Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Reviews
It's not a bad game, nor is it a particularly good one; there's still some potential here, it just needs a proper jolt before the party really gets started. Maybe in 2020, eh?
I love the way Mario & Sonic at the Rio Olympic Games is presented. It's a truly gorgeous game and matches with every expectation that I have for the atmosphere and aesthetics of the Rio Games. But this is an Olympics cash-in game, which means most events boil down to minigames, rather than fully-fleshed out games dedicated to a particular sport.
Like those before it, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games had a chance to be a lot of fun, but ended up being a mixed bag featuring both tedium and frustration. It has its moments, and some decent takes on events that we'll see in Rio de Janeiro this summer, but questionable design choices, frustratingly inconsistent AI, occasionally annoying control schemes and a lack of care for the player have all led it to mediocrity.
If you're looking for a game to take the place of titles like London 2012 or Beijing 2008, then bypass this one. However, if you're after a game that can offer a few hours of fun for your family a week this summer, this is a must-have. There's not a lot of replay value, but if you have the proper expectations, it's hard to be disappointed with MASAR 2016.
If you want a fun party game this is a great choice… you have the "brand" of the Olympics plus the characters you know (and at least some you probably love). The controls aren't overly taxing which can be a negative if you like a challenge… but are great for when you just want to enjoy the game, especially with friends.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games offers fun in its Co-op and Heroes Showdown modes, but suffers from being too light on content with not much left for the solo challenger.
It may be all smiles on the beach that your Mii runs around, but Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is a game that's criticism falls on everything that it lacks. The joy of local multiplayer can still reward with hilarity, but the experience falls short in nearly every other area. The Mario & Sonic series still shows plenty of promise, but that is a momentary flicker here.
For parties and families, this is a title definitely worth picking up and it does a great job in encouraging solo play, too. There's little new here, though, with most of the gameplay feeling old hat. Overall, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Nintendo's Wii U is a decent addition to the series but lacking anything special to elevate it to that next level.
Jack of all sports, master of none
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is a mostly enjoyable collection of simple events set in a colourful world.