Nintendo and Sega have set the foundation of console games as we know. Both companies produce fantastic games that millions of people around the world play daily. However, my question to you is, which would you choose? Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega's anthropomorphic hedgehog who is faster than light, or Mario, Nintendo's star mascot who constantly saves Princess Peach from King Bowser.
I'd like to discuss the two newest games from both companies, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sonic Superstars. I chose these games specifically because they came out recently. They came out in the same week with Mario coming out on the 20th of October and Sonic released on the 17th of October. This is quite a coincidence since both games haven’t been released so close to one another since the 1990s.
Nintendo was formed back in 1889 meaning it has been in the game industry longer than Sega. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a step up from the previous games. Unlike the other games which are usually set in the Mushroom Kingdom, This game is set in the Flower Kingdom. This new setting is refreshing since there is a range of new species to explore such as the Bloomp, Maw Maw and many more. The Flower Kingdom comprises seven worlds which gives the player much to explore. In this Mario game, they have added new power-ups, but the Wonder Flower is the most eye-catching. More characters have been added, including Daisy, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Toadette Nabbit, and even Yoshi.
Sega was founded in 1960 but entered the game console market in 1982. They aimed to compete with Nintendo's Mario Series. This is when Sonic The Hedgehog was created and the character became the best-selling video game franchise in history. The gameplay of Sonic Superstars is very similar to the games of the 1990s but with more mini-games and exploration. This game is set in The Northstar Islands which has 12 zones. In the game, you must defeat Doctor Eggman, Fang the Hunter and a mysterious girl named Trip the Sungazer. The Emerald Power was added to the game, each emerald power is tied to the chaos emeralds and can be used to produce clones, shoot midair and grow vines. You can play up to 4 characters: Sonic, Knuckles, Tails and Amy Rose
Overall, both games have improved massively. They have their similarities such as new playable characters, new powers and local multiplayer. However, they also have their differences such as Sonic Superstars being released on multiple platforms whereas Mario is only released on the Nintendo Switch. During some levels in Sonic Superstars, it suddenly switches from a 2.5D perspective to a 3D perspective. While Mario stays with its 2D perspective. However, think that Mario’s beautiful backgrounds and relaxing music make up for it. I recommend you play both games since they are fun in their own way.
