Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle - Donkey Kong Adventure

A symphony of swinging and soaring. It sings! [Issue #35 – September/October 2018, p. 18]

When it comes to DLC, Nintendo has cultivated a reputation for providing substantial content, and here Ubisoft continues that tradition. The humor that was spot on in Mario Rabbids translates perfectly to the Donkey Kong franchise. With all the great titles on the horizon it can feel difficult to circle back to a one year old game, but Donkey Kong Adventure is a can’t miss experience that so far ranks as one of the best for 2018.

Donkey Kong Adventure clocks in at around 3-4 hours just to complete the story, though you can add on another few hours if you’re trying to do everything the DLC has to offer. It’s every bit as good as the main campaign, yet it manages to work in some new additions and surprises to keep things fresh. Even if you have no interest in the other components of the Mario + Rabbids season pass, Donkey Kong Adventure is easily worth the price, and it’s the next best thing to a proper sequel.

The new additional content for Mario+Rabbids: Kingston Battle has a very conservative line but it isn’t exempt from playable news(novelties) and from content that refresh an almost perfect pattern.

A DK-lover’s delight, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Donkey Kong Adventure condenses the best parts of the base game into a single, self-contained experience. A narrower focus on three characters enhances the strong tactical experience while keeping the goofy Mario & Rabbids charm. Musically, Kirkhope’s best-of compilation elevates DK Adventure to a must-play for Donkey Kong enthusiasts.

The Donkey Kong Adventure DLC brings a fresh angle to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, giving fans of the original something different to get their teeth into. It’s less daunting than the main game, with some truly powerful characters often making short work of the slightly-lessened enemy onslaught, but blasting through the campaign in this way offers a nice way to enjoy the comical ride. The lack of character options is perhaps the only downer here, taking away some of the deeper strategy involved in the full game, but we still loved every moment of our time with DK and friends.

Donkey Kong has arrived and did it in style. Rabbids style that is, because the world of DK has been invaded by Rabbids in this DLC. It’s a hilarious addition to a great game, but has a few minor flaws. Still, if you have the game, you need this too.

A clever addition to Mario + Rabbids that plays to the original’s strengths without takings many risks. While Donkey Kong Adventure likely won’t win the game any new fans, it’s a treat for anyone who were left wanting more. The expansion trims some of the fat from the original, delivering a quick, focused game that quits while it’s ahead.

Excellent.

Donkey Kong is a pleasant expansion, with a gameplay changed and adapted to the needs of the characters. Inspired, colorful, passionate, he only sins in the repetitiveness of his enemies.

A great way to expand the original Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle game. The new characters will give us really fun moments and introduce innovative and very well-designed mechanics, which make this DLC one of the best on Switch.

A great way to expand the fun in Mario + Rabbids. This DLC is the best example of how to add value to a videogame.

Solidly grounded on what Mario + The Lapins Crétins Kingdom Battle had already built, this DLC renews the original experience with different tactics and handsome new levels.

A beautiful DLC, that could have been even better with some more enemy variety, but builds brilliantly on the basics of the original game. If you loved Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, get Donkey Kong Adventure.

Donkey Kong Adventure is a very good add-on to the original Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle which provides plenty of fun. The XCOM-lite formula works well and you'll need a good 10h of play to get thru this DLC. A very decent offer indeed.

Extensive DLC with great humor, funny new skills and a beautiful world in DK style. A must-have for all fans.

A new adventure in an old coat is a great addition to the original game. It will entertain and won´t let go for several evenings. Its only downside is the separation from the game itself. [Issue#288]

Donkey Kong Adventure is a very welcome expansion to the Mario + Rabbids universe and even if it is not the most ambitious expansion of all time, what it adds to the main game in terms of three marvelous characters and the variety of enemies and goals that come along with them is more than enough to make any fans of the original game fully satisfied with this additional element.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Donkey Kong Adventure is a very well done side story to the main game. Everything that made the base game so enjoyable is practically unchanged here, while the new characters make the game a blast to play for those who have already beaten the main campaign. It would've been nice to change out characters, and it also would've been neat to see Rabbid Peach's progress carry over between campaigns, but fans of the original should pick up this DLC.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle - Donkey Kong Adventure turns out to be much less focused on strategy this time around but more on the actual enjoyment of the story and universe with more laid back battles that are easier to approach than the rest of the full package, in no small part due to how powerful Donkey Kong and Rabbid Cranky are in battle. The base game had lots of charm with its colourful and humorous universe and this is all intact here, if not even more pleasant than ever before.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Kingdom Donkey Kong Adventure is a guide for how to make DCLs these days. 10 hours of fun and novelties that extends the original concept (an idea with a solid construction).

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Donkey Kong Adventure is a great add-on for those who enjoyed the original game. It’s a fairly conservative expansion, simply providing a new tropical coat of paint. It’s perhaps too limited, since you only get three characters (one repeat), and nothing transfers over to your main files. However, that doesn’t take away from its fun factor. Donkey Kong is an absolute blast in battle, throwing out all the rules with his powerful abilities. If anything, this expansion has given me hope for what’s to come in this ambitious crossover.

Feels almost big enough to be a sequel to Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle rather than just an expansion, and it packs in a lot of tactical fun. Donkey Kong is literally a game-changing character with abilities that are fun to learn and use, and Cranky Kong’s alright, too. The main downside is that you’re locked into one team composition, which limits your ability to change up your playstyle or replay battles differently.

An admirably excellent slice of DLC that shares the same high production values as the original and adds plenty of unique features of its own.

It's not as interesting as it could've been, but the Donkey Kong Adventures DLC is a worthy addition to the core Mario + Rabbids experience.

Quotation forthcoming.

Ultimately, Donkey Kong Adventure is more Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, even if it overstays its welcome just a little bit. While its core gameplay is enjoyable, it does tend to get a bit repetitious, especially after long play sessions. Enjoy this one in smaller chunks and you’ll be just fine.

Donkey Kong Adventure is a worthy addition to the Kingdom Battle experience. The DLC's universe is a fun and colorful as the original game's while the new characters and battles add some freshness to the mix. We hope it's not the last we hear from Rabbid Peach and Rabbid Cranky.

The inability to bring any of the new characters and weapons back into the main game relegates Donkey Kong Adventure to being a fun but forgettable detour. I still enjoyed my return trip to Mario + Rabbids’ wacky world, but hopefully the next visit is more meaningful.