The worlds of Mario and Sonic come together once more for 17 exciting events in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, arriving on Wii U in Australia and New Zealand on June 25th, 2016. Taking place in Rio de Janeiro, host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, the latest instalment of the series features over 30 playable characters, the ability to play as your Mii, and plenty of frantic four-player multiplayer action to enjoy with friends and family, including the new Duel Events, which give familiar sports a classic Mario & Sonic twist.

Rugby Sevens is one of three sports, along with Football and Beach Volleyball, that comes with its own Duel Event. The action’s powered-up, familiar items like Bullet Bills and Chaos Emeralds are allowed, and chaotic multiplayer matches are guaranteed. In Duel Events, players build up Duel Points by pulling off actions like tackling, spiking or shooting, then have to score a try, point or goal to add these Duel Points to their total score. Last-gasp turnarounds and severe drubbings on an unprecedented scale await!

Players can also vie for gold medals in classic Olympic Games events like Boxing, Archery, and the 100m sprint, using either the Wii U GamePad in single-player, or with Wii Remote button controls in multiplayer. All events take place in venues modelled after the real-life venues of the Olympic Games, bringing an authentic touch of Rio to the proceedings. Rhythm Gymnastics (with clubs) and Rugby Sevens – the latter making its debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – are also playable for the first time.

Alongside the new events comes the new Heroes Showdown mode: an addition for only the most dedicated Mario and Sonic fans out there, as it’s unlocked after achieving first place or being in the winning team in all 17 player events in single-player, or by winning the Bronze Medal more than seven times in tournaments. Competitors join up with Team Mario or Team Sonic and battle it out against the other side in knockout rounds.

Events are picked at random for a real test of all-around skill, and each round a character from the losing team is knocked out until either all members are knocked out, or Team Captains Mario and Sonic are eliminated, so it’s all on the line to be the last team standing.

Over 30 playable characters from the Mario and Sonic series appear, including some that are exclusive to certain events. Sporting hopefuls can put themselves in the game as their Mii, and take part in tournaments for each event. Coins and rings earned through gameplay can be used to buy additional costumes from the Mario series or Sonic series respectively.

Additional special tournaments can be accessed through the use of amiibo figures, which can be used after completing 25 tournaments. By tapping a Sonic amiibo to the Wii U GamePad, the Sonic League will begin, pitting a player’s Mii against characters from the Sonic series. Meanwhile, the Mario League can be played if any Mario amiibo is tapped, and will see players squaring off against characters from the Mushroom Kingdom. A special Mario or Sonic Mii costume will be earned for winning their respective leagues, while scanning in any other amiibo will reward the player with either coins or rings to use at the Item Stand for a chance to win additional costumes.

With 14 official Olympic Games disciplines and three Duel Events, over 30 playable characters and the ability to play as your Mii, and local multiplayer for up to four players, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will offer everyone a chance to go for the gold.

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Mario, Sonic and a host of other fan-favourite characters go for gold in dozens of exciting sporting events in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, set to arrive on Nintendo 3DS / 2DS in Australia and New Zealand on April 9th, 2016.

Set in Rio de Janeiro, host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, the latest instalment of the series features 14 Olympic disciplines, as well as 14 special Plus Events that put a unique Mario and Sonic twist on the athletic action.

On top of classic events including archery and swimming, new experiences await in this supercharged collection. Golf will make an appearance at the Olympic Games for the first time in 112 years, and players can swing with the stylus and shoot for the cup exclusively in the Nintendo 3DS version. If competitors are up for another challenge, they can try their hand at 14 Plus Events, which put a special spin on classic disciplines: dive through and ride on waves caused by a Thwomp to set the fastest time in 100m Freestyle Swimming Plus, or use power-ups to reach the finish line even faster in the 100m Plus Event.

Whatever mode you play, a host of new and familiar faces from both the Mario and the Sonic series will greet you in Rio. Next to favourites such as Yoshi and Amy Rose, 20 new characters will join the fun – including Rosalina and Rouge – for a total cast of 40 playable competitors.

Aspiring athletes who dream of seeing themselves atop the podium can also go solo and play as their Mii in Road to Rio mode, arriving in Brazil ready to take on the sporting elite and discover the on-going rivalry between two gyms, led by Mario and Sonic respectively. It’s up to the player to decide which team to join, with unique story events unfolding along the way; completing the story will reward you with a Mario or Sonic Mii outfit, depending on whose side you chose.

Becoming the very best will require focused training, so players can get to grips with each event by practising at the local ginásios before taking on more difficult challenges. Next to a tough training regime, players can equip all kinds of useful sports gear, from golf clubs to full character outfits, to boost their abilities. If players dress their Mii in a Mario outfit and tap the Mario amiibo, or wear the Sonic outfit and tap the Sonic amiibo, that outfit’s abilities will receive a short-term boost – perfect for getting an additional competitive edge when it really matters.

Once certain of their skills, players can challenge family and friends in multiplayer mode to determine who the real champion is. With Download Play, up to four players can face off against each other with just one copy of the game between them**, or see how they stack up against faraway players in global leaderboards. Another new feature, the Pocket Marathon, counts the steps players take with their Nintendo 3DS system, unlocking rewards on the way to the finish line that help increase the abilities of Mii characters.

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