Mario and Sonic

[Truly-A-Lie]

Sonic Generations, Super Mario 3D Land and Mario & Sonic at the London Olympics have me thinking about the crossover between the two series, and how disappointed I am that no one has taken on the challenge of making a true Mario and Sonic platform game.

When the original Mario and Sonic was announced, I remember thinking that the difficulties Sonic was having with finding a 3D play style and general low quality in the games was why a party game was probably for the best. But things are a bit different now. Looking at Sonic Generations, an excellent game, and Super Mario 3D Land, which unfortunately I can't play but looks to continue the same high quality from Mario Galaxy, I noticed some similarities.

Both games shift perspective from 2D side scrolling to 3D, both promote exploration with hidden items and multiple routes through the levels, both have bright, colourful art styles. It seems like a perfect opportunity to give them the crossover they deserve.

Story is almost a non-issue with these games, so you wouldn't need a lengthy excuse for them both being in the same game, and both have unique enough abilities in both 2D and 3D that the levels could take full advantage of having them both playable.

Firstly, would you actually want a Mario and Sonic platformer? With the importance these two characters had in my childhood I would love seeing one happen. Secondly, how do you imagine it could work, what would you want to see in it? (or why do you think it would fail, if you don't want one to happen?)

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

Mario and Sonic are at two completely different paces, is the issue here. Mario is more focused on tight, methodical platforming, and is powerup-centric, while Sonic's platforming is on a much broader scale of timing, with the emphasis on being at high speeds - though speed runs of many of his stages require tight precision, where it becomes most apparent he's not good with it in the slightest - with more focus on his core abilities rather than powerups, at least lately; Sonic 3 & Knuckles was really the only game in the series where temporary powerups had any effect on the way Sonic plays, and even then they were wholly optional.

You'd have to either be ridiculously creative to mesh these guys, or their playstyles would be so radically different they may as well not be in the same game.

 

[Something Amyss]

I want to see Sonic in a Tanooki suit.

 

[Shadowstar38]

Sonic is far to good be in a Mario crossover. But yes, it could totally work. Sonic platforming(at least the 2D kind) complements Mario fairly well.

 

[Truly-A-Lie]

Mario and Sonic are at two completely different paces, is the issue here.

This is the main thing that crops up when I try to imagine it in my head. My solutions seem kind of lazy too, I haven't found that one ideal way of combining them. The most immediate ways of dealing with it are either:

1) Separate the game like Sonic Generations into two distinct characters and playstyles - Mario levels and Sonic levels.

2) Have routes through each level that only one of the characters can use. So while each level would have a base play area that remains the same regardless of who you're playing as, there would be multiple occasions during the level where Mario's abilities let you go one way that Sonic couldn't reach, and vice versa.

My ideal version of the game would be that sense of a huge journey across locations that are distinctly Mario or Sonic (not old locations like in Generations but new environments that you instantly associate with these characters) and seeing the different ways of dealing with enemies and bosses from each series when playing as the other character. Like a few Mario vs Dr. Eggman and Sonic vs. Bowser boss fights.