If you were lucky enough to grow up in a household that was host to one of the most family-fun-filled gaming consoles, the chances are that you will have played at least one of these iconic games, if not both. The console in question is, of course, the classic Nintendo Wii. The games? Mario Kart Wii and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.
Of course, now we have award-winning games like Skyrim, Red Dead Redemption, and Fallout – to name a few – but Mario and the rest of the crew were the OGs; the steppingstone into gaming; the games that walked so that today’s game developers could run - like Bethesda, developers of Fallout.
The debate is, then: who made for the ultimate companion to Mario in these legendary games to clinch the hall of fame spot – Luigi or Sonic?
As a lifelong fan of the fastest blue hedgehog, it’s difficult to dish out any slander towards the iconic character. Though, as one of the most recognized names and characters in any industry, Mario has transcended the pixelated form in which he was first created. Let’s start with Mario Kart, then – what a game.
Mario Kart
Whether you wanted to venture out as a lone wolf against other online players or get a group of four, all fighting for a view of your corner of the TV, the fun to be had on this game was endless. Who knew that chucking a selection of the most famous animated characters in a variety of wacky vehicles before setting them off on a fantasy-filled racetrack would be so much fun? Well, probably the developers…
It’s clear that the allure hasn’t faded – many die-hard Mario fans read news about Mario Kart and related franchises to stay on top of the updates. Avid gamers have formed a large, thriving online community where players can discuss their tips and tricks on how to drift into first place, as well as speculate about the rumored upcoming releases in the franchise (hint hint: MK9). It’s always worth staying abreast of the developments with credible gamer hubs that stay on the money with updates.
It’s perhaps no surprise that people are still as enamored by Mario Kart these days. From Mario to Birdo, bananas to blue shells, Delfino Square to Mushroom Gorge, this game has it all. There’s nothing quite like the relief of a Bullet Bill during the desperation of being in 12th place, nor the rush of adrenaline and sense of revenge when you finally get that blue shell to send the race leader into a spinning spiral and reclaim your spot in first place. Poetic. This game has created so many core memories for so many people that the nostalgia alone makes it an all-time great.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Stepping away from the racetrack, Mario took the track and field by storm in this outing, teaming up with the greatest characters from Sega’s legendary Sonic the Hedgehog to compete in some of the best events from the Olympic games.
From the 100m sprint to table tennis, you could play out all your Olympic fantasies in this game – all while controlling the fastest hedgehog that ever was imagined. If you lost the hurdle race, there was no time to mope; it was time to get ready for your redemption in the next event and gain the glory you came for – another top-tier game.
So, while the novelty of the collaboration between Mario and Sonic – two of retro video games’ gods – was enough to satisfy any gamer, perhaps the pure nostalgia of Mario Karting with Luigi and the rest of the gang might just remain unbeatable. Not to take away from either game, however, as they both go down in history as fan favorites.
I'm a published author and proud US Army veteran who happens to be a gamer, so I decided to combine the two and love every minute of it! Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and I'll be sure to get back to you.
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