Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ROM Description

The Olympics are going retro! Mario, Sonic and friends reunite for sporting fun in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS, this mini-game collection lets up to 4 players compete in over 20 Olympic events. With a large cast and smooth performance, it captures the competitive spirit – even if the limited event selection disappoints.

Choose from over 40 characters from the Mushroom Kingdom and Sonic universes, each with their own strengths. Mario, Sonic and your Mii can play any event, while other characters have restrictions. The new guest stars like Wendy and Larry Koopa liven up the roster. Matches start by picking characters strategically based on their power, speed and technique.

Iconic Olympic sports like swimming, triple jump and table tennis make the cut. New events like Rugby Sevens, Golf and Beach Volleyball also add variety. The gameplay captures the essence of each sport with intuitive, responsive controls. While previous entries relied on motion, this focuses on button-based mechanics for a more relaxing experience. The gameplay stays instantly fun and replayable as a result.

While the core sports shine, the lack of creative Dream Events from past titles disappoints. Those wacky Mario-themed activities made the series unique. The multiplayer-centric Hero Showdown partly makes up for this – building up combos to defeat the rival team is a blast. The overall diversity still falls short of past sequels, however.

The presentation pops with color and energy, befitting the Rio setting. Characters are animated with charm, and locales capture the vibrancy of Brazil. While the soundtrack largely reuses old songs, the original Rio-inspired tunes add flavor. The 3D effects also look great, with visuals that pop right off the screen.

With its polished gameplay and multiplayer options, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is an enjoyable portable sports game. The cast has great chemistry, and controlling your favorites is a nostalgic joy. While more events would be welcome, it still captures the competitive Olympic spirit. Add this one to your Nintendo 3DS library and take the gold medal! And for more retro sports action, be sure to check out Mario Tennis Open, also available on ROMsdl.NET.