DS Review: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

The last couple of years have seen a huge explosion of games in a relatively new genre: mini-game collections. Mario Party, WarioWare, and Bomberman Land are some shining examples of console games that have already received inatallments on the DS. Numerous popular game characters have found themselves spun off into their own party titles as well, including Rayman, Pac-Man, and, to some extent, the Hero of Time himself Link, with the recent release of Link’s Crossbow Training for the Wii. Needless to say, a ton of intellectual properties based on movies and TV shows have milked the genre to its fullest. It’s easy to see that developers view mini-game collections as the ‘easy’ route; usually consisting of a simple compilation of various basic game engines with some unlockables. They are easy to make and don’t take much development time, so no wonder we have so many of them. Sometimes, however, a development team goes beyond the basic mini-game formula and creates a more robust package, a well-made blend of various genres and gameplay mechanics that ultimately make up a good game. The folks at Sega have done just that with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, previously released for the Nintendo Wii and now available for the Nintendo DS.


Sure, the premise of a mini-game compilation can very well signal an average-to-bad game, but Mario & Sonic shows its original side in different ways. For starters, instead of offering a large amount of simplistic games, this title is made up of ‘advanced mini-games’, far more sophisticated that repetitive button presses and luck-based scenarios. There are over ten games available from start, with unlockable sporting events that eventually add up to a total of 24 games. Being true to the Olympics and the overall sports atmosphere, these games consist of various Olympic challenges such as Fencing, Javelin or Hammer Throw, 100 or 400 meter Races, Archery, etc. Some games function with a variety of touch screen inputs, others require the use of the D-pad and face buttons, whereas a couple of games utilize a well-implemented combination of both control methods. There are a few simple games that require a single task to be repeated. For example, 100 m. Race has you rubbing the touch screen left and right to race down to the finish line, and Hammer Throw requires you to spin circles with the stylus and release the hammer with good timing. These and a couple more events might have you believe that the game’s core mechanics are repetitive and simplistic, but other games—especially the locked ones—depict the game’s true potential.

Table Tennis, for instance, has you hitting a ping-pong ball back and forth, allowing you to send a faster ball if you hit it with good timing. Trampoline increases in complexity as the game progresses; you start by sliding the stylus in certain directions, then in zigzag motions, then sideways, in circles, or in taps, in a random order and at a frantic pace. In 10 m. Platform, first you build up power for a higher jump, then you perform a sequence of mid-air spins, and finally you must attempt to dive in the pool as horizontally as possible for a higher score. Games such as these, with multiple sections each with a different play mechanic, separate the game from standard mini-game collections and give it a deeper and more meaningful playing experience. Among some of the unique features of this version are Dream Events, which are games that keep the sports feel while adding standard gaming mechanics such as power-ups and special moves. These Dream Events are the most fun of the bunch, with the most interesting mechanics, too, such as Mario Kart-style foot races and canoe battles. Other Dream Events include Basketball, Boxing, and a frenetic and enjoyable upgrade to standard Table Tennis. Some standard events are simple but fun; others are more complex and enjoyable, but the ‘bee’s knees’ are in the sophisticated and fun Dream Events. Variety amongst the games is well implemented, and the different levels of sophistication make a good transition from simple to complex while retaining a good amount of fun factor for casual and hardcore gamers alike.

The games are diverse, and so are the ways to play them. A good mix of Mario and Sonic characters made the cut, such as the Mario Bros., Peach and Yoshi, as well as Sonic, Tails, Amy and Shadow, plus others. Characters are grouped based on their prominent sills, such as Power or Speed. Certain characters might be more appropriate for some events; you should experiment with each to achieve the highest scores possible. You can enter a Single Match and shoot for the gold medal on each event against CPU opponents. There is also Mission Mode, which consists of a mix of various events with specific tasks to complete, unique to each character. The core single-player experience, however, lies inside Circuits, which are arrangements of pre-set events that put you against three CPU opponents. The better you perform, the more points you get, and if you manage to take home the gold you unlock further Circuits, which feature more games and more challenging rivals. By clearing Circuits, you unlock the rest of the game’s events, making this game mode even more enjoyable and addictive. You can also check your high scores in Records, as well as any medals, trophies or emblems you unlock in Single Match or Circuits. Perfectionists are in for a treat, as there are tons of emblems to collect, including medals for each character. There is also a Gallery with a few, simpler mini-games that unlock answers to trivia questions regarding the Olympic Games of now and then, as well as some neat Mario and Sonic musical pieces. These mini-games are a nice diversion, but their simplicity and lack of challenge are a long shot away from the game’s core system.

Mario & Sonic features a good presentation, with a nice soundtrack that isn’t utterly obnoxious as some other games from the genre. Sound effects are also well made, including the announcer’s and character’s voices. The game’s graphics are a bit of a mix; most character models are well made and properly animated, whereas some effects, such as the crowd, shadows, and water elements could’ve been improved. Overall the game is well presented aesthetically and feels clean and mostly well-designed. Thorough game descriptions are presented for each event, and although you might have to try a game a few times you will eventually get the hang on things. A bit of a grip we had with the game is its overall lack of challenge in single player mode; computer-controlled characters are easy to defeat and only become more difficult in the last couple of Circuits.

Multiplayer is also present, and not to say that the single player experience isn’t good, but this game is best suited for competitive play against unpredictable human opponents. You can engage on any event using multiple copies of the game with up to four players, and there’s also DS Download Play with a limited set of events for a group of DS gamers with only one Mario & Sonic game card. Multiplayer runs smoothly and loads quickly, making the experience even more enjoyable. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for DS, like its Wii companion, doesn’t feature online play, which would’ve been great, but you can send your high scores to a Leaderboard and see how you rank up against the rest of the world. Downloading the latest records takes about a minute, and you can see the top scores as well as those close to yours. There is no connectivity between this game and its Wii complement, but this isn’t surprising seeing how Wii / DS connectivity is yet to flourish. Regarding which version of the game is best, it really narrows down to personal preference and other minor factors. Both games are fun, control well and responsively, and are a blast to play with friends. It depends; do you have DS-gaming friends, or a bunch of extra Wii Remotes? Do you mind a $20 price difference, the DS version being cheaper? Are you a stylus or Wii Remote user? Either way, both versions are worthy additions to your collection.

The DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games doesn’t bring anything new to the table, but it does make up an enjoyable experience with above-average mini-games, good replay value, and fun and diverse multiplayer support. Different mechanics for most of the games keep things interesting, and an overall good design and presentation top off the game very nicely. Anyone looking for ‘advanced mini-games’ or a great multiplayer title should look no further, and owners of the game’s Wii version can have the perfect handheld complement to the console game. After many years, Mario & Sonic join forces and deliver a good single player game and a better multiplayer experience.

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