We know that Mario and Sonic have had a long line of crossover Olympic titles throughout recent years, but that isn’t what Yuji Naka, one of Sonic’s creators envisioned for the duo’s cross over.
Recently Yuji Naka spoke with the Japanese website Famitsu about the origins of Mario and Sonic game, which started talks as an action game during the GameCube era when SEGA first went 3rd party. As we know today, this lead nowhere and Mario and Sonic didn’t happen until SEGA acquired the license to make Olympic video games.
Here is Yuji Naka talking about Mario and Sonic co-starring on titles based around the Olympics and the origins of the project:
“Actually, I wanted Mario [and Sonic] to appear together, so one time I went to give Miyamoto-san a presentation on how I want to create an action game which is co-starred by Mario and Sonic. It was in the GameCube days, and I took around four planners with me. It is a pity that the discussion was ‘clearly it isn’t necessary for Mario and Sonic to co-star in an action [game]’ and it didn’t become a reality, but SEGA was able to get the license for the Olympics just at that time, so in order to make the best use of the license, companion characters appeared together. A little later Sonic appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, this too came into reality because I requested from Sakurai-san, ‘I want Sonic to appear [in Smash Bros.]’. The Olympics is a bit different from my wish, but I think it’s a good thing that children around the world are happy about them co-starring. But someday I want to realize an action [game] together with Mario. I think I’m going to give another presentation so that Takashi [Iizuka] finds the necessity [of a Mario & Sonic action game] (laughs).” – Yuji Naka
Yuji Naka wasn’t the only original Sonic the Hedgehog creator to chime in on the interview, original Sonic designer Naoto Ohshima said the following:
“I also agree. Previously they were considered rivals, but when I saw them co-starring, I honestly thought that Nintendo acknowledged Sonic.” – Naoto Ohshima
The interview also has Yuji Naka talking about wanting to see Sonic the Hedgehog in more places, including theme parks which I feel licensing the blue blur will be big for SEGA in the near future.
“I have always had a dream of Sonic’s own theme park since the olden days, but it would also be good to be a part of Disneyland. DiC Entertainment produced the Sonic anime in America for a while and was acquired by Disney. There was a moment of delight, ‘maybe Sonic walks in Disneyland!’, but that didn’t come true. Personally I want [Sonic] to appear in more various places.” – Yuji Naka
If Nintendo and SEGA had all their marbles together, they would see that the Mario & Sonic in the Olympic Games brand name is slowly dying and consider rebooting the crossover with an actual game hardcore fans want. Who knows, it could be one of the biggest titles on the Nintendo NX if it is done right.
What do you think of SEGA and Nintendo doing a Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog action game? Sound off in the comments below!
[Source: Nintendo Everything]
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Really, they were destined to have a platformer crossover. I also once visioned an idea like that but I know that that will take a long time to happen…….
Definitely sounds better than the olympic ones.
Miyamoto would never ok it
If it was something in the vein of the Super Star Saga I think it could work.
They move at vastly different speeds. How would it work? I’m interested in the idea. But how would it work?
Mario in the sidecar
Mario on the sharpy stings of sonic will make him run harder
Sadly it isn’t going to happen so instead why not make a special one off Smash Bros were it’s Nintendo v Sega? Nintendo seem to treat Smash like Mario Kart so it’s one title per console, but as it wouldn’t be a ‘true’ Smash it would mean there could be two. Plus Smash: Nintendo v Sega as an NX launch title would just get so many people who grew up on one/both companies incredibly excited. Surely that’s a licence to print money?
Yes, that’d be so cool to do someday, but I wonder if the story would have them in the same universe or a story about the worlds crossing over.