Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
August 10th 2008 10:24
This year, the Beijing 2008 Olympics seems to be the hottest event. And given the fervour in this age, it is no surprise that we now have official video games based on the Olympics. Today, Sega is in charge of developing video games based on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and they have developed two games, the first one being the fantasy themed Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games and the other game (released recently) simply titled Beijing 2008. This is a review of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (MSOG for short), which is available on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS, based on the Nintendo Wii version.
The fact that MSOG is a fantasy-themed Beijing 2008 video game is not the reason why it is special. The real reason this game created a buzz was because this was the very first time that Mario (representing Nintendo) and Sonic (representing Sega) appeared in a video game together. All the more surprise, since during the ’90s, Sega and Nintendo were locked in an intense rivalry and that made their respective mascots rivals as well.
MSOG pits these two mascots against each other in an athletic competition and people who grew up gaming in the 90s will surely see this as a dream match. But let us face it, Sonic and Mario destroying each other in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (released this year) is what we all ‘really’ wanted. Unfortunately, this one is no clash of the Titans.
The game features a variety in events with each designed to make unique use of the Wiimote and Nunchuck controller in order to create a physical and interactive gaming experience. The events include table tennis, rowing, track and field, swimming, gymnastics and hammer tossing, etc., and the game does a good job of covering/recreating the essential Olympic events while adding a few distinct fantasy elements.
Unfortunately, MSOG is simply not as much fun as you would expect a sport game on Nintendo Wii to be. The motion sensing control mechanics are not as fluid, responsive or intuitive as the one featured in Wii Sports and Wii Play; instead the controls of MSOG feel a bit broken, restricted and awkward, killing the sheer fun factor that such Wii games should have.
That aside, there is some good old-fashioned fun — if you do not expect it to be better than Wii Sports, which was surprisingly accurate and reasonably realistic in terms of motion sensing controls. MSOG simply fails to capture the feel and essence of the Olympic events featured.
The graphics are bright and colourful with some great particle effects thrown in, but nothing really praiseworthy. The weak graphics of MSOG is no surprise since this is the case with the graphics of most Wii games nowadays, but at least the visual style and presentation is pleasing, cheerful and uplifting.
Music is not so bad; the game features dramatic music of sorts — the kind one would hear during an Olympic television broadcast — mixed with a few cheerful tunes. There are also some interesting sound effects that seem to come straight out of a platformer game.
This game offers some great multiplayer party potential, and there are several events to unlock and modes to play around with. But Olympic theme aside, MSOG is yet another ‘mini game collection’ for the Nintendo Wii.
At the end of the day, MSOG feels just too gimmicky, and even though the idea is original, the execution is a big yawn to say the least. This one does not even deserve a bronze medal.
Overall: 5/10
Pros
— Mario and Sonic in the same game!
— Interesting idea and concept.
— It is a fun game (sometimes).
Cons
— Controls are not as fluid, responsive or intuitive as they could (and should) have been.
— Weak graphics.
— Too gimmicky, execution is not very good.
— It is just another collection of mini games like most Wii games.
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