Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

It may have taken close to twenty years for Nintendo and Sega’s respective mascots to settle their differences and front a videogame together. But after the thundering commercial success of 2007’s Mario & Sonic at the Olympics, the floodgates are wide open. That’s not to say this Winter-themed sports game compendium is a cheap and easy follow-up; far from it. Not only are the 25 events exciting and varied, but they’re a good fit for videogames - events such as Slalom skiing, ski jumping, ice-hockey and snowboarding all having translated well to gaming in the past.

Helpfully, all of the minigames here can be played with a single Wiimote. Although, for those with the equipment, it’s possible to hook in a Nunchuck to use the controllers like a pair of ski poles. Whichever control scheme you opt for, the controls are serviceable rather than brilliant. Inexplicably, the game doesn’t support the new (and soon to be standard) WiiMotion Plus technology; something that would have given every minigame a lot more nuance and precision.

The decision appears especially strange when you consider that no less than 14 of the games are compatible with the Wii Balance Board that's gathering dust in your understair cupboard. That said, this is an excellent excuse to renew the batteries in your Wii Fit add-on, as it works very well with the skiing games, in which you shift your weight from left to right to steer. There’s no denying the core appeal here is the sheer novelty factor, especially within the context of a Christmas family party, but it’s very welcome nonetheless.

Elsewhere the package offers sports as diverse as Curling, in which you waggle the Wiimote like a broom; Bobsleigh, where you hold the Wiimote to your chest and lean left and right as you plummet down a high-speed ice-flume, and even Ice Hockey, which plays like the top-down NHL hockey games of the mid-1990s). All of the games are unlocked from the off too, meaning you can try your hand at most things the game has to offer immediately.

The core of the game is Festival mode, which enlists you into a 30-day tournament offering up to three training sessions and one event per day. Playable with a friend via co-op mode, Festival leads you through the game competently, with the reward of in-game currency that can be used to unlock all manner of bonus materials, including some natty winter costumes for your Miis.

Finally, unlockable Dream Events offer some wonderful fan service to the SEGA and Nintendo faithful, presenting some lovingly-crafted tribute stages to some of the companies’ best-known titles. The result is a big improvement over 2007’s Mario & Sonic game. Moreover it’s a worthy addition to any family Christmas list that offers just enough treats for the hobbyist gamer and more than enough enjoyment for a whole season’s worth of party-gaming.

4 out of 5