Mario & Sonic head to the Winter Olympics later this year
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Feb 12th 2009 at 10:20AM } 
As part of Sega's release, it stated that the original Mario & Sonic at the Olympics has sold over 10 million units globally. The latest casual cash-in will support the Wii Balance Board and feature Alpine Skiing, Speed Skating and many other events. That's all good, but will pairs figure skating deliver tension and romance between Sonic and Mario on par with the classic ice-skating movie, The Cutting Edge? We hope
Update: Teaser trailer embedded after the break.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
austin @ Feb 12th 2009 10:23AM
why is this game not using motion plus
Anam @ Feb 12th 2009 10:35AM
Anyone play the original? Was it good? Did Sonic automatically win every running event?
WINterfang @ Feb 12th 2009 10:56AM
it wasn't THAT good but it was kinda smart, not mindless waggle.
igorponweed @ Feb 12th 2009 10:59AM
It sucked. Horrid controls. I would only get the sequel if Nintendo was making it.
SoshiKitai @ Feb 12th 2009 7:03PM
It depends. If you think you and your friends will have a great time laughing at each other do really ridiculous and TIRING (kills the arms) actions, it's a great party game!
...if you think that's retarded, or you don't have much friends - not really worth it.
-but if there's anything redeeming about the game if you're part of the latter-opinion, there's the Dream Events (Events with a bit of "Mario specialty" appeal). Those were fun for most people.
The controls weren't horrid as most people say. The controls just weren't something you'd like to do in a game really. ...y'know, swinging like a madman.
Most people would've preferred a simple joystick+button controls, but that never seemed like an option in the game.
I, myself, enjoyed it in parties. It was amazingly stressful to the arms yet enjoyable and hilarious.
...and if you were even just GOOD (you don't have to be great) at playing the events, Sonic could technically beat everyone at the running events.
Close 2nd was Shadow.
SoshiKitai @ Feb 12th 2009 7:51PM
Unless of course you got the Sonic-player tired. Once they're tired, there's no way they're gonna' win.
........... well, it was like that for everyone. So if they're tired, you're probably gonna' be ----ing tired, too. ...and then it becomes the most pathetic (hilarious) race ever.
mr nimblewick @ Feb 12th 2009 10:47AM
10 Million? I remember when Sega said they expected it to sell 4 million and people were like "Pssh, no way."
Now we get to see if those 10 million people actually liked it enough to buy it again.
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Feb 12th 2009 9:03PM
I didn't think it would even do 1M worldwide... Holy crap.
Hardy @ Feb 12th 2009 10:52AM
lol a must own for Canadians.
How many games even mention Canada let alone have a game revolved around it.
Anam @ Feb 12th 2009 11:14AM
It's a-me! Mario, eh?
WINterfang @ Feb 12th 2009 11:22AM
Aboot time.
Nietha @ Feb 13th 2009 2:39AM
Yeah it's pretty much a must-buy for me just because I live near Vancouver.
The only event I enjoyed in the first one (which I didn't buy and would never) was the trampoline - no crazy arm-killing motions, just insane button pushing. Loved it. Only other thing I remember about the game is that the triple jump was beyond me.
WINterfang @ Feb 12th 2009 10:56AM
I like the trailer :).
Zacqary Adam Green @ Feb 12th 2009 11:05AM
"...will pairs figure skating deliver tension and romance between Sonic and Mario[?]"
Not Sonic and MARIO, per se, but Sonic and Tails? Oh, wait, that's been happening since Sonic 1.
Aero @ Feb 12th 2009 1:41PM
Tails wasn't in Sonic 1.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Feb 12th 2009 11:27AM
Like in the first game one would think Sonic gets an unfair advantage I mean remember those Sonic Raiders games? in the snowboarding department who else has experience?
J.Goodwin @ Feb 12th 2009 11:33AM
Is this game really this newsworthy? I mean, it feels like there's been a post on it every day for the last week or two. More coverage than MGS4.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Feb 12th 2009 11:49AM
Well there are at least 10m people who care about this game.
You know if they added more Sega and Nintendo characters like lets say some sort of Super Smash Brawl except with sports I would buy it.
I would like to see Beat vs Link.
Edge @ Feb 12th 2009 11:47AM
Attention commentators. Toepick. That is all.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Feb 12th 2009 11:50AM
Attention costumers. Testicles. That is all.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Feb 12th 2009 11:54AM
Oh wait...
Attention Duelists. My Hair gives me the power to defy gravity. That is all.
SoshiKitai @ Feb 12th 2009 7:06PM
XD Good one, Mr. Esc!
Pikalover @ Feb 12th 2009 11:59AM
Ahh, I remember when the first Mario and Sonic game was announced. I was so excited I could barely hold the mouse.
Then the game came out. I bought it shortly after it came out, which was shortly after I'd gotten my Wii. I didn't even have four nunchucks yet. My three siblings and I played it together, with the infamous sprint being our first game. It was lots of fun! Unfourtunately, that was the ONLY fun part about it. The rest of the game was either dissapointing in gameplay or was too hard for my younger siblings to play. Needless to say, the game is now sitting in a pile in my basement ready to be given to Gamestop for trade-in.
Despite the unfourtunate fate of the first game, I'm going to at least rent this game for the sake of me being a Mario and Sonic fan (respectively). With the balance board being an option though, renting is probably as far as I'll go with it. If the last game is any indication of what the controls will be like for this game, then the balance board will be featured throughout (which is unfourtunate for someone like me who doesn't have one).
So basically, what I'm trying to say is... I'm NOT getting my hopes up for this; I don't want to have another experience like I had with the last Mario and Sonic game.
Duke @ Feb 12th 2009 12:10PM
Can someone do a Charlton Heston imitation and read that post? It felt so rich in drama and disappointment!
Shadsy @ Feb 12th 2009 12:16PM
I will play this if and only if the biathlon is in it.
&rew @ Feb 12th 2009 12:15PM
Mario and Sonic, there goes Canada's chance to win a gold at home.
Roto13 @ Feb 12th 2009 1:00PM
I wonder how much of the city they'll show in the game? I lived there and I'd be all like "Oh, hey, I can see my apartment!"
Cadychan @ Feb 12th 2009 1:21PM
It is really nice to see that 'hey, Canada is NOT a ficticious country!' Personally, I might buy it just because of that. Whistler is really that gorgeous. =)
And hey! Maybe if they're really accurate, they'll show all the druggies and homeless people in the Dowtown Eastside! =P
But in the end...Go Canada! =D
Roto13 @ Feb 12th 2009 1:23PM
They're getting rid of the homeless people in time for the Olympics, dontcha know.
Aero @ Feb 12th 2009 1:50PM
They aren't going to show the city at all in the game you know. Similar to how they didn't show Beijing before.
Donald @ Feb 12th 2009 1:23PM
If Sonic's coming to Canada, I'll be waiting for his friends at the border. With a gun.
Robert @ Feb 12th 2009 2:33PM
I think it´s good improve the games. And maybe this series would be better but only if they really improve the gameplay.
By the way check this site, this guy wants a Paralympic Game
http://dominiumundi.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/mario-sonic-at-the-olympic-winter-games/
Chase @ Feb 12th 2009 5:24PM
I am surprised?
milan @ Feb 12th 2009 5:37PM
I'm glad that they at least nailed the 'Mario' and 'Sonic' fonts in the logo!
Also, +1 for the Canadian living in Vancouver tally... It's funny that I'm more excited to see a game mention Vancouver, than I am to have the fucking Olympics come here.
Uncontrol @ Feb 13th 2009 2:54AM
if this is as good as that sick nagano game for n64 i'll get it
Fire Fawkes @ Feb 13th 2009 11:49AM
10 Million??? Wow, I never even gave the game a second glance. Might have to at least give the 'sequel' a try.
Daimyo Nintendo @ Feb 15th 2009 2:11PM
The first game was terrible, most sports games are terrible, olympic games are even worse, not buying this one.