Run, Sonic! RUN!

The Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was amongst the biggest sellers of last Christmas, and the DS version has looked to continue that success into Olympic year by bringing the fun of the home version to the small screens.

Of course, adapting the frantic, exhausting Remote swinging of Wii Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games to handheld was always going to be a difficult task, but by utilising all of the DS’s unique features, Sega have done about as well as could have been hoped for with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games on DS.

Events and characters are much the same as the Wii version – so you’ve got Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Tails and twelve other characters from the two beloved franchises, competing in 16 events broken down into various groups, from Athletics (track and field, including the 100m and hammer throw) to Aquatics, Gymnastics, Archery, Table Tennis, Fencing, Shooting and the DS exclusive Cycling. There’s also five DS-only Dream Events; Canoeing, Boxing, Long Jump and Skeet Shooting, which extend the value of the handheld offering.

Despite the characters in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games being broken down into four different categories (power like Wario, control such as Tails, speed like Sonic and all around as Mario himself), the differences between them in truth aren't all that pronounced.

What’s more notable is that the controls feels responsive and tight, especially on the stylus, which is used for everything from running, which has you scribbling back and forth, to stunt-trampolining, where you stroke upwards to jump, then in the direction prompted by the top screen, to shooting, where you move a target with the stylus.

Clap happy

Certain games are played like a normal game, such as table tennis which feels like a colourful Rockstars Table Tennis spread over two screens, and there’s even times when the DS mic comes in handy, such as at the start of the long jump, where clapping to the crowd ‘May even give you a speed boost’. In all, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was never going to feel as immersive as the more physically active Wii version, but the DS game is still intuitive and fun to play.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games DS offers three different modes for a single player to enjoy – and to be honest, they come out a little like Mario Kart. Single Match lets you take on a single event of your choosing, while Circuit Mode is Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games’ version of tournament mode, where you choose one of three difficulties, then one of several Circuits, each of which contain a series of different Olympic disciplines – with the goal being to have the most accumulated points with all events finished.

Mission mode, meanwhile, is the challenge mode of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, where you’ll be attempting to meet the criteria, such as finishing in a certain place or beating a certain character. Each character has their own individual missions, and you’ll need to be pretty good to beat all the challenges.

But it’s multiplayer where Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games came to life on Wii, and again where the DS version is most enjoyable. With four DS-owning mates each owning Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, it’s fantastic – though single cart download play still offers 100m, Trampoline, Long Jump, Archery, Basketball and Canoeing events. There’s no online play, sadly, though the option to upload high scores online using the Wi-Fi connection gives DS Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games another layer of longevity.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games on DS has ended up a well-done Wii-to-DS port with intuitive controls and not unpleasing, uber-colourful visuals. It’s not an essential purchase, but is a lot of fun nonetheless and has thankfully done the characters of both iconic gaming series proud.

GAME's Verdict

• A well-done Wii-to-DS port
• Added events for the DS version
• Stylus control, download play and wireless multiplayer all work well

• Was never going to be as immersive or fun as the more physical Wii version
• Only really comes to life in multiplayer
• No online play, sadly

Review by: Mark 'Mario Beater' Scott
Review Published: 28.03.08