Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games review

Mario and Sonic, once bitter rivals, together in the same game, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games? Yes, it’s true! Mario and Sonic are together at the Olympics. This is a collection of "mini Olympic games," twenty real Olympic games plus a few made up ones, including events in track and field, archery, skeet shooting, table tennis, and gymnastics. Some of the games are quite good, but honestly, some are pretty lame, although the graphics are nice. Some of the games are initially locked until you unlock them through your skill in playing.

Characters from both the Mario and Sonic worlds are together and please, for example Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Daisy, Wario, Peach, Sonic, Tails, Dr Eggman, Shadow, Vector, Amy and many many more. Different characters have different strengths, either all-around, technical, speed, or power. For example, Mario has all-around strength, Peach and Tails are strong in the technical department, Yoshi and Sonic are speed experts, while Bowser and Knuckles excel in the power department. The characters and their visuals/graphics are not only good, but also a real strength, especially for fans or Mario and Sonic. You can also use your Miis.

Some of these mini games use the Wii controls to control motion: some use just the Wii remote while others use both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Most involve some combination of holding down or pressing the B button at specific times, often while waving the Nunchuk. The mechanics of some of the games are clumsy, although some are quite nice. Some people will get bored with things like waving the Nunchuk while pretending to run.

Some games are tough and require precise timing, yet the directions are poor. You’ll probably yell at the screen in frustration. With others you may set world records pretty quickly.

Fencing and table tennis are two games that get mixed reviews; some think they are just great and authentic, others find them just clumsy and frustrating. We think more effort should have gone into designing them. Archery and the made up games are excellent. Many of the racing events are just too similar.

The game has four different modes of play.

In Single Event mode up to 4 players compete in any event.
With Circuit Mode up to players compete in one of 4 circuits where each circuit containing 3 pre selected events. There is also a Free Circuit where you choose the events yourself.
Mission Mode is a single player mode. Each character has different challenges which are specific goals for single event. For example, Yoshi's swimming challenge is to complete the 100m Freestyle in 48-52 seconds
Gallery Mode is a funky Olympic Trivia mode, but some of the questions have nothing to do with the Olympics. Five categories of Olympics related trivia and corresponding minigames that unlock the answers to trivia questions - funky and fun.

Pros: Mario & Sonic characters together in the same game and done very well! Killer production quality. Multiplayer mode is great with up to four people. Over 20 mini games or events so you’re bound to like at least some. The Olympic games are very true to the real Olympics.

Cons: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has clumsy controls. Most games don’t offer very much and are very basic. Some are more complicated, frustrating, and have poor directions.

Overall: It doesn't get a gold medal, but a bronze. Still a medal, and still impressive.

Great characters, repetitive gameplay, mixed reviews. We don’t quite get why some people love this so much – maybe because they are long term Mario or Sonic fans?

Try (perhaps rent) before you buy. Yes, some people love Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, but others get bored within a couple hours and put the game away forever.