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Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (マリオ&ソニック AT バンクーバーオリンピック Mario ando Sonikku atto Bankūbā Orinpikku?, Mario & Sonic at the Vancouver Olympics) is a sports game by Sega, published by Nintendo in Japan and by Sega in North America and Europe. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through exclusive licensee "International Sports Multimedia". The game is the third official crossover title to feature characters from both Mario and Sonic The Hedgehog's respective universes. It's been released on the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS on October 13, 2009, and is the first announced video game based around the 2010 Winter Olympics.[1]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games enables players to assume the role of a Mario or Sonic character while competing against the others in Winter Olympic events.[1] The EU release was on October 16th, 2009.
Gameplay
Some of the events in the Wii game use the Balance Board accessory. The multiplayer mode offers "co-op and competitive gameplay" whereas the DS version uses its wireless capabilities.[1]
Adventure mode
Toad meeting Sonic in Adventure mode.
The DS version also has an adventure mode: Eggman and Bowser kidnap the winter spirits. Without them, all the snow in various areas melts and the Olympic Games are spoiled. It's up to Sonic and Mario to save them by retrieving the spirits and save the games. Along the way they will find old friends and enemies ready to help them or slow them down. Neither Sonic or Mario can talk in the game, their dialogues are spoken by Toad. In the game, Mario and Sonic find news briefs hidden in barrels, crates and pots which give brief snippets of information about both universes' characters (although the facts given are things long-time fans of both series have known for years). In addition, the heroes can pick up leaves from maple trees which give facts and trivia about the real world Olympic Games and famous athletes.
Development
In January 2009, an article in the Spanish Nintendo magazine Nintendo Acción mentioned a sequel to Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, to be created for the 2010 Winter Olympics.[2] Both IGN and Eurogamer received confirmation on the games' existence, with IGN stating that game would be officially announced within the following month.[3][4] Dennis Kim, licensing and merchandising director for the event, stated in February that a Mario & Sonic title "[is] being discussed and planned for Vancouver". Kim also stated that Vancouver 2010 and the IOC will share royalties from this game.[5]
The official announcement did arrive within the month as predicted, the game's title being given as Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games at a joint press release by Sega and Nintendo on February 12, 2009.[1]
Events
All the events of the game include:
Wii Version
Olympic Events
- Alpine Skiing - Downhill
- Alpine Skiing - Giant Slalom
- Ski Jumping - Individual Large Hill
- Ski Jumping - Team Large Hill
- Freestyle Skiing - Moguls
- Freestyle Skiing - Ski Cross
- Snowboard - Halfpipe
- Snowboard - Snowboard Cross
- Skating - Speed Skating 500m
- Skating - Short Track 1000m
- Skating - Short Track Relay
- Figure Skating
- Bobsleigh - Skeleton
- Bobsleigh
- Ice Hockey
- Curling
Dream Events
Bowser and Dr. Eggman racing on Radical Highway in Dream Snowboard Cross
- Dream Alpine - Individual (Seaside Hill)
- Dream Alpine - Team (Seaside Hill)
- Dream Ski Jumping - Individual
- Dream Ski Jumping - Team
- Dream Ski Cross - Individual
- Dream Ski Cross - Team
- Dream Snowboard Cross - Individual (Radical Highway)
- Dream Snowboard Cross - Team (Radical Highway)
- Dream Short Track (Egg Factory)
- Dream Figure Skating
- Dream Bobsleigh
- Dream Ice Hockey
- Dream Curling
- Dream Snowball Fight
- Dream Gliding - Individual
- Dream Gliding - Team
DS Version
Mario and Sonic in a Dream Event on the DS Version
Olympic Events
- Skiing - Alpine Skiing GS
- Skiing - Moguls
- Skiing - Nordic Combined
- Skiing - Ski Jumping LH
- Skiing - Cross-Country
- Skating - Speed Skating 500m
- Skating - Short Track 500m
- Skating - Figure Skating
- Snowboard - Snowboard Cross
- Bobsleigh
- Bobsleigh - Skeleton
- Ice Hockey
- Curling
- Biathlon
- Luge
Dream Events
- Dream Skiing - Ski Cross Racing
- Dream Skiing - Rocket Ski Jumping
- Dream Skiing - Super Sonic Downhill
- Dream Skating - Intense Short Track
- Dream Skating - Ultimate Figure Skating
- Dream Snowboard - Extreme Snow Boarding
- Dream Snowboard - Deluxe Halfpipe
- Dream Bobsleigh - Blazing Bobsleigh
- Dream Ice Hockey - Fever Hockey
- Dream Curling - Curling Bowling
- Dream Biathlon - Ski Shooting
- Dream Snow Machine - Snow Machine Fight
Characters
The cast consists of the full roster from the previous game, as well as some new characters.
Sonic the Hedgehog series
Playable Characters
| Icon | Name | Ability Type | Wii Stats | DS Stats | Special | Emblem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sonic the Hedgehog | Speed | 
|
|
Spin Dash | 
|
|
Miles "Tails" Prower | Skill | 
|
|
Tailspin Flight | 
|
| File:Knucklesicon.png | Knuckles the Echidna | Power | 
|
|
Screw Driver | 
|
| File:Amyicon.png | Amy Rose | All-Around | 
|
|
Pink Typhoon | 
|
| File:Shadowicon.png | Shadow the Hedgehog | Speed | 
|
|
Chaos Boost | 
|
| File:Blazeicon.png | Blaze the Cat | All-Around | 
|
|
Quick Tornado | 
|
| File:Vectoricon.png | Vector the Crocodile | Power | 
|
|
Head Slide | 
|
| File:Eggmanicon.png | Doctor Eggman | Skill | 
|
|
Egg Spin | 
|
| File:Metalsonicicon.png | Metal Sonic | Speed | 
|
|
Air Boost | 
|
|
Silver the Hedgehog | Skill | 
|
|
Levitate | 
|
Rival Characters
| Icon | Name | Ability Type | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jet the Hawk | Speed | |
|
E-123 Omega |
Power |
|
|
Eggman Nega | Skill | |
| File:Rougeicon.png | Rouge the Bat | All-Around |
|
Additional Sonic Characters
| Referee Characters | VIP Characters | Audience Characters | In event Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mario Series
Playable Characters
| Icon | Name | Ability Type | Wii Stats | DS Stats | Special | Emblem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mario | All-Around | 
|
|
Spin | 
|
|
Luigi | All-Around | 
|
|
Luigi Rocket | 
|
|
Peach | Skill | 
|
|
Mid-Air Float | 
|
|
Yoshi | Speed | 
|
|
Flutter Jump | 
|
|
Daisy | Speed | 
|
|
Flower Trampoline | 
|
|
Wario | Power | 
|
|
Wario Waft | 
|
|
Waluigi | Skill | 
|
|
Air Swim | 
|
|
Bowser | Power | 
|
|
Spinning Shell | 
|
|
Bowser Jr. | All-Around | 
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|
Back Spin Shell | 
|
|
Donkey Kong | Power | 
|
|
Hand Slap Dash | 
|
Rival Characters
| Icon | Name | Ability Type | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Big Bullet Bill[6] | Speed |
|
|
King Boo[6] | Skill | |
|
Dry Bowser[6] | Power | |
|
Dry Bones[6] | All-Around |
|
Additional Mario Characters
| Referee Characters | VIP Characters | Audience Characters | In event Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
Other
- Mii (Wii version only)
- Santa Claus (only during December as a VIP)
Dream Event Locations
Sonic Stages
- Radical Highway
- Egg Factory
- Sky Sanctuary Zone
- Seaside Hill
- Nocturne/Special Stage
- Dream Figure Skating features 3 Sonic backgrounds: Green Hill Zone, Death Egg, and destroyed Station Square.
Mario Stages
- Mario Circuit
- Good Egg Galaxy
- Bowser's Castle
- Sherbet Land
- Cool, Cool Mountain
- Dream Figure Skating features 3 Mario backgrounds: World 1, Bowser's Castle, and Peach's Castle.
Artwork & Screenshots
Screenshots
Official Artwork
Team Mario
Boxart
Decals
DS icons
Reception
The game was well accepted. Most of the reviews define it as "much better than the first title". All the events are unlocked from the start which is great news in terms of accessibility. The controls are also tighter and seem less random but this does mean that sometimes gameplay can be a bit too simplistic: these were the things most noticed. An average of the votes it received is 7/10.
Trivia
- This game marks Omega's first non-cameo appearance on the Wii, as well as Eggman Nega's debut on a home console.
- Though Super Sonic isn't an unlockable character, you can get a Super Sonic costume for your Mii, giving your Mii the same stats as Sonic the Hedgehog.Although a pseudo Super form for every one dose appear in the Dream Figure Skating for Sonic's World
- Blaze's outfit for this game looks similar to her regular outfit, but sightly altered.The same applies to Amy as well but her's had a bit more changed on it.
- This is the second 2009 sequel of a 2007 game (Sonic and the Black Knight was the sequel of Sonic and the Secret Rings and this game was the sequel of Mario And Sonic At The Olympic Games).
- In the DS version, Metal Sonic's eyes are red; but when he's in first place his eyes are green.
- Characters like Diddy Kong do not appear, but costumes of them are available for your Mii.
- On the Wii boxart, Sonic has a snowboard and Mario has skis, but on the DS boxart, it's the other way around.
- This is the only installment in the Mario and Sonic series in which the handheld counterpart was released the same year of the console (First one-Wii-2007, DS-2008, and the London games-Wii-2011, 3DS-2012).
- In the DS version, when trying to open the gate in Adventure Tours, if you listen closely, it almost sounds like Amy's theme song.
- The females have new winter outfits for the game, while the males have no new outfits.
Videos
<videogallery> Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Nintendo Wii Review - Video Review Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Nintendo DS Trailer - Trailer 2 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Nintendo DS Trailer - Trailer 4 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Nintendo Wii Trailer - Teaser Trailer </videogallery>
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Sega press release (12-2-2009): Mario and Sonic Head to the Slopes in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
- ↑ Kat Bailey (22-1-09): Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games Sequel May Be On The Way, 1UP.com
- ↑ Ellie Gibson, (22-1-2009): Mario & Sonic Olympics 2 on the way, Eurogamer
- ↑ Matt Casamassina (22-1-2009): Rumor: Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics, IGN
- ↑ Damian Inwood (8-2-2009):Mario and Sonic will be part of video-game deal for 2010 Games, The Province newspaper
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter games Ice Hockey Gameplay
- ↑ YoutubeM & S FootageYoutube