Dr. Mario Online RX

Overview

Dr. Mario Online Rx, stylized as Dr. Mario Online ℞, known in Japan as Dr. Mario & Saikin Bokumetsu and in Europe as Dr. Mario & Germ Buster, is a falling-block tile-matching puzzle game developed by Arika and published digitally by Nintendo for the Wii (as a WiiWare title) in Japan on March 25, 2008, with a European release on May 20, 2008 and a North American release on May 26, 2008. Since the closure of the Wii Shop Channel on January 30, 2019, there is currently no way to purchase it.

Part of the Dr. Mario series and the first in the series to be developed by Arika (who were previously known for the Tetris: The Grand Master series), Dr. Mario Online Rx brings the classic Dr. Mario formula to the Wii while adding a unique motion control mode based on the "Virus Buster" mini-game from the Brain Age series. It also adds online multiplayer and Mii support.

The game later received three sequels from Arika, all of which were downloadable: the Nintendo DS game Dr. Mario Express, the Wii U game Dr. Luigi, and the Nintendo 3DS game Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure.

Gameplay

Dr. Mario

The traditional Dr. Mario experience, with players manipulating falling two-block capsules (of which each block can be one of three colors: blue, yellow, and red) and attempting to use them to clear Viruses scattered throughout the 8×16 playfield (by using both to form a horizontal or vertical line with four-or-more blocks of the same color). This mode does not use any of the system's motion controls.

Along with the standard stage-based "Classic" mode (known in the Japanese version as "Original"), the game includes two versus modes (which can be played in player-vs-player and player-vs-CPU matches), each with their own unique objective:

• Classic - Be the first to clear all Viruses from their board, or have your opponent top out.

• Flash - Be the first to clear three "flashing" Viruses (one of each color) from the board, or have your opponent top out.

This mode supported online multiplayer via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, including support for both ranked matches and friend matches. In addition, players were able to send access to a limited "Friend Battle Demo" to their friends, which could only be used to play directly against a friend who had the full game.

Virus Buster

Known in Japan as "Saikin Bokumetsu" (or "Bacteria Eradication") and in Europe as "Germ Buster", Virus Buster is based on the mini-game of the same name from the Brain Age series and utilizes motion controls to play classic Dr. Mario in a new way.

Utilizing a smaller 6×10 playfield with larger blocks, this mode's gameplay involves pointing the Wii Remote at the screen, manipulating falling capsules by clicking and dragging them (with A/B button taps rotating them and A/B button holds moving them). Similar to classic Dr. Mario, players attempt to complete each Level by clearing all Viruses from the board.

Unlike classic Dr. Mario, where only the one dropped capsule can be manipulated at a time, Virus Buster allows players to manipulate capsules (and capsule halves) falling due to a clear below it, making it easier to form chain reactions. In addition, new capsules are dropped regularly regardless if there's anything else falling, and the game eventually drops more than one capsule (up to three) after enough time has passed in the Level.

While there is only one game mode, it can be played with up to four local players co-operatively, with all players sharing the same playfield.