Plus Mode
Plus Mode is a feature in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. It is unlocked once all normal levels are cleared and changes how the player plays the game.
Plus Mode has currently appeared in only four games in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, those being Mario vs. Donkey Kong, its Nintendo Switch remake, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
History
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong and its Nintendo Switch remake, as stated above Plus Mode is unlocked once all normal levels are cleared. Upon completing vs. Donkey Kong, a cutscene will play showing Donkey Kong falling off the building where the "credits" will play. Once that's done, the game will show Donkey Kong still falling and onto a truck full of Mini-Marios. This prompts Donkey Kong to steal those Mini-Marios, and forcing Mario to give chase once more, allowing the player access to the Plus Mode.
The following changes will occur during Plus Mode:
- All World names, (except for Mario Toy Company which has been named Mario Toy Factory) will have the word "plus" at the end of their names e.g. Spooky House will become Spooky House Plus. Additionally the levels themselves will have the plus symbol next to them. (Note: this feature has been carried over to Mario vs. Donkey Kong Minis March Again!)
- The background of all worlds will change slightly (Note: this feature has also been carried over to Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! as well as Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!).
- All Mini-Mario levels will be absent due to you already collecting the toys in the levels and bringing them to the goal.
- Consequently there are only seven levels per world as opposed to eight.
- The layout of all levels have been completely changed, essentially turning the game into a puzzle game, the objective of each level has also been changed with Mario having to guide a Key Mini Mario to the goal.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong Minis March Again!, Plus Mode is unlocked in the same way as Mario vs. Donkey Kong, with the player having to beat Floor 4 Donkey Kong to unlock it. The cutscene this time shows Mario entering a Door, and finding Pauline inside of it and after the credits are finished Donkey Kong shows up, turns off the light and kidnaps Pauline again with Mario and his duo of Mini Marios jumping from the balcony to give chase.
In this game, most of the changes of Plus Mode are the same while introducing some new ones. The changes are as follows:
- Just like in Mario vs. Donkey Kong all world levels have the word "Plus" and all level names have the plus symbol at the end of them.
- The menu music in Plus Mode is more intense as opposed to keeping the same music.
- In fact all music in Plus Mode is different, which is a feature exclusive to this title, with Mini Mayhem's and Sandstone Stroll's music in Plus Mode being new compositions, while Magnet Mania's music is a faster version of the Spooky Attic remix from Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, and all three of Jungle Rumble's individual soundtracks being remixes of songs from other Mario vs. Donkey Kong games. With the first soundtrack being a remix of the first theme of Fire Mountain from the GBA version of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and the second theme being a remix of the third soundtrack of Fire Mountain again from the GBA version of Mario vs. Donkey Kong and the third soundtrack being a remix of the fourth theme of Twilight City, once again from the GBA version of Mario vs. Donkey Kong.
- The biggest change however is the levels, instead of the player being able to get all the resources they need to complete the level. A box with the word "Start" will show up and tapping it with the stylus will result in a 3-second countdown and once that runs out all minis will automatically start moving.
