Nintendo is famous for games across a variety of genres. But the one gameplay formula that will always have a home on its systems is anything with a mascot. Before, all the video game console makers tried to outdo each other with a furry little merchandise creature each called its own. But because modern competitors have grown increasingly sleek and serious, fierce one-time Nintendo rivals like Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot have all flocked to the Switch just to survive. And they’ve been joined by indie homages like Yooka-Laylee and A Hat in Time.
Two recent Nintendo Switch games I’ve been playing celebrate mascots from all angles: Mario and Sonic at the Olympics Games Tokyo 2020 and New Super Lucky’s Tale.
The global cooperative spirit of the Olympics has always been the most clever meta reason to finally get Mario and Sonic in the same game. But to be honest this franchise’s best contribution was opening the door for Sonic in Super Smash Bros. And to be even more honest, this first Switch version of the series does little to change my mind that this is little more than a sports-themed Mario Party that doesn’t even have the board game gimmick.
I just don’t think the minigames are very fun! The modest nature of Olympic sports is the biggest limiting factor. I don’t find the actual Olympics that entertaining but at least there you’re watching real people at top physical performance. Considering the over-the-top antics Mario and Sonic regularly get into during their normal adventures, I don’t think it’s exciting to see them act out a conservative karate fight or table tennis match or awkward shooting gallery.
My personal favorite out of the main crop of activities was the gymnastic routine. Partially because quickly having to memorize and press buttons or perform gestures requires skillful mindful reflexes that do kind of evoke the sport. But really it’s just ironically hilarious to see Waluigi jump and twirl his way across the mat with a dead-serious competitor’s expression. Just look at his long dancers legs!
The side activities aren’t that much deeper but at least add in a little more creativity. There’s a sci-fi hoverboard “Dream Racing” event that’s basically Sonic Riders. And the most eye-catching innovations are the handful of minigames with a retro sprite aesthetic, something that could’ve easily been its own self-contained eshop game with a little bit more fleshing out. Still, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 continues the streak of what should be an iconic mascot crossover being weirdly forgettable.
Meanwhile, New Super Lucky’s Tale and its new mascot hero stuck with me way longer than I would’ve expected. This former Microsoft exclusive is now two revisions removed from its original virtual reality release. And the resulting growing pain wrinkles finally seem basically ironed out, here on the platform where its real audience most likely resides. Even compared to my original demo the slightly awkward burrowing mechanic felt much more responsive. The camera is maybe pulled back too far back and needs a bit of babysitting, but otherwise the game totally behaves like a normal 3D platformer.
And it’s a pretty good one! Between Lucky’s Conker-like look (albeit kid-friendly mouth) and the occasionally annoying requirement of collecting enough items to move on, I was expecting a Rare-style experience like Banjo-Kazooie. But to the game’s credit the inventiveness of the some of the platforming brushed up against Nintendo quality, specifically the compact playground challenges of Super Mario 3D Land.
Between 3D levels, 2D sidescrolling bits, and puzzle rooms there’s a nice mix of things to do in each world that never overstays its welcome. The sheer act of running and jumping and twirling feels so good that you just want to keep doing it and push yourself to see how good you get. And while the overall colorful cartoon vibe is pretty generic, and I did enjoy the character designs of your feline foes.
Mascot games, the Nintendo Switch has them. For more on Nintendo Switch check out these Black Friday deals as well as other games to play on your Nintendo Switch Lite.
Purchase Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Purchase New Super Lucky’s Tale
from Geek.com https://ift.tt/2p3QG4Q
via IFTTT
0 comments:
Post a Comment