GAMES: GameSpot | GameFAQs MUSIC: Last.fm | MP3.com MOVIES: Metacritic | Movietome TV: TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

xx AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack
46 Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun
xx AMF Bowling World Lanes
73 Animal Crossing: City Folk
xx Bang!
xx Battle Rage: Mech Combat
xx Big Kahuna Party
xx Big League Sports
xx Bigfoot: Collision Course
xx Block Party
xx Boingz
62 Brain Challenge
xx Bratz Kidz: Slumber Party
xx Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars - Director's Cut
xx Bruiser and Scratch
xx Cake Mania: In the Mix!
83 Call of Duty: World at War
26 Calvin Tucker's Redneck Jamboree
xx Candace Kane's Candy Factory
47 Castlevania Judgment
xx Championship Foosball
xx Chrysler Classic Racing
64 Cooking Mama World Kitchen
39 Coraline
xx Cue Sports: Pool Revolution
65 Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop
73 Deadly Creatures
56 Deal or No Deal
xx Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3 - Senior Year
xx Don King Boxing
59 Evasive Space
61 FaceBreaker K.O. Party
xx Family & Friends Party
xx Family Fest Presents Movie Games
xx Family Glide Hockey
41 Family Party: 30 Great Games
xx Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
xx Fishing Master World Tour
xx Fun! Fun! Minigolf
xx Gallop & Ride!
xx Golden Balls
xx Goosebumps HorrorLand
67 Guinness World Records: The Videogame
63 Hasbro Family Game Night
66 High Voltage Hot Rod Show
xx Hockey Allstar Shootout
xx Hotel for Dogs
79 House of the Dead: Overkill, The
xx Imagine Party Babyz
42 Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine
xx Jungle Speed
xx Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
71 King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga, The
57 Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors
76 LIT
56 Lonpos
xx Luxor 3
xx M&M's Adventure
62 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
xx MadWorld
xx Major League Baseball 2K9
xx Major Minor's Majestic March
xx Marble Saga: Kororinpa
xx Merv Griffin's Crosswords
xx MLB Superstars
xx Monkey Mischief: Party Time
72 Monster Lab
xx Monsters vs. Aliens
56 Mortimer Beckett and the Secrets of Spooky Manor
xx Moto GP 08
73 Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars
xx My Fitness Coach
xx MySims Party
69 Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek
70 NASCAR Kart Racing
54 Need for Speed Undercover
49 Neighborhood Games
52 Neopets Puzzle Adventure
xx New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis
78 New Play Control! Pikmin
44 Niki - Rock 'n' Ball
xx North American Hunting Extravaganza
xx NPPL Championship Paintball 2009
57 Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
70 Onslaught
xx Paws & Claws: Pet Resort
xx Pet Pals: Animal Doctor
xx Petz Crazy Monkeyz
xx Petz Sports
xx Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball
52 Pit Crew Panic!
xx Planet Pachinko
xx Pop Them, Drop Them SameGame
xx PopStar Guitar
xx Pop-Up Pirate!
xx Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity
54 Quantum of Solace
73 Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party
92 Rock Band 2
xx Rock Revolution
xx Rogue Trooper: Quartz Zone Massacre
67 Rubik's World
xx Rune Factory: Frontier
53 Rygar: The Battle of Argus
xx Sandy Beach
78 Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip
58 SimAnimals
xx Six Flags Fun Park
xx Skate City Heroes
70 Skate It
xx Ski and Shoot
xx Snowboard Riot
xx Sonic and the Black Knight
66 Sonic Unleashed
68 Space Invaders Get Even
41 SPRay
56 Star Wars The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels
81 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 4: Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective
83 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 5: 8-Bit is Enough
xx Sudoku Challenge!
xx Summer Sports 2: Island Sports Party
xx Tale of Despereaux, The
69 Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
xx Target Toss Pro: Bags
71 Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
xx Tiki Towers
70 Tomb Raider Underworld
xx Trivial Pursuit
57 Ultimate Band
xx Ultimate Shooting Collection
71 We Ski and Snowboard
xx Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge
xx WordJong Party
xx WSC Real 08: World Snooker Championship
79 WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2009
xx Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games wii Game Reviews
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Critic Score
Metascore: 67 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.9 out of 10
based on 36 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 58 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, players compete in events that take place in environments based on the official venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Using a supporting cast of characters from the worlds of both Mario and Sonic, gamers compete as or against a range of lovable personalities including Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, Tails and more. Innovative usage of the Wii and DS control systems to maneuver a favorite character allows players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, engage in exhilarating rallies in table tennis and churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought after gold medal. [Sega]

PUBLISHER: Sega
DEVELOPER: Sega
GENRE(S): Sports
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: November 6, 2007

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
It's ideal both as a family game or as great post-pub entertainment. [Christmas 2007, p.64]
80
games(TM)
Mario & Sonic brings with it the return of the dreaded ‘Nintendonitis’. Play for more than an hour, aiming to break the world record on each event and it’s likely that your arms won’t forgive you for the rest of the day. [Chrismas 2007, p.128]
80
NGamer UK
If you like laughing and sweating - and especially both at the same time - this is Olympic gold. Some duff events, but you'll be giggling too hard to care. [Christmas 2007, p.44]
80
VideoGamer
Neat ideas like the inclusion of actual world records, and the option to gamble the potential points you could win from an event round off this tidy compilation.
Read Full Review
79
IGN
For being a game that’s made up of simple gestures and “been there, done that” gameplay, Mario & Sonic is a huge surprise in its ability to still pull us in and really deliver pure, classic entertainment.
Read Full Review
78
AtomicGamer
Overall, I'd still recommend this game, despite its higher-than-expected price point. You'll still have a good bit of fun for your gaming dollar.
Read Full Review
76
Games Master UK
Shallow stuff, but simple enough for anyone to play. Shame to see Mario and Sonic wasted. [Christmas 2007, p.72]
75
Nintendo Power
While the game never really blows you away, it's hard to imagine that any fans of Mario, Sonic, or party games wouldn't be glad to have this in their collection. [Holiday 2007, p.79]
75
GameZone
Some of the motions are brilliant, like Archery, but most are mediocre at best, like Skeet Shooting.
Read Full Review
75
Pelit (Finland)
Wii is just right platform for olympic games. For example Archery and High Jump are just excellent. It's a shame, that some of the events suffers from fiddly controls like Single Sculls and Table Tennis. Generally game is quite fun and it works best with bunch of sporty friends. [Mar 2008]
70
Zentendo
Its presentation and decent execution put it beyond mediocrity, but its fumbling inconsistency, repetition, and lack of defined flair fail to truly set it apart from others of its kind.
Read Full Review
70
NTSC-uk
A great game with a group of friends, and one which could help shift a pound or two, but the necessity to unlock events for multiplayer and the near-vertical difficulty curve for later circuits are hard to overlook.
Read Full Review
70
GamePro
It only takes a few minutes of playing Mario & Sonic at the Olympics to understand that this isn't so much a game as it is a marketing tool to promote the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Read Full Review
70
GameSpy
Mario & Sonic is by no means a bad compilation of sports-oriented mini-games; it's occasionally flawed but ultimately fun.
Read Full Review
70
PALGN
With a wealth of options and a large variety of mini-games, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Game is a great partnership for the former rivals.
Read Full Review
70
EuroGamer
If you're willing to put the hours in, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is a highly entertaining party game.
Read Full Review
69
GameTrailers
Overall, it lacks the polish and simplicity to compete with so many other mini-game collections on the Wii, leaving the unlikely pairing of mascots as its biggest draw.
Read Full Review
69
Gamer 2.0
While the game is incredibly tiring to play, it's a whole lot of fun when you're playing with other people. Other than that, it's just another game based on the Olympic Games... or it's just another Mario sports game.
Read Full Review
69
Ferrago
This is more of a distraction until a proper Wii Sports game appears on the scene. There just isn't enough substance here to keep the committed player coming back for more.
Read Full Review
67
Gaming Age
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is a lot of fun to play when you get a full group together, as long as you can get everyone over the initial learning curve.
Read Full Review
65
PTGamers
Deep down, it’s a set of mini-games wrapped up in the Olympics thematic, but fails to prevail in one or the other aspect.
Read Full Review
65
Kombo
The real Mario/Sonic event comes next year with Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In the meantime we have Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, a fun distraction when playing with friends and an exercise in skipping animated clips of characters cheering when playing alone.
Read Full Review
64
Cheat Code Central
With competent graphics, a real feeling of character, and mostly good uses of the Wii's motion sensing controls, this game is an enjoyable experience overall. Just don't let the allure of the crossover cloud your judgement when deciding whether or not to play this title.
Read Full Review
63
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Let me help clarify: The controls aren't complicated on their own; they're just complicated for this type of gaming experience. [Holiday 2007, p.66]
62
Worth Playing
The controls are hit-and-miss, and although you can play with a friend, you won't be able to progress through the circuits together, which makes it a moot point.
Read Full Review
60
Edge Magazine
It’s the kind of concept you suspect was conceived more by the desire to ‘leverage brand synergy’ than to create a classic videogame. [Jan 2008, p.90]
60
NZGamer
The single-player is an amusing distraction but playing with a few more people immediately takes things up a notch.
Read Full Review
60
GotNext
A brilliant idea on paper.
Read Full Review
60
GameDaily
The events don't show much diversity, outside of a few creative "dream" events. Worse yet, the controls are haphazard, sometimes reading perfectly and other times barely registering. As a result, it earns a bronze metal, at best.
Read Full Review
60
1UP
The complexity in the competition's certainly a step up from "Wii Sports" and "Wii Play," but without the option to play how you want and when you want, this feels like just another souped-up minigame collection. It's enjoyable -- and to be honest, more fun than I expected -- but it's not quite the evolution of Wii Sports we've been looking for.
Read Full Review
60
GameSpot
Mario and Sonics' debut as a duo fails to earn them a spot on the medal stand.
Read Full Review
52
GamingExcellence
“Mario and Sonic at the Olympics” turned too quickly into “Player versus Mario and Sonic Olympics”, and the result is an unhappy gamer with a set of sore arms.
Read Full Review
50
The Wiire
Playing with others is certainly more fun than playing alone, but there is nothing inventive about the approach to multiplayer, and the lack of full online play is disappointing.
Read Full Review
50
Gamestyle
This game is certainly entertaining, but only for a few days, and several of the events just prove too aggravating to replay again once you’ve done them as often as you need to.
Read Full Review
40
Game Informer
This game had the chance to go in a different direction on the Wii and do something interesting with the Olympics, but unfortunately merely substitutes remote-shaking for button-mashing rather than offering genuinely fun activities.
Read Full Review
30
GameTap
I could go on and on how Mario & Sonic misses the mark in nearly every respect, but there’s really no point.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 58 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Lucky P. gave it a9:
Great game, very funny!!!!

Darren S. gave it a10:
You've got to be kidding me with some of these people slagging it off - obviously they have no sense of fun or sense of humour. The best thing that you can do is go and get yourself a copy of this and play away. Don't cry about one or two games being difficult to follow - just play, laugh and cry as your arms get soooo tired.

Mick gave it an8:
A good game which goes to show that 85+% of games reviewers don't have friends other than those they meet online...with the continued popularity of the wii it is time these magazines and websites start to rid themselves of some of their critics or they'll quickly find themselves very out of touch with their readership.

Filazafer X gave it a9:
Simply put, this is the best olympic game ever made. I just don't understand why it got so many poor reviews. I have always loved this type of game and this one takes it to a whole new level. The controls are creative and change for every event. It works great. It is the only game I have rented first and then bought. If they ever bring this out with online play it would be a huge hit. That is the only thing it is lacking. Personally I love it and I enjoy competing in every single event. I hope they make a winter olympic version soon.

Luke B. gave it a10:
I rated this game a 10 because it is super fun. It is one of my all-time favorite video games. My favorite is the javilin throw. I have the world record in that one!

Wilma B. gave it a10:
THis is a really good game because you can actually break a sweat playing it. It isn't quite as fun with only one player though.

Matt M. gave it a5:
Not much fun. I can see how some people would like it, but I thought the games were boring and the controls were often tedious. Bottome line is this: It's less fun than Wii Sports and Wii Sports was free. Don't pay full price for it.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: MLB | Spore | iPhone 3G | Paris Hilton | Antivirus Software | GPS | Recipes | Shwayze | NFL

About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use