Dr. Mario Assembly Project

Project Overview

This project implements a simplified version of the classic arcade game Dr. Mario using MIPS assembly language. The game involves aligning falling capsules to eliminate viruses, combining logic, strategy, and speed. It was developed and tested using the MARS and Saturn IDEs, featuring a bitmap display and keyboard input simulation.

This project was completed as part of CSC258H1: Computer Organization at the University of Toronto.

Features Implemented

Milestone 1: Static Scene Rendering

• Medicine Bottle: The playing field is rendered as a vertical grid resembling a medicine bottle.
• Initial Capsule: A two-halved capsule with random colors (red, yellow, or blue) is generated at the default starting position.

Milestone 2: Basic Controls and Gameplay

• Keyboard Controls:
  • W rotates the capsule clockwise.
  • A moves the capsule left.
  • D moves the capsule right.
  • S drops the capsule quickly.
  • Q quits the game.
• Frame Update: The game screen updates at 60 frames per second to ensure smooth gameplay.

Milestone 3: Collision Detection

• Wall Collision: Capsules stop moving horizontally when hitting the playing field boundaries.
• Stack Collision: Capsules stop falling when landing on other capsules, viruses, or the bottom of the field.
• Clearing Rows: Four or more aligned blocks of the same color are removed, and unsupported blocks fall. This process repeats if additional alignments occur.
• Game Over: The game ends when a new capsule cannot be placed at the top of the field.

Milestones 4 & 5: Additional Gameplay Features

• Gravity: Capsules automatically descend one row every second.
• Increasing Speed: Gravity speed increases over time or after clearing a certain number of rows.
• Game Over Screen: Displays a "Game Over" message in pixels and allows for restarting.
• Sound Effects:
  • Capsule rotation, drop, and row clearing.
  • Game over notification.
• Pause Feature: Pause the game with P and resume with P again.
• Preview Panel: Shows the next 4-5 capsules dynamically, helping players strategize.
• Themed Graphics: Dr. Mario and virus sprites on side panels emulate the original game's aesthetics.
• Background Music: Plays the Dr. Mario theme music for a nostalgic experience.

How to Play

1. Open DrMario.asm in either MARS or Saturn IDE.
2. Configure the bitmap display:
   • Base Address: 0x10008000
   • Display Width: 256 pixels
   • Display Height: 256 pixels
   • Unit Size: 2x2 pixels
3. Ensure the keyboard input is connected and focused.
4. Run the program and use the following controls:
   • W: Rotate the capsule clockwise.
   • A: Move the capsule left.
   • D: Move the capsule right.
   • S: Drop the capsule quickly.
   • P: Pause/Resume the game.
   • Q: Quit the game.
5. Aim to eliminate viruses by aligning rows or columns of four matching blocks.

License and Copyright

This project is developed as part of an academic assignment and is not intended for commercial use.

Copyright (c) 2024 Reena Obmina & Nena Harsch

All rights reserved. Redistribution or use of the code, in whole or in part, without explicit permission from the authors is prohibited. This project is a tribute to the classic game Dr. Mario and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo.

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