Over the years, the Mario and Sonic Olympic series has gone through progressive change to make it more video game focused and less of a straight simulation. This was especially apparent with this year’s E3 demo, with events like skateboarding and surfing playing like a Tony Hawk-lite as opposed to the traditional sports we’ve come to expect from an Olympic themed game. Some recent hands-on time with the full version of the game takes this idea a step further, taking inspiration from video game history to provide a variety of activities that go above and beyond the scope of the Games.
Previous games had Dream Events, mini-games that put some fantastical spins on Olympic events. 2020’s edition already feels much more fleshed out, offering Dream Events that allow the standard games to be played in completely different ways. Take skateboarding for example. While a trick exhibition is expected, what we didn’t think we’d see is a racing event that plays like Mario Kart and Sega’s Top Skater arcade had a beautiful, digital child. Set on a futuristic track that wouldn’t look out of place in an F-Zero game, participants barrel towards the finish line on a downhill slope, grabbing Sonic themed item boxes to disrupt the competition. Popping an ollie at the edge of a ramp activates tricks, which give you an extra boost of speed as you fight for first place. Motion controls help simulate the skateboard feel, but I’m finding the traditional control stick option to be more stable. However you play, this mode alone is shows the versatility of 2020, establishing a fun, fast paced mode that could be its own game with enough content.
Taking this concept a step further, the Tokyo 1964 events put a retro spin on the Olympics. Highlights include the track and field events that play eerily similar to Konami’s 80’s classic of the same name. Playing as characters ripped straight from the NES version of Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog on Genesis, these simple yet addictive games test your timing and button mashing skills in hilarious fashion. Seeing the two art styles side-by-side is absurd as it is, but watching characters like the lanky Eggman crash and burn on a high jump is something to behold.
These events are a core aspect to the game’s story mode, which we’re still working our way through. From what we’ve played so far, 2020’s take on this dream mashup is shaping up to be the series’ best so far. Keep an eye out for our full review in the weeks to come, and let us know what you think about the game so far in the comments below!