Mario and Sonic at the Olympics (Wii)
What you'll notice
The first thing that is different about this game is the official linking in with the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing; quite an accolade. The main events are all actual Olympic challenges that the real competitors face, and the variety is lovely.
Graphically and in terms of sound, we've seen both better and worse on the Wii so far. It doesn't look like a dog, but it is cartoony in style. Probably a turn off for some traditional gamers.
What doesn't work so well
Is it just a pointless crossover? Can Sonic and Mario actually be 'fun to play' on a level playing field? Some say yes to the first, and no to the second. Several players we tested this game on didn't like the theme or the fact that it was a merger.
The controls DO vary from game to game. This is both a weakness and strength; some game controls are very frustrating whereas others are easy to get to grips with straight away. This may lead to less patient gamers giving up on certain events and this will severely hamper their chances of enjoying, or getting any lastabilty out of the game.
If you're not very fit, you may struggle with some of the more active games if you attempt to play them too vigorously!
In many of the games played with both Nunchuk and Wiimote, it's frankly a lot easier to say 'I haven't got a Nunchuk...' unplug it and then play just with the Wiimote. This gives you an unfair advantage in certain games that amounts to wasting time - why not just design the games in question to not need the chuk at all?
Not all of the controls are well explained ... certain games had us fuming before we worked out exactly what they meant. This should have been avoided.
Timing isn't well explained in certain games such as fencing. Jabbing is presented as being a quick thing to do, when in actual fact it's a steady, firm thrust that tends to win the day.
In between games, there's way too much dallying around in cut scenes with people winning awards, etc. Let us skip things we've seen once already, please!
What we liked
It is the first official time that Mario and his friends have ever met Team Sonic in a video game. Ever. That deserves a mention!
You can use your miis to play against any of the standard character set and for what that's worth; it brings the personal and customising element into play.
There's so much to do, it has the ability to last if you don't go too crazy on it in the first few hours and get bored.
Different skills - if you sucked at one sport then try another, you'll probably find you're the Master and it's your friend who's screaming for mercy. Games such as shooting and trampolining utilise very different skills to running or swimming, so there really is something here for everyone.
The whole Olympic theme adds a friendly, family element to the competition, removing the sting of the old Mario Vs Sonic rivalry. You could see this as a weakness, but we think it's probably more of a strength.
The controls are fairly solid; if something isn't working then you're probably doing it slightly wrong. I know this because I spent ages mastering throwing that damn javelin, all the while waking babies in the local area with my screams of rage.
It's nice to gain new awards in everything from winning an Olympic record to playing with a friend on multiplayer. There's real incentive to try and get them all, at least on a fairly mundane level. Hardcore gamers won't be impressed, we suggest.
Party fever is in the air for sure! The short nature of each game makes this a decent choice for a family or friend's night in with the Wii. You may have to dig deep but there is enough variety in the game selection to please most gamers. Be aware though, you'll have to play one player for a fair while in order to unlock everything worth playing. If this isn't for you, then turn to another party title instead.
The Dream games are fantastic fun, if a little crazy. Adds Mario and Sonic spice to an otherwise strictly Olympic game.
The end result?
Well, we're actually really torn here. On one hand, this game is a landmark - bringing Mario, Sonic and your very own Miis head to head in a vast array of sports. On the other hand, it's a sometimes frustrating, sometimes baffling quick set of romps which may or may not suit your style, slung in between various annoying cut scenes that you must watch, for the most part. It's great to play for a short time in arcade style with family or friends, but the real trouble for this title is that there are better games which do the exact same thing for you. The Wii is covered in titles that do very well in a party environment - even a staple diet of Wii Sports can't be sneezed at in this respect. Therefore, sadly this game falls at the final hurdle and becomes a bit of a gimmick. Nicely flavoured and ok if it's all you've got, but as soon as Smash Bros Brawl comes out, you're likely to stick it straight up on EBay.
2/5 --- Kim Kaze
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