Following the unfortunate announcement that the Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games series is ending, the future for crossovers between the two titans of platforming may seem bleak. While it is possible that these crossovers may end, it is also possible that Nintendo and SEGA’s mascots can continue to cross over in new ways. There are countless ways in which they could go about this, so there may be a new and exciting future for them after all.
Mario and Sonic Generations
Sonic the Hedgehog already has a great format for a game like this. Sonic Generations took one level from every mainline Sonic game. They reimagined them as entirely new levels with two different gameplay styles: Modern Sonic (which played like Sonic Colors) and Classic Sonic (which played like Sonic 3 & Knuckles). If SEGA reused this concept, they could switch out the Classic Sonic levels for Mario levels, in the style of either Mario’s 2D Platformer games or something close to Super Mario 3D World.
This idea does come with some drawbacks. Sonic Generations already exists, and it contains many of the most popular Sonic stages in the series. Even with Mario’s involvement, reusing some of them would likely feel stale to fans. However, Mario still has the potential to breathe life into Sonic’s world. His skillset would allow him to traverse Sonic’s levels in a unique way that differentiates him while placing Sonic in Mario-style levels would create a completely standout experience that we have yet to see from the hedgehog.
Mario & Luigi & Sonic
The Mario & Luigi series of RPG’s have always had a quirky and wacky tone to them that is perfectly suited to a fun crossover. The unique gameplay gimmicks on the overworld have always been suited to additional characters (such as Bowser in Bowser’s Inside Story and Paper Mario in Paper Jam), so bringing in the blue blur could add a lot to the experience. Combat in the series is also very much about Mario and Luigi’s ability to work as a team, so the dream of Mario and Sonic working together could be fully realized here.
In addition, this would be best suited for a more narrative-driven experience. Fans who want a crossover between Mario and Sonic likely want to see their favorite characters interact, and no genre is better suited to this than an RPG. This is especially true for the Mario & Luigi series, which uses an especially cartoony art style that allows characters to animate in very expressive ways. This is contingent on the success of Mario & Luigi: Brothership to keep the franchise going, but it could be a path forward that fans are sure to love.
Mario and Sonic Kart
Mario Kart is one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, but a dilemma has arisen from its most recent entry, Mario Kart 8. This game has almost too much content- It may be difficult to reach the same level of success if starting from scratch. In that case, why not make a crossover its selling point? Sonic the Hedgehog already has his own excellent kart racing series, so it makes a lot of sense to make the next big racing game a crossover between the two.
This idea is not as simple as combining Mario Kart 8 with Team Sonic Racing, though. Sonic’s kart racers tend to have bigger vehicles and a greater emphasis on speed. However, Mario Kart is no stranger to experimentation (such as with its two-characters-per-kart style in Double Dash), and finding a completely new angle with which to develop the game could result in an enjoyable experience for Mario and Sonic fans and newcomers alike.
Moving Forward with the Characters
Nintendo and SEGA have had a strong relationship for a long time. Mario and Sonic may not receive another crossover, but the two companies certainly know the demand. If they wish to capitalize on fans’ desire to see two of the biggest names in gaming continue to cross over, even without the Olympics branding, they will have to find an entirely new solution. Whether it’s a platformer, an RPG, a racing game, or something else entirely, the future Mario and Sonic crossovers may still have life.
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