Release Date: AVAILABLE NOW in stores on DS

Earlier in 2008 we saw Mario and Sonic face off in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games on the Wii. This was originally supposed to be released simultaneously with the DS version you’re reading about right now, but, most likely due to some outstanding glitches that needed to be fixed, it was not.

The two massive icons who brand the game are just a couple of the 16 playable characters from the both Sega and Nintendo’s franchises. Each character has different skills; it’s up to you to decide who fits which event best. They’ve bundled in 16 different Olympic events, which should keep you busy for quite some time.

The chink in the armor of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is basically the fact that it was already released on the Wii, where it looked better and ran smoother. Not to say the DS version is choppy, but the graphics aren’t anything to gawk at after seeing it played on the Wii; however, as far as the DS goes, they’re still above par. No matter what, though, this is going to be compared to the Wii version, so we might as well face it now: nothing can really be compared to the Wii evenly. You can try, but you’ll never duplicate the immersive experience offered by the console’s Wiimote, nun chucks, and various other controllers; the DS is simply a handheld console with touch screen capabilities. It’s a pistol against a shotgun.

Moving on to the actual game itself, Nintendo’s DS keeps with the interactive feel on the touch screen, but a lot of the qualities the Wii had that made it such a good game are lost. The best part about the DS version is the multiplayer over WiFi, where all the competitive action comes into play. The experience really depends on who you’re playing with; if your opponent has a fun and competitive spirit, then you’ll likely have a great time with this. That’s the important thing to remember with Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games: it’s simply a bunch of fun minigames with two of your favorite gaming icons at the helm. If you can remember that while you’re playing, then it’s a fun way to spend a few hours.

If you have a Wii, pick this up and have a blast looking ridiculous with a few friends. If you don’t have a Wii but you really want to experience the head to head drama of Sega vs. Nintendo, then get it for the DS. If you just want me to stop talking so you can go and buy the game, remember one thing: try to find someone you know who also has it, because trust me, it’ll be a lot more fun.

Simons Says Get it for the Wii, Forget it for the DS.

Let me know your thoughts, leave a comment or email me at Andrews@team.beer.com