Since the release of Mario and Sonic at the Olympics on the Nintendo Wii back in 2007, fans of Mario and Sonic (and the Olympic Games) look to Sega every four years to release a sequel to their IP (intellectual property) endorsed sports title based on the Olympic games. This time, the games are being held in Tokyo, Japan, during the summer of 2020.
As the sixth game in the series, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 includes a variety of improvements that were absent from past installments. For example: most of the playable characters now wear outfits that accurately depict the sporting event being played. This is a first for Sega’s franchise; the male characters have traditionally worn their iconic outfits in previous outings. In addition, the game’s sporting events now include Karate, Sport Climbing, Surfing, and Skateboarding.
Surprisingly, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has a feature called ‘2D Events’. As the name implies, the player can experience certain events in 2D, while playing as one of 8 available characters. This was done to acknowledge the Tokyo, Japan Summer Olympics of 1964.
There is also a Story Mode where the player can participate in events and minigames set both in present and past-day Tokyo. The action is weaved together by cinemas involving the game’s cast of characters. The gameplay – whether its during Story Mode or Single vents – feels polished and well put together. There wasn’t a moment during this preview when it felt like the game needed anything else to improve the experience, whether it involved surfing or running the 100m Dash. The entire presentation feels very ‘Sega’, from the addictive gameplay to the colorful graphics (which look gorgeous when the Switch is either docked or used in portable mode).
The controls are responsive, which is obviously important for a sports game. Some events require the player to rapidly press the A button to complete specific events. These events are more about thumb dexterity than actual skill, but it’s a fun diversion from the more intensive activities the game offers.
Fans of this franchise will be happy to know that Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is scheduled to launch this week (i.e. November 5th, 2019) on Nintendo Switch. Expect a full review of this title to be published shortly after launch.
Mike Pittaro
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 5th, 2019
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Official Website:
https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/mario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-games-tokyo-2020-switch/
