Sonic Games

With the craze of forthcoming Beijing Olympics 2008, Sega tried to go for a new concept in their SONIC GAMES> in the market. What comes in your mind with this, Sonic and Mario in one game? Yes you are very close to the answer. This is the first game to bring Sega and Nintendo mascots together in one game. This game is officially licensed by the IOC (International Olympics committee) through exclusive license by International sports multimedia. It was released on Nintendo on November 2007 and is the first official video game of Olympics 2008.

Mario and Sonic isn't meant for the hardcore audience, instead it's meant for casual crowd. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic feature three different game modes: circuit mode, single mode and mission match. Overall it's a collection of 24 different Olympic Games including track, field, gymnastics, shooting, rowing, fencing, aquatics and table-tennis. Beside these normal events game also features dream events. These are regular mini games with new twists consisting basketball, boxing, canoeing, fencing, long jump, platform and race events. Dream events allow players to use special abilities of character and display moments in slow motion. The only problem with dream race is that it's really exhausting as you have to shake your arms really hard. Also you are allowed to play events individually but you have to play through three, four or five events in a circuit to unlock full selection list.

Major strength of Mario and SONIC GAME is its variation in its complexity. It involves both high skilled and low skilled games. In most of the games you require wii remote and Nunchuks movements, like moving it up and down for running and swimming events. Up to 4 players can compete and can play only with wii if you are out of Nunchuks. Also they have tried to put maximum variation in different events so that they don't look monotonous. Like swimming and running event could have used the same controller but they have put in a stamina meter and an extra button press in swimming event to differentiate it from other events. Also they have changed the basic mechanic of the games like instead of 100 meter track event they have used a Mario kart style circuit with sand traps and prize boxes.

Presentation wise neither Sonic nor Mario seem to have got much attention as you have hoped for having seen Super Mario Galaxy or plat former games from SONIC THE HEDGEHOG GAMES series. Also the game play is very shallow when considered on the level of wii sports. But still the game was a success within a first few weeks after its release and was a top selling game in different regions of world.

Information related to purchasing of this game is featured in many SONIC GAMES ONLINE site. Overall Sonic and Mario is a stylish tie-in to the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing and a must buy for every Sonic as well as Mario game lover.