Why Nintendo Should’ve Held Off a Little Longer On Announcing Sonic in Smash Bros. Brawl
By Jonathan on Friday, November 2nd, 2007 at 4:55 PM PST In Editorials, Features, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Games Industry, Nintendo, Nintendo, Sega
By now, Smash Bros. Brawl fans have all heard the news that Sonic the Hedgehog, one of video games’ more venerable, classic characters, will be appearing as a playable character in the game. As exciting as this news is, it was a pretty obvious attempt by Nintendo to soften the blow that the game would be delayed until February of next year. That’s not a bad motive for revealing the big secret when they did, but I can think of one very good reason that Nintendo maybe should’ve kept the lid on that bit of information just a little while longer. Seven words: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games.
When Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games was first announced, it caused a huge stir for one simple reason: Mario and Sonic finally in a game together. It was something fans of both characters had been requesting for years. It didn’t matter that it would be based around the upcoming Olympics, which has shown a history of not making good game material. At best, it looks like another Wii Sports; at worst, it’s another collection of mini-games on the Wii. But still, gamers the world over would be willing to shell out the money just for the simple fact that Sonic and Mario were finally together under one title.
Now, why bother? If you hold out for just a few more months, you can own what’s sure to be one of the best games for the Wii, with Sonic as just icing on the cake. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is already facing enough competition just from its November 6 release date, which has Call of Duty 4 dropping at the same time. It’s not even the only Wii game being released that day, since Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, and The Bee Movie Game are all hitting store shelves around that time. Now though, it’s competing against itself being “that other game with Mario and Sonic.” Of course, the game is being published by Sega, but I doubt Nintendo would want to intentionally hurt a Wii-exclusive title.
The game may still turn out to sell fairly well, but I’d wager not as much as it would if no one knew that Sonic was definitely going to be in Smash Bros. Brawl. The main thing it had going for it was the novelty of two of gaming history’s most iconic characters bundled in the same package. With Sonic appearing in Brawl though, that novelty has worn off. Why play a game putting Sonic through some random sporting events, when you can have him actually using his powers in another game? Mostly, I just now realized how little I care about this game now that Sonic is joining the Smash Bros. group.
I agree!
But I wasn’t going to buy the Olympics game from the beginning, for a completely different reason: I’m NOT buying ANYTHING where Mario actually RACES SONIC as if he had any kind of chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVER!
QFT
Lol who’d buy a game just to see who would win between two rival mascots, when it is the human controlling the character. whod buy one anyway.
Have to agree with Inés. Even if the game somehow plays well, there’s absolutely no sense to it. Sonic, without a shadow of a doubt, would easily win pretty much all of the events, not just the racing ones.
Eg, at the beginning of Sonic CD, he spins around with a boulder which flies up into space after letting go and takes down the Death Egg (again). Equates to shotput or discus.
Other generic examples:
-Speed gives additional inertia for long jump, high jump, javelin etc.
In fact, the only event he wouldn’t win in is swimming. Not unless there are gigantic air bubbles.
I know it might seem silly and specific, but, honestly, anybody who has any idea about gravity and speed will know that Sonic > Mario 999/1000 times on most of the events. In fact, the only good event Mario has is long jump.
You mean “momentum”, not “inertia”. Inertia would be an opposing force during those events.
Yeah, that’s what I said, momentum
Personally I think it didn’t really matter since my roommate and many other gamers heard a leak about this WAY before they ever thought of announcing it. If you’re hardcore about Smash, which I kinda am, but not to the point of scouring the net for stuff about the new one, then you’d know anyway. *shrugs* But still, now EVERYONE knows, not just the select few who heard the leak and those they told about it…
If they had waited and released the info that sonic was in SSBM after people had already bought that other game everyone would be complaining about that. Make up your minds people, do you want to get raped by companies or don’t you? Don’t give them better raping tips.
Lol, who cares about the fact that sonic is “theoretically” faster than mario it is a computer game where anything could happen, not real life if they want to slow sonic down they can and will, and to boo the squirel companies have been doing that for years, there aim is to make money, and my aim is to buy good games so if they both turn out to be good I will buy both of them.
No, I think the olympic games one would be good. It’s a wii title that has a lot of mini-games that’s put out by nintendo.
what other mini-game based games put out by nintendo are fun and do well?
wiisports
wiiplay
wario
mario party
I mean, if you discount the whole ‘omg it’s sonic and mario’ factor, it’s another sports based minigame collection, imo that’s not bad. I’m probably more likely to get this than SSB simply because of all the different activities that are there for groups of people, instead of just fighting, fighting, fighting.
Sure, SSBB is going to be awesome, but I think I’d get the olympic games first.
I’ll actually be buying both games asap! However, I agree the fact that Sonic will be in Super Smash Brothers Brawl will reduce the novelty of Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games — my main reason for getting that game was the appearance of Sonic and Mario together. I really want to play a battle game between the two of them — will be glad this additional game will enable Mario & Sonic to battle.
I’ve already pre-ordered Super Mario Galaxy and have 20-30 Wii Virtual Console titles including Super Mario 64 (from N64), Super Mario Bros 1 & 2 plus Super Mario Bros 2 The Lost Levels. I also have Sonic The Hedgehog 1, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 plus among the for Wii titles Sonic & The Secret Rings + Super Paper Mario and the cross platform-er Marvel Ultimate Alliance. I have Wii Sports which came with my system and am looking forward to the release of Wii Fitness with the Balance Board and considering getting Wii Play with Wii Remote.
I have Cars the video game based on the Disney & Pixar movie also for Wii and aside the titles I mentioned any other games I might get for WIi on Game Disc I’ll just rent.
I’m interested in buying Super Mario Bros 3 via WIi Virtual Console when and if it is hopefully released but as I said earlier other games I’ve not mentioned I’d likely rent rather than buy.
seriusly, its just a game ffs!
This is just a game i don’t understand what is the big deal
I mean, I think it’s awesome that Sonic and Mario will be together in a game
I think your taking the announcement a little too seriously. First of all, despite what it looked like, Mario vs. Sonic at the Olympics was going to be a weird/ shotty game anyways. I, as a Nintendo fan, thought it was cool, but in the grand scheme of things didn’t care about it. If it was anything, the Olympic game was just foreshadowing to Sega and Nintendo working together, almost ensuring sonic in brawl anyways. Its obvious its a collection of mini games, and with brawl soon i don’t think that game will make it very far. Best chance it has is on the DS, if it doesnt play like garbage.
King Sora, I think you’re full of crap.
Look at all the other minigame collections on the Wii, Wiiplay has been topping the charts for forever now.
I think Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games will do rather well. If not better than the crack cocaine that is Super Smash Brother Brawl.
Because Super Smash Brothers Brawl is aimed at the gamer audience, putting in references from other series, and games, you’d have to have played them to get the full nostalgic effect and be interested, otherwise it’s just another fighter.
But Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games, has a much more open platform. I think it will appeal to the gamer who wasn’t a gamer previously. Old people, women, things like that.
They are a much more dominant market on the Wii than other consoles.
Meh, I wouldn’t have bought it because of Brawl in the first place. Though, ever since I’d heard of Brawl, I just assumed Sonic was in there. Due to rumors, maybe, but I still thought he would be in there.
I actually find it hard to believe that many people would buy a game SOLEY because it has sonic vs mario. Granted it makes the game more tempting from a fanboy perspective, but the overall quality of the game is almost always nintendo’s top priority.
Am I the only one who doesn’t really care for mini-games? Everyone is comparing this game to wii play, raving rabbids, and warioware. All games that don’t interest me at all.
Wait, Jonathan. You meant to tell me at one point you DID care about Mario vs Sonic? Come on, man!