Nintendo Wii Review: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

For decades, Mario and Sonic have been the lynchpin mascots of console gaming. Two years ago, these two icons decided to head to Beijing to team up in the Olympic Summer Games. Now, Mario and Sonic are back just in time for the holiday with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games 2010, another mini-game party extravaganza on the Nintendo Wii. The Winter Games have never quite had the same mass appeal as the Summer Games. So, aside from a few cool dream games, Mario & Sonic venturing onto the slopes isn’t much different from the real life competition.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games features 27 events. Gamers have the plain vanilla Olympic events, as well as some wacky dream events that let you take your winter-lust through the Mushroom Kingdom. It’s in the dream events that you will get your most enjoyment out of this Olympic team-up. For starters, the dream events actually feel part Sonic and part Mario. Some events will have you skiing at Sonic speeds in loops and off of cliffs like your typical Hedgehog game, while others events will feel more like a winter version of Mario Kart – complete with items to foil the competition. These dream games are definite party pleasers.

Downhill skiing on the Giant Slalom is the most fun classic event you’ll find at the Vancouver Olympics. Gamers must hold the Wii-mote and nunchuk like two ski poles. This is fun as well as challenging. You really have to twist the controllers like ski poles to turn sharply. You may try and sit down to play this game, but it’s just more fun standing up. As you tilt your controller to gain speed, you’ll have to twist quickly to make it through each checkpoint. If you don’t anticipate the next flag marker you will get slammed with a two second penalty. Speed Skating can be very cool. You will need to swish the Wii-mote back and forth in tandem to your on-screen legs to gain speed. Gamers can also use their Balance Board to play, but it’s not interchangeable with standard gameplay. You have to enter the Balance Board section in the menu to actually use it.

The one event that is hands down terrible is the individual large hill. This game is just one quick jump and it’s over. I know this is “realistic,” but playing it as a game is a buzz kill. That’s pretty much the flavor of Sonic & Mario at the Olympic Winter Games. Your taste in the game comes down to which events you like to play. If for some reason you and your friends like quick jumps, then the individual large hill may be for you. While, I’d personally devote my time to Ski Cross. Dream snowboard cross is very fun, albeit short. It gives you the feel as though you are in Sonic snowboarding. The game could have benefitted from more of these types of games and longer durations. Dream Ski Cross plays like Mario Kart with items and ring collecting.

The graphics are on par with what you’d expect in a Mario or Sonic game. The visuals are beautifully bright and crisp to capture your eye. Each world, especially those in the dream events, has an exceptionally designed setting. As you start to play through a few games, you’ll notice the insane load times. Once the game is loaded, you’ll also have to sit past the same repetitive cinematic sequences, which you can’t cut through.

There is no real in game difference between the characters. They each have separate ratings, but unlike Mario Kart these difference are barely noticeable as you play through each mini-game. You do get some VO from the characters once in a while, but it’s almost added as an after thought.

Gamers gain Star Tokens for competing in a race or for unlocking achievements. For instance, pulling off a successful star dash will earn you 100 tokens while just completing a race will give you 10. You can use these tokens to shop for unlockables at the Music Shop, Sports shop, Boutique and Library. You can also gain access to books on events from 2010 Olympics or Olympic trivia. The music shop features classical songs like Swan Lake. But, more importantly, you can purchase the original super Mario Bros theme music. Hey, I just find that cool. Decals Banners and paint sheets are available from the sports store. If you’re into clothes, The Boutique a slew of fashions to dress your character.

The game also features party games, as if the game wasn’t already a party game to begin with. Party Games include Balloon attack, Wheel Challenge and Panel Flip. These are standard mini games, with each round prefaced by an Olympics event. How well you do determines how many attempts you get in the mini game. For instance, in Balloon attack, a high score in hockey will give you the most shots in Balloon Attack. Panel Flip is actually a cool mini-game that involves some strategy of blocking opponents. The goal is to take control of the most panels. You play as a team with a human partner or AI player. Your rank in the pre-mini-game Olympic event determines your mobility points. Placing 4th will give you one movement point, while placing 1st will give you four. You can also steel other players’ squares. It may sound boring, but it’s actually a ton of fun. Playing individual long hill events work out for games like this to keep it moving with groups of players. However, tossing in a Hockey game or two, filled with body checks is a nice repast as well.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games definitely has some fun-cool moments. However, just like the duos team up at the Summer Games, this installment falls short of being the stellar team up you’d expect from Mario and Sonic. Dream Events are the real crowd pleasers. I just wish more of them were included to divert my attention from the classic games. Unfortunately, since in real life the Winter Games is more like the little brother of the Summer Games, this game has that lackluster appeal. However, younger audiences will get a kick out of taking Mario and Sonic on the slopes and dashing through Mushroom Kingdom at lightning-fast Hedgehog speed.