View source for Mario & Sonic (series)

{{italic title|''Mario & Sonic'' (series)}}
{{series-infobox
|title=Mario & Sonic
|image=[[File:Mario & Sonic Series Logo.png|270px]]
|first=''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' ([[List of games by date#2007|2007]])
|latest=''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]'' ([[List of games by date#2013|2013]])
|number=5 (1 upcoming)
|parent=''[[Mario (series)|Mario]], [[Wikipedia:Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]
}}
The '''''Mario & Sonic''''' series is a collection of crossover sports games featuring characters from [[Nintendo]]'s [[Mario (series)|''Super Mario'' series]] and [[Sega]]'s [[Wikipedia:Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]]. These series marked the first time [[Mario]] and [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] ever appeared together in a videogame.

The series began when Sega acquired the license to create videogames based on the [[wikipedia:Olympic Games|Olympic Games]], intending to create a version featuring characters from its well-known ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' franchise. Due to the atmosphere of competitive sportsmanship the Olympics had to offer, Sega received approval by Nintendo to include Super Mario characters in the game with Sonic. The series has been overall well-received praised by the media, mainly for being a crossover between Mario and Sonic, with the gameplay and multiplayer having been praised as well. However, it has been criticized for the choice of setting for both series, the controls, and having the Olympics be the only theme in the series. 
[[File:Olimpiadas de Mario y Sonic.PNG|right|thumb|The host countries (orange and blue) and cities (yellow diamonds).]]

==Games==
{| align=center width=100% border=1
|- style="background-color: whitesmoke;"
!Title, Original Release and System
!Synopsis
|-
!''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]''
----
[[File:MSOG.PNG|150x150px]]
[[File:MnSDS boxart.jpg|150x150px]]
|rowspan=2|'''''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]''''' is the first game in the series and the first game ever to establish a crossover appearance with Mario and Sonic, in addition to including a cast of characters hailing from the same franchises respectively. The game was released for both Wii and Nintendo DS, each one featuring exclusive content. The game is based on the [[Beijing]] 2008 Summer Olympics and includes 20 real-life events and the ficticious [[Dream Event]]s (based on settings for both ''Super Mario'' series' environments and ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series' environments).
|- style=font-size:8pt align=center
|{{releasedate|Japan|2007}} [[Wii]]
{{releasedate|Japan|2008}} [[Nintendo DS]]
|-
!''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]''
----
[[File:MSWG UScover.jpg|150x150px]]
[[File:MSOWGDScover.PNG|150x150px]]
|rowspan=2|'''''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]''''' is the second game in the series, but this time the setting takes place at the [[Vancouver]] 2010 Winter Olympics which includes different events from the previous games. It also incorporates four new playable characters in the series, namely [[Donkey Kong]], [[Bowser Jr.]], [[Silver the Hedgehog|Silver]], and [[Metal Sonic]]. Much like its predecessor, it was released for both Wii and Nintendo DS. In addition, the Nintendo DS version includes an exclusive Adventure Mode revolving around a plot involving [[Bowser]] and [[Dr. Eggman]]'s scheme to melt all the snow by capturing the Snow Spirits in Christmas Village, prompting Mario and Sonic to stop them.
|- style=font-size:8pt align=center
|{{releasedate|Japan|2009}} [[Wii]], [[Nintendo DS]]
|-
!''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]''
----
[[File:MASATLOG Cover.png|150x150px]]
[[File:Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS).jpg|150x150px]]
|rowspan=2|'''''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]''''' is the third installment of the series featuring new sports and events. It was released for the Wii like past installments, and is also the first in the series to be released for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]. The game now takes place in [[London]], home of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The Nintendo 3DS exclusive adventure mode begins with Bowser and Dr. Eggman releasing a colorful fog that ruins the Olympics. The heroes must find a way to put an end to this fog in a total of seven adventure stories. 
|- style=font-size:8pt align=center
|{{releasedate|Japan|2011}} [[Wii]]
{{releasedate|Japan|2012}} [[Nintendo 3DS]]
|- 
!''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]''
----
[[File:M&S2014 Wii U Boxart.jpg|150x150px]]
|rowspan=2|'''''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]''''' is the fourth installment in the series. It is the first in the series to be released for the [[Wii U]], and is the first that has not been released on a portable system. The game takes place in [[Sochi]], Russia, home of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
|- style=font-size:8pt align=center
|{{releasedate|Japan|2013}} [[Wii U]]
|-
!''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''
----
[[File:MS Rio logo.png|150x150px]]
|rowspan=2|'''''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''''' is the fifth installment in the series. So far only confirmed for Japan, the game appears to add five newcomers like the second installment: [[Zazz]], [[Nabbit]], [[Diddy Kong]], [[Rouge]], and [[Jet]] (the latter two appeared in prior installments as NPCs). [[Zazz]] has also been seen in the [[Table Tennis]] game, although he may be a boss. The game will take place in [[Rio de Janeiro]], home of the 2016 Summer Olympics. There will once again be both console and handheld versions for the [[Wii U]] and [[Nintendo 3DS]] respectively.
|- style=font-size:8pt align=center
|{{releasedate|Japan|2015}} [[Wii U]], [[Nintendo 3DS]]
|- 
|}

==Characters==
=== Playable characters ===
The series has spawned a total of 25 playable characters - 12 from the ''Mario'' series, 12 from the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series, and Mii characters. Listed in the table below are which characters appear in each individual installment.
{| width=755px border=1 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse;background:white; margin: 0 auto;"
|- bgcolor=#dedede
! width=150px | Character
! width=150px | ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]''
! width=150px | ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]''
! width=150px | ''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]''
! width=150px | ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]''
! width=150px | ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''
|-
! [[Amy Rose|Amy]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]   
|-
! [[Blaze the Cat|Blaze]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]|| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Bowser]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]|| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Bowser Jr.]]
|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]|| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Princess Daisy|Daisy]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]|| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Diddy Kong]]
| [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Dr. Eggman|Doctor Eggman]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]|| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Donkey Kong]]
|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Jet the Hawk|Jet]]
| [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Luigi]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Mario]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Metal Sonic]]
|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] 
|-
! [[Mii]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]{{footnote|main|1}} || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]{{footnote|main|1}} || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]{{footnote|main|1}} || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] 
|-
! [[Nabbit]]
| [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Princess Peach|Peach]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Rouge the Bat|Rouge]]
| [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] 
|-
! [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Silver the Hedgehog|Silver]]
|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]|| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]|| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]|| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Vector the Crocodile|Vector]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] 
|-
! [[Waluigi]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] 
|-
! [[Wario]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || |[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] 
|-
! [[Yoshi]]
| [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]  || [[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
! [[Zazz]]
|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || [[File:X_mark.svg|17px]] || |[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]  
|} 

<small>'''<nowiki></nowiki>''' 

{{footnote|note|1|The character is only playable in the home console version of the game}}
</small>

== Athlete types ==

=== All-Around === 
Characters in this classification have a equal balance of speed, acceleration, power, skill and stamina. 

{| style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"
|- style="background-color: lightgray;"
!Game !! All-Around Characters
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games'' || <small>Mario &middot; Luigi &middot; Amy Rose &middot; Blaze the Cat</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games'' || <small>Mario &middot; Luigi &middot; Bowser Jr. &middot; Amy Rose &middot; Blaze the Cat</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games'' || <small>Mario &middot; Luigi &middot; Bowser Jr. &middot; Amy Rose &middot; Blaze the Cat</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games'' || <small>Mario &middot; Luigi &middot; Bowser Jr. &middot; Amy Rose &middot; Blaze the Cat</small>
|}

=== Speed ===
Characters in this classification have high speed and acceleration, but poor skill, power and stamina. 

{| style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"
|- style="background-color: lightgray;"
!Game !! Speed Characters
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games'' || <small>Princess Daisy &middot; Yoshi &middot; Sonic the Hedgehog &middot; Shadow the Hedgehog</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games'' || <small>Princess Daisy &middot; Yoshi &middot; Sonic the Hedgehog &middot; Shadow the Hedgehog &middot; Metal Sonic</small>

|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games'' || <small>Princess Daisy &middot; Yoshi &middot; Sonic the Hedgehog &middot; Shadow the Hedgehog &middot; Metal Sonic</small>

|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games'' || <small>Princess Daisy &middot; Yoshi &middot; Sonic the Hedgehog &middot; Shadow the Hedgehog &middot; Metal Sonic</small>
|} 

=== Power === 
Characters in this classification have high power and stamina, but have poor speed, acceleration, and skill. 

{| style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"
|- style="background-color: lightgray;"
!Game !! Power Characters
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games'' || <small>Bowser &middot; Wario &middot; Knuckles the Echidna &middot; Vector the Crocodile</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games'' || <small>Bowser &middot; Wario &middot; Donkey Kong &middot; Knuckles the Echidna &middot; Vector the Crocodile</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games'' || <small>Bowser &middot; Wario &middot; Donkey Kong &middot; Knuckles the Echidna &middot; Vector the Crocodile</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games'' || <small>Bowser &middot; Wario &middot; Donkey Kong &middot; Knuckles the Echidna &middot; Vector the Crocodile</small>
|} 

=== Skill === 
Characters in this classification have high skill, and have an average balance of speed, acceleration, power, and stamina. 

{| style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"
|- style="background-color: lightgray;"
!Game !! Skill Characters
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games'' || <small>Princess Peach &middot; Waluigi &middot; Miles "Tails" Prower &middot; Doctor Eggman</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games'' || <small>Princess Peach &middot; Waluigi &middot; Miles "Tails" Prower &middot; Doctor Eggman &middot; Silver the Hedgehog</small>
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games'' || <small>Princess Peach &middot; Waluigi &middot; Miles "Tails" Prower &middot; Doctor Eggman &middot; Silver the Hedgehog</small> 
|-
| ''Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games'' || <small>Princess Peach &middot; Waluigi &middot; Miles "Tails" Prower &middot; Doctor Eggman &middot; Silver the Hedgehog</small>
|}

==Trivia==
*The first game was believed to be an April Fools Joke<sup>[by whom?]</sup> as the game was revealed on March 28, 2007. However, soon after, Sega stated on their official website that the game was official, and that both Sega and Nintendo were working on the game project.
*Additionally, as the announcement of the ''Mario & Sonic'' Olympics video game series was revealed (starting with ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games''), the agreement was also reached that in the case of publishing and marketing duties for each ''Mario & Sonic'' Olympics installment, Sega would handle the process for all territories outside of Japan while Nintendo would handle the process inside of Japan itself. The fourth game, however, was published by Nintendo outside of Japan rather than Sega.
*Sega asked if Sonic characters could appear in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', but Nintendo said: "We'll never work with Sega!", but one year later Mario and Sonic came for Wii.
{{BoxTop}}
{{Mariogames}}
[[de:Mario & Sonic-Serie]]
[[Category:Mario & Sonic Series|*]]
[[Category:Game Series]]