Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)

The coming of this summer's London 2012 Olympic Games means an inevitable video game tie-in. This time, as in 2008, former rivals Nintendo and SEGA collaborate on an arcade-style take on the ceremonies with the lengthily-named Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The $39.99 cartridge boasts over 50 competitive events starring the plumber, the hedgehog, and several of their friends, rivals, and enemies. There's lots of competitive fun to be in either single or multiplayer modes, but the overly simplistic versions of some events dulls the experience a bit.

Let The Olympic Games Begin
Mario & Sonic at the 2012 Olympic Games' playable events include the likes of judo, soccer, the 100-meter dash, and many others. The title's designed for nearly anyone to simply pick up and play; the gameplay consists of rapid button jamming (running in the 100-meter dash), timed button presses (tossing opponents in Judo), and using the 3DS' stylus to interact with onscreen items (walking speed in Footrace Melody). There are also more creative (some will say "odd") inputs thanks to the 3DS' accelerometer. The long jump, for example, demands that you hold the handheld horizontally and tilt it up at the appropriate moment.

The game is designed for anyone to able to jump in and play, but, at times, its simplistic spins on sports make them feel hollow. Fencing, for example, is all about forward thrusts?parrying happens automatically when blades touch. Pole vaulting, similarly, only demands that you actually vault; you don't have to worry about the sprint toward the vault area. This was a bit of a letdown to experienced gamers such as myself, who want more control over the happenings.

There are four main modes of play: Single Player, Story Mode, and Multiplayer. In Single Player mode you can play Highlight Match (in which you choose one event and play a single round), or Medley Match (where you play a series of events in a quest to claim the top score). You can play the pre-made Medley Matches or create your own from a favorite?a nice touch. You can also trade them with friends.

There are plenty of characters to play as in Medley Match. You choose a five-person team from five groups: Heroes, Girls, Tricksters, Wild Ones, and Challengers. Unfortunately, you can't choose specific characters to participate in specific events, which is also the case in throughout. Why can't I use Yoshi in the Hammer Throw?

Story Mode adds a narrative to the international competition?not that the game's premise needs it. Multiplayer lets you play in Local Play with three friends with their own carts; Download Play, on the other hand, lets you play with three others who do not own the game cart. Record Log lets you see play data, medals, and online rankings.

Graphics And Sound
Mario & Sonic at the 2012 Olympic Games' visuals are what you'd expect from games in either series?bright, colorful graphics that drip cuteness. The characters suffer from jaggies around the edges, which detracts from the experience. The audio, however, is ace throughout, with a soundtrack that features a mix of Olympiuc spectacle, loopy Mario-esque compositions, and almost funk-like tracks (as funky as Mario & Sonic can be, anyway; this isn't Jet Grind Radio).

Should You Go For the Gold?
Mario & Sonic at the 2012 Olympic Games is a fun take on the upcoming Olympic contest that will delight gamers of all games due to its familiar characters, fun graphics, and simple gameplay. That simple gameplay may turn off some more core gamers, but those with less demanding tastes will find it a worthy pickup.

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