From the Press Release
With the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, fast approaching, Mario and Sonic have been training extra hard to make sure they are ready for the biggest competition of the year. The two iconic video game characters are teaming up with their friends in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games launching on Nov. 15 for the Wii U console. In the game, some of the most loved characters from the Mario and Sonic universes like Mario, Sonic, Princess Peach and Tails compete in Olympic Winter Events like snowboard slopestyle, which is making its debut in both the game and the real-life Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, as well as over-the-top Dream Events that can only exist in the world of video games. And for the first time in the Mario & Sonic series, players with a broadband Internet connection can compete in select events online against other players around the world, earning points for their home countries.
“Two of the biggest names in video games are teaming up again for another Olympic Games-sized competition,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Everyone in the family will be up off the couch, joining in the fun with all the other Olympic hopefuls.”
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games contains unique and intuitive controls using both the Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote Plus controllers. In the four-man bobsled, one player can stand at the front of a line and use the GamePad like a steering wheel, while the other players stand behind him or her and use Wii Remote Plus controllers to lean into each turn on the track. In pairs figure skating, two players will swing, twist and pose in sync while sometimes holding the same Wii Remote Plus controller to perform cooperative moves. In biathlon, players must switch between the GamePad and Wii Remote Plus controllers to shoot and ski, respectively. And in snowboard slopestyle, players race down a slope on a snowboard, performing jumps and tricks using the touch screen on the GamePad controller to score points.
In addition to events that will be featured in the actual Olympic Winter Games, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games features a selection of Dream Events that take place in the fantastical worlds of Mario and Sonic. These events feature extreme actions and power-ups, like Roller Coaster Bobsleigh, which finds players speeding down the icy, looping Speed Highway level from the Sonic the Hedgehog series and Snow Day Street Hockey, which takes place in the tropical setting of Delfino Plaza from the Super Mario Sunshine™ game.
Players can compete online with up to four players all over the world in four fun events: ski cross, snowboard cross, speedskating and Winter Sports Champion Race, which combines many sports into one epic event. Every time players win a medal in online game play, they will win points for their home country, which can be viewed through persistent online rankings.
For Wii U owners who do not yet own a Wii Remote Plus or just want to add a cool, blue controller to their collections, the Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games bundle with Wii Remote Plus controller can be purchased in stores at a suggested retail price of $59.99. The standalone game can also be purchased in stores or in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U for $49.99.
For more information about Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, visit http://www.olympicvideogames.com/en_US/.