[E3 Impressions] Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games

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The blue blur and his plump plumbing rival return to The Olympics, but it’s not as exciting as Nintendo and SEGA might want you to believe.

System: Nintendo Wii U
Release Date: November, 2013
Developer: Unknown
Publisher: Nintendo

Author: Laura

Alright, alright so I know you all have been DYING to know more about Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (phew), so here’s the scoop: Unless the frame rate and controls are improved– or the other mini games available in the full version are more fun than what I played– it will not be worth $60.

I sampled all three demos available which involved skiing, bobsledding and then a crazy event where you switch between both of those plus skates and snowboarding, and they play just as you would expect any sports-type game for a Nintendo system should. The only difference being that the controls aren’t executed as well, making it a bit confusing at times. Tilting the gamepad left and right to ski downhill, for instance, does not work as smoothly as it could because it over compensates too much sending you the edge when you are only tilting a little bit. Same with twisting the Wiimote left and right, which is just as overly-sensitive.

Additionally, the frame rate ends up being as bad as it was in the Nintendo Direct, which was pretty disappointing. It was jerky and almost lagging at certain points which really takes away from the fluid movements like skating or snowboarding downhill. It also made it hard to win… which is the whole point, yes? But at least the environments are pleasant to look at. The textures themselves are smooth and crisp; the frame rate just distracts you from that.

So unless you are a diehard fan of this series or really love the Olympics, I’d say its not really anything to get hyped up about.