Yep, it's Donkey Kong. It's using the Control Pad to run around and climb ladders while using the jump button to jump over barrels and grab ladders.
When you start the game, you'll get a bit of a demonstration of Mario's new moves, which will be mentioned when the time comes.
World 0
Stage 0-1
The first four stages are the original Donkey Kong game. Climb up the ladders, avoid the barrels, and hit the barrels with the hammers for points if you want to. The hammers don't last forever, though, and they keep you from jumping or climbing ladders. The flames from the oil barrel will keep you from taking too long, so watch your six.
You could play these the original way, but there are new controls for this version of Donkey Kong. The backflip that Proton Jon does is simple. Move in one direction, then immediately press the opposite direction on the Control Pad and the A button at the same time. You'll be able to clear the girders in record time.
Pressing B while using a hammer allows you to throw it upwards. This lets you stop the timer on the hammer so you can throw it above a ladder, climb the ladder, grab the hammer again and then keep using it for as long as you have left on it. There's also a handstand. Down + A lets you perform a handstand, which you can jump out of. If you jump directly after landing on your feet after a handstand jump, you'll do a super jump.
You'll get a time bonus for every second you have left on the clock. These will be totaled in at the end of the world.
Stage 0-2
Here's the pie factory. Keep moving on the conveyor belts and avoid the pies.
The 1-Up heart gives you an extra life. The parasol gives you points.
Stage 0-3
The hat gives you points.
Watch out for the flames as well as the jumping boards that Donkey Kong tosses. The platforms can be used to get through the stage.
Be careful not to touch the spikes at the bottom of the stage.
Stage 0-4
The handbag gives you points.
All you need to do now is to remove the six girders that keep the platforms in place. Once you do that, you'll save Pauline...but not for long! DK gets revenge and steal Pauline again, and this time you're going to have to unlock doors and make your way through several areas just to get her back.
Now the game truly begins.
For every 100 seconds you store from each set of four stages, you'll get an extra life. If you don't have any groups of 100 left, you'll still get an extra one for what you have left.
You'll also see how keys work. Just bring them to locked doors to open them. This is how you'll be completing stages from here on out.
World 1: Big City
Stage 1-1
Instead of chasing Donkey Kong around, you'll now have to find the key and open the door with it to proceed to the next stage.
The flaming oil platform will move up and down, while the duck men will run at you when you're at their level and they can see you.
Here's an interesting new thing you can do with the hammer: you can toss it in mid-air, then catch it on its way down to prolong how long it lasts and take it other areas that you normally wouldn't be able to take it.
Pauline's hat, handbag and parasol appear in every normal stage. If you collect them all, you can play a bonus game when you beat the level. I will be collecting all three of these items in every stage.
To get the key, press B while standing on it to pick it up (a la Super Mario Bros. 2) and Mario will physically lift it. All that's left it to take to the door with the keyhole so Mario can automatically unlock it. You can throw the key to destroy most (but not all) enemies and also make it easier to get to the exit, but it will flash after a while if it hasn't been picked up. Pick the key up again before it returns to its original position. If you get hit while holding the key, you'll drop it instead of losing a life. You can use the B button to throw the key to get rid of enemies or get it somewhere you wouldn't be able to take it while holding it.
You can also stand on top of enemies, pick them up and throw them at enemies, much like in Super Mario Bros. 2 as well. The garbage can can be picked and thrown in the same way. Some enemies can be stood on and picked up, while others cannot.
The slot machine bonus game will allow you to get some extra lives. Thankfully, it's pretty generous, so expect to get at least one extra life out of it.
Stage 1-2
The mice will walk all over the platform they're on. When they reach the end, they walk of the side and then walk upside down before reaching another edge and turning themselves right-side up again.
The wire lets Mario perform some wicked jumps. Just hang off of one, then hold Up on the Control Pad. The faster Mario spins on the wire, the higher you'll launch Mario when you press A.
The wheel mini-game will give you either a 1-Up or a 2-Up. At least you get something.
Stage 1-3
Even in this version of the game, it is still possible to be hit while Mario is holding the hammer straight up. Be careful.
To do a handstand, hold Down on the Control Pad while jumping. Pressing A again during the handstand will let you do a slightly higher jump. If you press A right when you do the handstand, the jump will be even higher.
Some trash cans will come alive when you stand on them, and slowly walk back and forth.
Sparks will travel through telephone wires, and will shock to the touch.
You cannot destroy flames by throwing enemies at them, but you can throw enemies to them and ride enemies over the flames by standing on them.
Stage 1-4
After three regular stages, you will face a boss battle with Donkey Kong. Whenever you beat him, the amount of time you had left from this and the last three stages will be totaled up and converted into more extra lives, just like at the beginning of the game.
This one is simple enough. Get to Pauline while avoiding the falling debris that DK causes to rain down. Use your handstand to block falling objects, and use your handstand jump and backflip to get around more quickly.
When you beat this boss battle, you'll also be introduced to a new game mechanic: magical platforms. Collect the arrow that points in two directions to create a bridge or ladder (depending on the arrow) and you'll be able to get around.
Stage 1-5
You'll be able to test out the magical platform here. Just touch the icon, then place the bridge where you want to put it. The bridge will disappear after nine seconds (once the music for the magic platforms is playing at its fastest speed), so hurry up.
Be careful when falling. If you fall from high enough, Mario will tuck and roll when he lands. If he jumps from a little higher, Mario will land on his back and will be stunned for about two seconds. If you jump from too high up, Mario will land on his head and die.
Stage 1-6
Now you get to play around with magical ladders, and use both the magical bridges and ladders in tandem. Another very simple stage. Just watch out for those fireballs with legs. They can also walk on walls and ceilings.
When placing magical platforms and ladders, make sure that nothing is in the way. Pick-up locations for things such as hammers, hats, parasols and handbags will be treated as solid objects by the magical platforms and ladders. Also, magical ladders and magical platforms cannot go through each other.
If you use more than one magical environment changer, you'll reset the timer on the platforms and ladders that you have created. When the timer ends and the special music stops, everything will disappear at once. Remember this for future stages.
If you complete a stage in 50 seconds or less, Mario will close the door behind him when you put the key in the exit door.
Stage 1-7
Be sure to place the magical bridge so that it's either lined up with or ends up going underneath the platform where the exit is. That way, you can more easily avoid the duck guy (which I've learned is called a Rappie).
Stage 1-8
This time, you fight Donkey Kong. Stop the barrels with your Handstand (or let the barrels hit the walls to the side) and throw them at Donkey Kong. Three will do him in.
You'll then be introduced to switches before getting some extra lives. Hold B and use the D-Pad when over them to flip them.
World 2: Forest
Stage 2-1
This stage is very easy. The bugs around here will walk on walls and ceilings, much like the mice. The spiders have spikes on them, and unlike most enemies, even jumping on them to hitch a ride will immediately kill you.
Hit the switch to trigger the bridges. This allows you to get everything, including the key, and get to the exit.
If you leave the key outside of where you found it long enough, it will start flashing. If you don't pick the key back up quickly, it will return back to where you found it, and you'll have to go find it all over again.
Stage 2-2
The switch here will trigger more of the platforms. In the middle position, both the left and right sets of platforms will stand still. If you move the switch right, the left moves down while the right moves up. If you move it to the left, however, the opposite is true: the left moves up and while the right moves down.
As long as you can effectively use the switch and keep from touching the spider running around in a circle in this stage, this stage can still be pretty easy. Just make sure you're not holding the key if the spider touches you, as that causes Mario to be stunned and drop the key, which makes progressing more difficult than it can already be at times.
