Putting recognizable names on the title of the game could be a surefire way to sell copies. However, having iconic leading characters doesn't equate to a great game.
This has been true for the past Mario & Sonic titles, which started with the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for the Wii back in 2007. This would be followed by more titles offering more or less the same middling game experience up to the most recent Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Perhaps it's because the next Olympics will be held in Tokyo, or maybe it could be the improved processing power that the Nintendo Switch offers. This newest title of Mario & Sonic finally hits the mark on what a sports game centered around the Olympics should be like.
Retro Olympic Gaming
At its core, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is just a collection of minigames. Although the games could range from very simple to very fun, the previous titles didn't give much motivation to the player to keep playing the game. Its appeal easily wanes after a few hours of playing.
Thankfully, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has a creative solution to this. Instead of offering a collection of minigames and calling it a day, Tokyo 2020 gives players a mildly engaging story to follow—giving them more than enough reason to toil through all the minigames.
The sense of accomplishment you get from progressing a story helps give life to the game's inherent repetition. Creating a story around why players should collect gold medals in-game is a great way to make the game's appeal last for longer.
In Story Mode, Dr. Eggman and Bowser hatched a plan to trap Sonic & Mario in a video game, trapping them for good. Their plan worked—Sonic & Mario are placed in a 1964 version of Tokyo inside the game. However, their plan backfired—they themselves were trapped with the heroes inside the game.
To return to the real world, Sonic & Mario have to collect gold medals in the Tokyo 1964 Olympics via 16-bit sports minigames. This is a flavorful touch, as prior to the 2020 Olympic bid, the Olympics were last held in Tokyo in 1964.
Meanwhile, in the present time, Luigi and Tails recruit other heroes to help them collect gold medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which they need to help bring back Sonic and Mario.
The game also works as a sort of tourism advertisement, subtly telling people what to expect if they choose to visit real-world Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics. Progressing through the story would make you visit landmarks in Tokyo, like Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Skytree. Additionally, the game provides tidbits of information behind the sports and their significance to the city of Tokyo.
In a way, the game shows support to the real-world event that inspired it, and thankfully the real-world Olympics and the video game have a mutualistic relationship that benefits both.
Variety and Mechanics Make For a Fun Experience
The meat and potatoes of the game still comes from its minigames. Tokyo 2020 brings those in spades.
Having a Story Mode set in 1964 gives a decent excuse to make 16-bit versions of the sporting minigames. Thankfully, they don't feel shoe horned and are welcome additions to the catalog of minigames available.
There's also a wide variety of modern-day games to choose from, and many of them turn out to be fun. Although some may still irritate you for their motion controls, there's a ton of fun that could be found in the game.
The game shines as a party game, with up to four players sharing the same screen to play mini-games. It's a fun diversion when you invite friends over, and an expansive cast of characters adds to the variability of your performances in these minigames.
Conclusion
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 finally gets the formula right. At the same time, it gives great justice for the real-life event it's based on. There's also a lot of meat in not only the minigames, but also the educational information, the story mode, and collectibles. The game successfully gives you good reason to play its minigames, and in the long run, that's what makes a game special.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is available in the Nintendo Store for $59.99.
