Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics

Review

Common Sense Media says

Dueling mascot game franchise scores a gold with this entry.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics is the latest entry in the sports game series that unites video game mascots from rival companies. The game, officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee, features traditional sports from the Summer Olympic games like equestrian competitions, swimming, and running, as well as zany mini-games that are more familiar to fans of Sonic and Mario. The mini-games contain cartoon effects like bright explosions, "dizzy stars," and comedic power-ups, but none of this mild violent content is above and beyond what anyone would expect to see in a Sonic or Mario game.

  • Positive messages3
    This game franchise unites two legendary video game mascots that used to be arch rivals. Other character rivalries, like Sonic and Eggman or Mario and Bowser, are put aside as all characters join together and engage in good, fun competition. This helps promote the message that it's possible for anyone to put their differences aside and treat each other as equals.
  • Positive role models3
    Both Sonic and Mario are heralded video game mascots and have built up incredibly strong, positive reputations over more than 20 years. Although there is no storyline and the characters do nothing overtly heroic in this game, the mere presence of such iconic game mascots exudes a message of positive role models. Well-known villains like Bowser and Eggman are also playable characters, and players may opt to choose one of these nefarious characters since they are rarely playable in other games. However, even these "bad guys" are presented in this game as normal Olympic competitors who are willing to play by the rules on the same level as everyone else.
  • Ease of play4
    The gameplay controls in this game are easy to grasp; however, since this is a competitive sports game, the challenge comes in trying to play better than your opponents.
  • Violence & scariness1
    In the traditional Olympic events like swimming, soccer, and badminton, there is no violent content. However, this game also includes a variety of more zany, non-Olympic mini-games. In these mini-games, players can use power-ups like turtle shells and cartoon bombs to slow down their opponents. Nothing in these mini-games is worse than what any player should expect in a Mario game.
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What's it about?

MARIO & SONIC AT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS is presented as a collection of sports activities and mini-games rather than a game with any sort of cohesive storyline, but there is a single-player mode that tracks players on their quest to be the top athlete at the international games. There are competitions involving actual Summer Olympics sports -- swimming, track & field, equestrian, etc. -- as well as off-the-wall mini-games that are more fitting for the expansive group of whimsical cartoon characters.

Is it any good?

 

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics continues what has become a great sports game series and one of the most heralded licensed Olympic game franchises ever. The analogy of Mario and Sonic, once bitter rivals, duking it out in the most celebrated of global competitions is fitting. There are sports in this game that were not seen in the previous Mario & Sonic Olympics game, including soccer, badminton, and table tennis. The total number of competitions is exhaustive and will not leave players yearning for more. The game is best played with multiple people going against each other for the gold, but there is also a full single-player Story Mode that will keep solo players engaged as well. This cross-mascot game franchise has steadily improved since the first title was released in 2008, and this one is the best one yet.

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the rivalry that has existed between Mario and Sonic. Why is it important to get along with people you may dislike?

  • Does playing sports games on a console make you want to try the sport in real life?

This review was written by Mark Raby
Teen, 15 years old
February 4, 2012
AGE
5
 
Solid Mario Game
Great game, my sister and I love to play. Really no issues at all, it's just fun to try the various sports.
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Kid, 12 years old
March 24, 2012
AGE
6
 
great
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This review was written by Mark Raby
Platforms:Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Sports
Developer:Sega of America
Release date:November 15, 2011
Price:$39.99-$49.99
ESRB rating:E for Mild Cartoon Violence (Wii) and Cartoon Violence (3DS)
This review was written by Mark Raby
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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