as spike pits and Shy Guys along the way.[2][5] The player can complete the additional task of collecting three colored coins along the created path, which itself may require additional tasks, such as closing the Mini within a figure-eight loop.[6] Players can tap the mini, which gives it a burst of speed. If the mini falls off the pathway, gets blocked, stays in the pipe after about 30 seconds, too many pieces fill the pipe, or if the timer reaches zero, the player fails the level. Collecting all three coins for a level earns the player a star token, which unlock additional gameplay modes, levels, and toys as they are amassed.[7] There are more than 180 puzzles over four modes of play, as well as four minigames which can be unlocked.[2][8]
Additionally,Minis on the Move featured a level creation mode with which the player could create custom levels using any and all pieces from the main game, as well as control the frequency of available falling tiles. Created levels could be saved and shared viaStreetPass once the player was able to complete the created level. These levels could also be shared viaNintendo Network, where users could download other popular user creations.[2][9] All online features were retired in April 2024.[10]
Like the previous entries in theMario vs. Donkey Kong series,Minis on the Move was developed byNintendo Software Technology.[4]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 78/100[11] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 9/10[6] |
| Edge | 7/10[12] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 8/10[13] |
| Eurogamer | 8/10[14] |
| Game Informer | 6.5/10[15] |
| GameRevolution | 4.5/5[16] |
| GameTrailers | 8/10[17] |
| GameZone | 7.5/10[18] |
| IGN | 7/10[9] |
| Joystiq | 2.5/5[8] |
| Nintendo Life | 7/10[19] |
| Official Nintendo Magazine | 82%[20] |
| Polygon | 9/10[21] |
| Digital Spy | 4/5[22] |
| Metro | 8/10[23] |
Minis on the Move received "generally favorable reviews" according to thereview aggregation websiteMetacritic.[11] Most reviews cite the level creator as the most impressive element of the game.[6][7][8][20]IGN's Lucas M. Thomas wrote that this feature extends the replay value significantly, though some (including Thomas) derided the limitation of randomly falling pieces in creating levels.[8][9]
GamesMaster called the game "a breezy, if surprisingly brutal" puzzler in terms of gameplay.[24] Tony Ponce ofDestructoid appreciated the removal of the plot from the previousMario vs. Donkey Kong games. Of the revised gameplay, he wrote that Nintendo decided to explore new avenues for the Minis, taking inspiration fromLemmings andrailroad puzzles.[6] Tom Sykes ofOfficial Nintendo Magazine was positive to the game and suggested that bothPipe Mania andTetris were positive inspirations for the gameplay inMinis on the Move, culminating in a cleverly realised and challenging set of wind-up puzzles.[20]
Lucas M. Thomas was less favorable towards what he wrote is a Nintendo version of the old-school puzzlerPipe Mania. While derisive of the main game's "randomized tile dispenser", Thomas found the "Puzzle Palace" and "Many Minis Mayhem" modes as highlights of the game.[9]Nintendo Life's Jon Wahlgren found that "every trick in the book is deployed" to create a "constant sense of urgency" with gameplay that is "a little unfair at times". He deemed "the secret best part" ofMinis on the Move to be the minigame "Cube Crash", comparing it toArt Style: Cubello, but overall feeling it was a game that "doesn't really justify the move into3D".[7] Mike Suszek ofJoystiq also compared the game toPipe Mania, though "much more fleshed-out", while calling the minigames simply a "reason to look away from the touch screen". Suszek wrote in summation that the "challenge never materializes".[8]
Chad Sapieha ofNational Post gave it a score of eight out of ten.[25] Liam Martin ofDigital Spy gave it four stars out of five, saying that despite a few minor complaints, largely concerning the bonus content, he called the title an abundant, accessible and entertaining puzzle game.[22] David Jenkins ofMetro similarly gave it a score of eight out of ten, calling it a welcome change of style for the puzzle series.[23]
A breezy, if surprisingly brutal, puzzler that puts full 3DS retail releases to shame.
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| Dr. Mario series |  | |
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| Mario's Picross | ||
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong | ||
| Other games | ||
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