Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, 2007)

Well,sports might not have been the best genre for the first Mario and Sonic cross-over (just a collection of pretty deep events).But I think this game did the best it could to simplify the skill differences between the two franchises.And pulled it off really well.In fact it ROCKED.You see,it all depends upon the players skill,and how fit you are.Your arms will feel like noodles if you beat all the world recordsevents in order to unlock Silver and Donkey Kong (IT'S A LIE)..Anyway,each character has a statistics bar at the player select screen.Just because Sonic's speed is maxed out and all of his other stats are low does not mean,say,Tails can't beat him in a 100 meter dash.You will have to try put just a tad more effort in to it,as you would have to try harder with you playing as Sonic against Tails in an event he excels in,such as gymnastics. Tails' top-speed isn't great,but he has super skill.Keep in mind at least 8 players compete in (most)events.16 playable characters.
The graphics certainly aren't spectacular. Average.The Sonic characters seem to have been updated in design,as Vector looks better then ever,but Tails is back to his ugly brown,instead of his sunny yellow color.Voice acting is so-so.It feels like the Mario characters just got recycled voice clips occasionly.Get first place with Daisy she says ''Yeah!Wahoo!Hi I'm Daisy.''..But the rest of the cast are great,Mario's voice doesn't crack like it did sometimes in Galaxy.The Sonic side has nice voices...But,Jason Griffith is Sonic's voice actor in this,and does a pretty good job. Still a little deep.Amy Palant has improved a great deal (now she's my fave Tails voice) as Tails' VA since Shadow the Hedgehog and her ghastly performance in Sonic the Hedgehog for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Tails' has one heckuva adorable chuckle (NOT a laugh,it's a CHUCKLE) when you get first place in an event.It's like a reward unto itself!!...And the rest of the gang are a BIT above average. Knuckles' Dan Greene still could use some improving.
The bonus content is some-what lacking.Sure you get little medals and badges for completing missions and beating Olympic and world records,but those are useless,except for bragging rights. There is a section in the game called ''Olympic Gallery'' which has mini-games you play to unlock background music (you can only play the 10 unlockable BGM at gallery mode) and facts and info on the Olympics.Two mini-games in particular are especially fun,Whack-A-Mole(addicting)and voice memory(you can poke Sonic.'Nuff said).Another HUGE BONUS is that you can use your miis in every event.So Naruto and Harry Potter can duke it out in fencing,along with a very kawaii catgirl or two.
What I'm disappointed in is the character interaction. There is none.In the beginning demo Mario and Sonic's eyes meet.That's it,they don't even speak to each other.Also I'm disappointed that the events do not utilize each characters individual skills.So Blaze's flame manipulating powers,Mario's numerous costumes and fireballs,Knux's punching and gliding,Tails' flying and passion for mechanics are not used enough and are hardly shown.And,the graphics are just too average.No actual storyline. M&S is the most tiring videogame I have ever played..Which can be counted as either a bad or good thing.Good part is you get exercise,the bad is you can't play this for a long time in one sitting.
-~-All in all the game play is insanely fun,some parts are tad rough 'round da edges.-~-SonTails Fangirl

With stunning graphics, excellent sound, and extremely solid gameplay, Paper Mario is a quality game on all fronts.

Paper Mario is the follow-up to Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars for the SNES. Existing in a world composed of paper cutouts, Paper Mario combines the simplified RPG system that made Super Mario RPG such an innovative and fun game with the side-scrolling action that made the 2D Mario games so popular. Not only is Paper Mario a tender bit of nostalgia to anyone who misses the good old days, but it is also a shining example of what Nintendo does best.

Paper Mario has a plot that should be familiar to any Mario fan. Bowser has once again invaded the land of the stars and has stolen the magical Star Rod--a scepter that has the power to grant the wishes of whoever holds it. Bowser used the Star Rod to imprison the seven star spirits, who used their power to watch over the land. Armed with the power to make his slightest wish a reality, Bowser quickly kidnapped Princess Peach, made himself invincible, and scattered the imprisoned star spirits to the ends of the Mushroom Kingdom. It's up to Mario to find the seven star spirits, rescue them from Bowser's evil minions, and eventually use their power to defeat Bowser himself.


Bowser and Princess Peach
The game plays similarly to Super Mario RPG. The game is broken up into the field screen and the battle screen. Mario and his party move around on the field screen--an adventure-based 3D plane where you interact with items, enemies, and people in real time. Once an enemy spots Mario, it will charge him. If you touch the enemy, you'll enter the battle screen--a turn-based, menu-driven combat system. How you touch an enemy has a dramatic effect on the start of the combat round: If Mario strikes the enemy in the field screen, he'll strike once before combat actually begins in the battle-screen system. If the enemy charges Mario, the enemy will strike first. This system rewards you for quick reflexes and mixes in a taste of the now extinct side-scrolling action that made the Super Mario series so popular. In combat, Mario has two basic attacks--jumping on enemies and hammering enemies. Mario will eventually gain several special attacks, but with the exception of the powers endowed to him by rescued star spirits, the attacks will always be a modification of his jump or hammer attack. Additionally, Mario can use items to aid him. The game has several items, both for offensive and defensive purposes. Mario also has friends who can help him. As in any RPG, Mario will eventually stumble across other characters that share his goal, and they will join Mario in his quest. Mario can have any one of his sidekicks in battle with him at a time and can use that character's power to defeat enemies. The characters also have special abilities that are used on the field screen. Characters will carry Mario across chasms, let Mario travel over the water, fetch items that are just out of reach, make Mario invisible, and more. Progressing through the game's levels is an excellent combination of turn-based combat and classic side-scrolling Mario action.

Description
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is an officially licensed Olympic-themed game that invites you to face off an intense competition between the world’s most loved rivals - Mario and Sonic. Mario and Sonic come together in more than 20 mini-games, with categories including track, field, gymnastics and aquatics. This Olympic themed party game will take you to lifelike Olympic venues where you can choose from a legendary cast of lovable personalities including Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, and Tails. Mario and Sonic includes single events, a Mission Mode, and Circuit Mode. As you beat different Circuits, you unlock new Circuits and new events. Mission Mode will pit your character against specific challenges and the gallery mode lets you unlock Olympic-related trivia.


Special Features
The interactive Wii controls include actions like swinging the Wii Remote to simulate hammer throw, notching the Nunchuk to shoot arrows, and replicating swimming strokes. Players can also discover the best way to win a game by experimenting with different movements to discover secret boosts to propel them towards a win

With four playing styles to choose from, players can decide their game strategy: all-around, technical, speed, and power - for example: Mario and Amy (All-around), Peach and Tails (Technical), Sonic and Yoshi (Speed), and Knuckles and Bowser (Power)

Single and multiplayer mode

Events include track, aquatics, table tennis, field, rowing, and more

This game is one of the good ones. My two kids (16 and under) and their friends love it. If you do not want to use the Wii as it is intended to be used then do not buy this game. To play archery with four players you must have four controllers and four nunchuks. You can get by with just the remote control on some events but having both controllers for each player is recommended to get the full experience of the game. Some of the events must be unlocked during individual play to make them available for multiplayer gameplay. I have read reviews on gaming websites that have knocked this game. I believe those reviews are most likely from gamers who were raised on other platforms and only want to sit around and press buttons. This is fun for the entire family and new players can gain proficiency quickly. Get up and get moving!!!

This game has ton of great events. This game is EXTREMLY fun with friends. I love this game, there is many different event to pick from, so don't get discouraged with until you have played them all. I like Claybird, rowing and Track and Field best!