I've heard DK '94 (or maybe '96) called a predecessor to Mario vs. Donkey Kong; the first set of stages is the arcade classic (except that the special moves used to make the later stages easier, such as the backflip, are already usable), followed by stages similar to those that would later be seen in MvDK, except without Mini Marios. Also, if memory serves correctly, it was the first game to have a special color scheme when played on the Super Game Boy.
The '90s had Yoshi.