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Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Review for Wii U

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Review for Wii U

Still Not Good Enough for Gold

Two of video game’s greatest mascots are continuing their biannual tradition of sporting the moniker of world-class athlete for Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games . Though SEGA and Nintendo have already played host to the Winter Games four years ago, things are a little bit different this time, as it marks the first time our rival flag bearers have competed on Nintendo’s new console, the Wii U. The GamePad controller also brings with it new control schemes for some events as well as other off-TV channels, and the series finally goes online for a global competition. However, not everything is shiny and new, as some of the mundane events from the original Winter Games have received little in the way of upgraded gameplay, and there’s plenty of noticeable recycling, which is disheartening considering the we’re now playing on a “next-gen” system.

You’ll be hard-pressed to categorize the gameplay as either a sports game or a mini-game collection, and it seems to find its niche somewhere in between. There’s a nice variation of events, such as hitting the slopes with skiing and snowboarding, strapping on some skates for hockey and figure skating, braving the bobsled and skeleton tracks, and even completing a satisfying round of curling. There are also subcategories of certain events, such as snowboarding, where you can choose between Parallel Giant Slalom, Slopestyle (landing tricks), or a four-person race to the bottom in Cross. The Single Match mode lets you choose any event and dive right into the action.

If you’re looking for a little more Mario & Sonic flair, the Dream Events throw conventions and believability out the window. Here you’ll find games such as Mario’s (or Sonic’s) Figure Skating Spectacular, which has you performing moves on an ice rink that has been transformed into an adventure land. Or perhaps you’re more into Hole-In-One-Curling, blending the rock-throwing sport with mini putt. Even a little third-person shooter action is added in with Snowball Scrimmage, where you are packing a motorized snowball launcher and playing a not-so-friendly game of capture the giant snowball.

In total, it’s a healthy supply of diversions to whittle your hours away, but while some will beckon you back many times, others will likely enjoy only a single attempt. One praiseworthy event is Alpine Skiing, which is a solid slalom and speed dash to the bottom where you use the Wii Remote to control the tilt of your body, trying to nail the flags at the precise spot for a speed boost. Figure skating gets a thumbs up, but more because the animation and move execution is fluid and original. The single-player Skeleton and 4-Person Bobsleigh get top points in the Best Thrill category. Changing the view to a first-person perspective gives a great visual sense of speed. However, it’s the sound that had me coming back again and again. The sound of shredding blasts out the speakers as you maneuver your guy through the track using the GamePad, and this sound is mind blowing if you have headphones on. Trust me, all you need is a fan blowing in your face and you’ll feel like you’re there. Like the original game, curling receives Best In Show, and could easily take thirty to sixty minutes to finish with an abundance of tactics and precision. The GamePad provides a perfect tool called Strategy Time, where you can mark lines, pick target spots, and even have the computer display the optimal shot, all which is then translated onto the TV before you take your shot. The speed of the throw, curl of the stone, and ricochet after hitting another stone all highlight why curling is called chess on ice.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Screenshot

The game contains some throwaway events, many of which just use rehashed Wii controls already seen in the masses of mini-games released for the Wii. One of the biggest disappoints, Biathlon, promised to be an exciting mix of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Instead of excitement, the shallow controls deliver a boring, routine mini-game. Instead of working your arms to scale the hills, a simple tap of the B button exhausts some stamina and pushes you forward. The shooting aspect is as simple as it gets–five stationary targets with a bullseye that’s easy to hit. The event is over in just a couple of minutes, and thankfully so. And sadly, hockey, the sport of my home country, has received little improvement from the previous Winter Games , occurring in ninety-second periods that require little more than cutting across the Shy Guy goalie and tapping the shoot button.

Despite many of the events lacking in quality, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games is by far more enjoyable to play with four friends. All the usual suspects of the two series are present, from sidekicks, such as Yoshi, Luigi, Tails, and Knuckles, to villains, such as Bowser and Dr. Eggman. You can also represent your country of choice online and compete for a global standing. Each week, four random events are available, with your skill (or lack thereof) contributing to your country’s position in the global rank. The one Snowboard Cross event I managed to find opponents for (due to this being a pre-release review) ran lag free and carried with it more importance than simply besting my record time in the single-player mode.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Screenshot

Overall, the graphics are a huge improvement from before. Character models are stock designs, but with smooth outlines and bright colors. The Mario- and Sonic-inspired venues found in the Dream Events deliver a welcome change in the palette compared to the abundance of white found in the standard Olympic events. The spectating crowd is also given a color wash; however, their animations are still slow and rigid, a carbon copy from the Wii game. The draw distance is also a strong highlight, and can be easily admired in events such as Ski Jumping.

My previous praise of the Bobsleigh sound effects is one of only a couple audio highlights in the game. The figure-skating compositions are nice, rhythmic choices for that particular event. However, the rest of the soundtrack, as well as all the punch lines from the characters, are pulled straight from SEGA and Nintendo’s archives, and though they sound clean, the material is dated.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Screenshot

Going beyond the single events, there are a few other game modes available. The Legends Showdown is the campaign of the game, where you make your way through each event against a shadowy doppelganger of your character in order to claim the Legend Trophy. Medley Mania clusters a few events together, where the points are aggregated and the ultimate victor being decided after all the events are completed. Then there’s the odd Action & Answer Tour that combines a series of events with a game-show backdrop. Here, you’ll find events are given a little twist. Perhaps your curling game has you throw stones with cutouts of a Mii face, or you need to kick a die while speed skating. There are also plenty of points to collect, outfits to unlock, and 248 achievement-like challenges to complete.

Since every event requires the use of the television, the GamePad has been transformed into a separate TV with its own channels. Here you can check updated news and world rankings, compare statistics, download runs from other contenders around the world, view detailed descriptions of the challenges you’ve completed and the rewards they yielded, and view weekly updated rankings of your friends. It’s all menu-screen filler material, and it would have been nice to see a more substantial use of the second screen.

It’s always a thrill (especially for us gamers of the bit-war era) to see Mario and Sonic duke it out. Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games is as good a venue as any to support your preferred publisher as well as your country. The updated visuals and online functionality are welcome improvements, but if you’ve already spent hours nailing high scores and low times four years ago, the events haven’t changed drastically enough to warrant two purchases.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.7 Graphics
Much improved from the previous title. However, there’s far too much recycled material used. 3.4 Control
The varied controls for each event are a little on the uninspired side. The GamePad could have been implemented better. 3.4 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Bobsledding is a thrill for the ears, and the figure skating tracks are rhythmic. Everything else has been heard many times before. 3.8 Play Value
It’s great to finally have an online feature. There’s plenty of modes and events to try, though most of them you’ll only try once. 3.5 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Join your favorite characters, from Mario and Sonic to Princess Peach and Amy, as they team up and compete in the most exciting sports events at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
  • Enjoy the thrill of 24 exciting events including bobsleigh, skiing, figure skating pairs, and even snowboard slopestyle, which will make its Olympic debut in Sochi, Russia.
  • Feel closer to the action than ever before with the first entry in the Mario & Sonic series to utilize the Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote Plus controllers.
  • Take on Snow Day Street Hockey, Rollercoaster Bobsleigh, and more supercharged Dream Events that combine familiar sports with outrageous settings, rulesets, and extreme action!
  • For the first time, head online for global competition to help earn top scores for your home country! Let the games begin!

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