MARIO + Rabbids KINGDOM BATTLE: Donkey Kong Adventure

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 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.

Donkey Kong Adventure adequately recaptures the same lighthearted irreverence and manic battles of the base game, but as much as I still enjoy the combat, simply offering more of the same feels a little late at this point. 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.

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 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. If you’re craving more Rabbids mayhem, give this one a whirl.

The two new characters are great, with Donkey Kong’s abilities changing up the gameplay considerably. Substantial amount of content that refuses to cut corners. 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.