Mario & Sonic are back together again in the latest title of the titular franchise. Debuting on the Nintendo Switch for the first time the series takes on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with events such as speed dashing, karate, and plenty of others to keep fans of the team up series enticed for more. This time around there’s a new series of 2D events that pays an homage to the classic Mario and Sonic games of old.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is a 2019 sports crossover game, it is developed by Sega Sports R&D and published by Sega. It is currently available exclusively on Nintendo Switch for the West.

Editor’s Note: An advanced review copy of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was provided by Sega in support of this review. Medium to near complete spoilers for its story mode may be present within this review. 

Race to the finish in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games 2020.

As stated in my earlier preview for Mario & Sonic 2020, this is my first time sitting down and playing an entry in the franchise and a Tokyo themed entry is quite a first step into the series all things considered. The game itself also plays into it’s Tokyo, Japan setting with a map based on the real city and it’s inner constructs, it also does a good job emulating the expected games to be played at the 2020 Olympics event hosted in the city. There’s a lot to love about Mario and Sonic’s latest sports buddy team up adventure including a total of over 30 events to play around with some of which in 8-bit and 16-bit animation style which is sure to leave classic gaming fans with a huge smile.

Revisit the historic 1964 Olympic Games with Mario & Sonic.

THE GOOD: If you’ve been waiting for more exclusives to play before jumping in on the Nintendo Switch hype party, then Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 might be a good reason to add to the list. Graphically the game looks like what you’d expect of a modern Mario or Sonic title as far as the 3D visuals realm goes. Which is great to see with spin-offs such as these. If you’re into culture and a little bit of Japanese history Mario & Sonic 2020 has cool info spread throughout the game about the Olympic Games’ history in the country as well as general Japan facts if you talk to certain NPCs. Don’t expect Mario & Sonic 2020 to child’s play. This game can actually be insanely difficult with precision and timing for button controls being required for the best scores possible for some events. Though there are some more simplistic events that merely ask for a few presses of a button or two. Events such as gymnastics and surfing ask for further attention to detail.

Tennis, surfing, karate and beyond are featured in Mario & Sonic 2020’s impressive roster of events.

The story has a neat mix of 3D and 8-bit/16-Bit scenery throughout the campaign and thankfully the retro look is implemented into certain exclusive events such as the 100m run, judo, and volleyball. All of the events available in the campaign mode are also available in online and quick play modes so you can experience and play them one by one at your leisure. In the story Mario, Sonic, Bowser, and Eggman have been sent into a video game console after Bowser and Eggman botched their plan to trap Mario & Sonic. It’s at this point that the four vie in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games to kill time as they search for a way to escape the game console. Meanwhile, Luigi, Amy, Daisy, and the others work to find a way for the others to escape the game console in the real world.

Mario and Sonic 2020 pays homage to a classic era of gaming.

THE BAD: The retro art style is used only so much and I feel like if there was an equal amount between 3D and retro events the game would have even more longevity. However, the 8-bit/16-bit style was experimental so I understand Sega not going “completely all the way” with it so to speak.

There’s a little something for every sports fan to enjoy in Mario and Sonic 2020 including rugby, football, and more.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: For a first time go into the franchise Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is a resonating experiencing for me with the focus being on Tokyo, Japan and myself being a fan of Asian culture there was probably never going to be a better time for me to jump in. I love the variety of events present and the tribute to an era of gaming I grew up with as a kid. Honestly, if I was a sports fan in addition to being a Mario & Sonic fan I’d likely be in gamer heaven, but as it currently is Mario & Sonic 2020 is a good first climb to my personal gaming pearly gates.