Game Review #452: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (Nintendo Switch)
Reviewer: The Waffinator
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: SEGA
Release Date: 11.5.2019
Category: Action, Sports, Multiplayer, Party
Price: $59.99 (Digital & Physical)
Buy Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 from the Nintendo Switch eShop here.
Buy Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 from Amazon here.
Late to the Party
I am not a big fan of sports games, but I seem to always play them. However, when it comes to Wii Sports or sports games that are more of the cartoonish style and made for casual play and competition, I am a big fan, especially when it comes to games made by SEGA. SEGA's newest lineup to hit the game market is a returning title, but for many, myself included, it is a first-time title. The newest game I am talking about is Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Though there are a few titles prior to this one, I have never picked one up, and after giving this one a go, I am very disappointed in myself and need to go back and try the other games, because Tokyo 2020 is a blast and I want more!
Modes and Characters for Days
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 offers all kinds of action for any kind of situation. If you are alone and feel like playing, they have Story Mode, Online, and Quick Match—and technically, there is also Game Room, which is where you can play mini games after you unlock them via the Story Mode. In Story Mode, I don’t want to give away too much, but essentially, you are Luigi trying to save Sonic and Mario. I won’t say from who or what. It is a great mode for single player, especially if you want to unlock some more mini games to play.
Online is pretty straightforward: you play online and compete against other players. Quick Match is a great time-killer as well. You can play solo against the CPU or play in local play with up to 8 players. Quick Match offers 24 types of games to play in 2020, and 10 different kinds of matches in 1964 mode. I would say that my top 3 favorite events would be skateboarding, table tennis and boxing. I am not very good at the gymnastics event, however. All of this can be played with one of the 20 playable characters that you get—that's right, 20 different characters!
The controls are very simple, and they are always different based on what event you are playing. Some events are similar, therefore will have similar controls. You can play using a single Joy-Con or dual Joy-Con as a solid controller, but I usually stick with the Pro Controller.
All the events that you can find in Tokyo 2020:
100m
100m Hurdles
4x100m Relay
Javelin Throw
Triple Jump
Discus Throw
Sport Climbing
Surfing
Skateboarding
Boxing
Karate
Football (Soccer)
Rugby Sevens
Canoe
Swimming
Gymnastics
Equestrian
Badminton
Table Tennis
Fencing
Archery
Dream Racing (Special Event)
Dream Shooting (Special Event)
Dream Karate (Special Event)
The Events you can play in Tokyo 1964:
100m
400m Hurdles
Long Jump
Marathon
10m Platform
Vault
Kayak
Judo
Volleyball
Shooting
As you can see via the lists, there are a couple of similar events, but mostly different ones. As you go to play an event, choose your character, and read the info, it will let you know how that character will hold up and perform during the event you are playing.
Under “My Data" you will find the game room, which gives you another 10 mini-games that you can play; but they are all secret, meaning you must play through the Story Mode to obtain them. There are 10 total mini-games. I will only give you one though, because I'm a nice guy and don’t want to spoil too much—and you can see for yourself all the other mini-games that can be obtained. So, one of the mini-games is called Bullet Train Blast. You play as Sonic, and you must race Eggman while he is in a bullet train. There will be obstacles for you to avoid along the way, just to give you a slight challenge—because we all know Sonic is way faster than a bullet train to begin with!
The Closing Ceremony
Mario and Sonic is a well-rounded, well-built, and very elegantly styled game. It is very bright and cheerful, and the game just screams fun by using all of those bright colors and animations. The bright and playful color scheme reminds me a lot of Mario Party and gives off the same vibes a bit. As for the music and sound effects, they match the cheerful visuals and the bright color palette very well, and the sound effects for each event are very on key. It is fun for all ages, and even if you are not into Mario or Sonic, this game offers something for everyone. I am so glad I gave this game a go, and I recommend this game to anyone who owns a Switch!
Score 10/10
Buy Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 from the Nintendo Switch eShop here.
Buy Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 from Amazon here.
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*A game code was provided for review purposes.