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Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is a Wii and Nintendo DS video game starring Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog characters.
The game takes place during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in China, though is set in a Mario/Sonic universe that features both Mario and Sonic characters and themes. Players will be involved in multiple different Olympic-styled games, and will be able to play as one of 16 different characters, eight from each series. The game was headed by SEGA, though that doesn't imply that Nintendo had nothing to do with it. In fact, the most famous of video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto supervised the entire project which is both a Wii and Nintendo DS video game.
The game is noted to be the first game in which the two famous characters meet each other. However, while essentially this is true, it should be noted that in Donkey Kong Country, you were able to see Sonic's shoes next to a trash can, a bash at SEGA from Rare Ltd.
Another first in the game industry is Mii's meeting Mario. In the game, you'll also be able to play as the customizable characters that you create in the Wii hard drive, and thus compete with them against the most famous video game icons.
Players are separated not only by team (Team Mario and Team Sonic), though also by their specific advantages. These advantages include power, skill, speed, and stamina, and two characters from each team will be involved in one of these. For example, Yoshi and Daisy from Team Mario are masters at speed, while on the Sonic side Sonic the Hedgehog and Shadow are.
Gameplay
The game includes 20 different Olympic sports, dramatically rivaling that of the 5 in Wii Sports. Each one requires you to use the Wii remote or nunchuk in one way or another. The following will take a look at every game that is included.
Characters
Team Mario
- Mario - All Around
- Luigi - All Around
- Princess Peach - Skill
- Yoshi - Speed
- Daisy - Speed
- Wario - Strength
- Bowser - Strength
- Waluigi - Skill
Team Sonic
- Sonic the Hedgehog - Speed
- Miles "Tails" Prower - Skill
- Amy Rose - All Around
- Shadow the Hedgehog - Speed
- Dr. Eggman - Skill
- Blaze the Cat - All Around
- Knuckles the Echidna - Strength
- Vector the Crocodile - Strength
DS Gameplay
The DS has 24 different events (most of which must be unlocked), including 8 'dream' events, many of which use the stylus.
Athletics
100m: Stylus
400m: Stylus
400m Hurdles: Stylus
Long Jump: Stylus
Triple Jump: Stylus
Javelin Throw: Stylus
Hammer Throw: Stylus
Aquatics
100m Freestyle: Stylus
10m Platform: ABXY keypad
Gymnastics
Trampoline: Stylus
Vault: Stylus
Dream Events
Race: Stylus
Canoe: Stylus, Arrow Keypad, LR buttons
Boxing: Arrow keypad, AXY buttons, LR buttons
Long Jump: Stylus
Table Tennis: Arrow keypad, ABXY keypad
Fencing: Stylus
Shooting: Stylus
Basketball: Stylus
Other
Archery: Stylus
Table Tennis: Arrow keypad, ABY buttons
Fencing: Stylus
Shooting: Stylus
Cycling: LR buttons
Sequel
On February 12, 2009, it has been announced that to honor the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, SEGA and Nintendo would release Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for the Wii and Nintendo DS in late 2009.