What If Mario & Sonic’s Tokyo Olympic Games Were Expanded For 2021?

It seems like the premise of two of the most iconic video game characters of all time competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games has not aged well [24]. But you know what can somewhat provide some historical accuracy? A new mobile game titled “Mario At The Olympic Games”, along with a new update for Sonic At The Olympic Games [18]. I know that the Super Mario franchise is usually for Nintendo hardware only, but just look at how well Mario Kart Tour has done and that is a game for iOS and Android [5]. I know it would have been more consistent for some DLC to be established at some point last year after the Nintendo Switch version’s release in late 2019 [24], but titling it, “2021 Tokyo Games” and releasing it sometime later this year would restore the youth of the premise and make it far more historically accurate. Unfortunately, the developer of the game went bankrupt before its release [20], so it would be too late to develop and establish some DLC for the Switch port. Furthermore, the new date for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will begin after its reasonable postponement is July 2021 due to the eventual availability of two vaccinations against the virus [10] [24].

The premise within the arcade edition aged the worst since we had to spend a fraction of 2020 at home and the Olympics in real life had to be delayed to 2021. I cannot blame the developers since none of us expected the pandemic to happen. [25]

Looking at the older designs of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic logo that were shown from 2011 to 2016, I can see why some of us have speculated that an alternate logo for Mario & Sonic At The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games would be the official one [33] [34]. But that is beside the point of me theorising how the game’s premise will age well if there will be some additions referred to as “The Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games”. [3]

Which characters should be part of a new set of events in honour of the second Tokyo Olympic games taking place in Summer 2021? My first suggestion would be Pauline from Team Mario as she became a playable character for Mario Tennis Aces and further proved her self-empowerment back in early 2019 [6] [35] [36]. How about we also welcome Wave the Swallow back in the roster for Team Sonic since she is Jet the Hawk’s fellow racer [16] [23] [26]? Classic Sonic in 3D for the running events in the 2021 Olympics would be a real treat [13], especially in association with his 30^th anniversary [15]! I would suggest that the other four koopalings and the other four members of the Deadly Six from Sonic Lost World can be new guest characters [7] [14]. After all, Roy Koopa was a playable character in Mario & Sonic At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games [22]. Let us hope the Zor will not to too mopey to not participate in any events [14]. I believe some new playable characters for a “2021” chapter of the Tokyo Olympic games would make the mobile port more refreshing as if the chosen content were part of some DLC for the Switch port and as if AlphaDream had not been closed down [20].

Aside from how adorable Cream the Rabbit looks in her navy blue kimono [31] [32], I believe Pauline would look amazing in some new sporting attire, even though I would be cool with seeing her in her tennis outfit from Mario Tennis Aces for a new Tennis event [22] [35] [36]. [6]

Wave would look so cool in a new sporting outfit too! Right now, I am asking myself, “Despite the poor reception of Sonic Free Riders in the early 2010s [30], will the Sonic Riders series be revived for the Nintendo Switch?”. That would be a big opportunity to establish a fourth instalment of the spin-off series that would be a massive improvement. [26]

Perhaps there can be some new events for the update for Sonic At The Olympic Games as well, adding more to the “2021 Olympic Games” theme. I think there can be:

•        A Gymnastics event [24]
•        An Equestrian event [24]
•        A Boxing event [24]
•        A Surfing event [24]
•        A Skateboarding event [24]

The controls of the gymnastics event on a smartphone or tablet ought to be as functional as the controls in the main gameplay of Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX [12], which is an example of how exceptional the controls for new events should be. Zomom would be a great fit for a Boxing event with an appetite for victory and Wave would be a worthy competitor in the skateboarding and surfing events [14] [26], just like how she and the other two members of the Babylon Rogues were in the Sonic Riders series [16]. For Mario At The Olympic Games by Nintendo, a large amount of the events should be adapted from the Switch version, including the 100m event and perhaps the arcade version starring both teams [24] [25], consisting of highly similar functionality as Sonic At The Olympic Games with the same amount of competitors from Team Mario [27]. If Mario Kart can be adapted to iOS and Android [5], so can Team Mario at the Olympics.

I supposed there can also be a new chapter within the Story Mode featuring any new characters for the 2021 Olympic Games [27]. [19]

Shall we discuss what could have been for the Switch port if AlphaDream did not get shut down [20]? Characters like Pauline, Wave and the other koopalings could have been new playable characters as DLC. Another new character to play as would have been a player’s Mii. Imagine competing with custom coloured hair! I remember how my Mii did figure skating in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games when I was still a high schooler [9], so it would have been great to be able to play as a Mii in the latest chapter. There also could have been more dream events, such as:

•         Dream Equestrian
•         Dream Skateboarding
•         Dream Surfing
•         Dream Archery

My Mii would have unleashed her inner Katniss Everdeen [28] [29]! Despite my previous statement, it could be possible for the software to still be available for providing some additions as downloadable content for the game in spite of AlphaDream’s bankruptcy [20], just as long as it is all backed up by another developer in association with Nintendo. But ultimately, at least we saw some great things in a new instalment rather than nothing. Call me crazy, but I am not the only one who came up with the idea of DLC for the Switch version [1] [17].

Peach and Daisy’s old athletic outfits that were seen in Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games could have come back as part of some DLC for the Switch version for good old time’s sake [8]. [21]

I am not saying that an extra instalment and a new update for Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games or a new mobile game titled “Mario At The Olympic Games” will definitely be released at some point in late 2021, considering how much time and effort goes into video game development, but it is interesting to theorise how such concepts referred to as “Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games” can greatly restore historical accuracy [24]. We can still be grateful for ideas that are actually being brought into action, including Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, the forthcoming remakes of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl [2]. But still, establishing a new app based on the Tokyo Olympic Games that only features Team Mario and a new update for Sonic At The Olympic Games later this year would have not only been historically accurate but also potentially respectful to a certain degree. If you have lost a loved one to the pandemic, my condolences go out to you. Remember that you are not alone and if you are a passionate gamer, know that your passions will remind you of who you are if you feel lost. I am delighted that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will take place this summer to make up for how they had to be delayed for the safety of every single competitor during the worldwide spread of coronavirus [24].

I stand by the fact that an update for Sonic At The Olympic Games referred to as “Sonic At The 2021 Olympic Games” would provide some new historical accuracy and restore the youth of the premise. [19]

I know that the possibility of any additions to the Mario & Sonic At The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games clan this year is extremely unlikely and the premise will remain terribly aged, but we can still be grateful for the outcomes of all ports of the game, including the Sonic-only mobile adaption [18] [19] [27]. There are plenty of seemingly great things to look forward to for the rest of 2021 and so on, including the shortly forthcoming revival of Rugrats [4] [11]. [21]

References

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