Gamers of a certain age will remember the fierce rivalry between Sonic and Mario. Back in the nineties, this was the hottest topic on the playground, as lifelong friendships were forged or lost forever over the sides people were on.
Sega’s console-crafting days may be long behind them now, but this conflict set the stage for the platform rivalries that persist among gamers today. Objectivity is often cast out of the nearest 54th story window in these matters, but today we’re going to consider the case for both Mario and Sonic having spawned the best series.
10 SONIC: That Sense Of Speed
Both characters, of course, are icons of the gaming industry, having starred in a slew of main series titles (plus countless spin-offs). They’re both platformer heroes at heart, though their home series are decidedly different in tone and style.
If there’s one thing the player is sure to feel in a Sonic the Hedgehog title, it’s that unrivaled sense of speed. Barreling around those loops and careening across the Green Hill Zone, there’s a sense of unbridled exhilaration mixed with the fear of crashing into something –spilling all the collected rings as merrily as Aladdin giving out those coins to the townsfolk during Prince Ali—any second. It’s a real thrill.
9 MARIO: Intricate Platforming Sections
Of course, players have been treated to some darn tricky platforming sections throughout the history of the Sonic series. The fact is, though, this sort of thing really isn’t in the spirit of Sonic. The Blue Blur is infamous for speeding around Super Smash Bros. stages and trolling opponents with his you’re too slow! taunt. His style doesn’t lend itself well to slow and considered platforming.
While Mario games are far from the most difficult platformers around, they definitely have their moments. Some of the optional content is beyond fiendish, demanding deft command of Mario and his entire moveset to prevail. These kinds of sections show the ingenuity of Nintendo’s level design.
8 SONIC: Embracing New Ideas
In terms of the overall quality of their respective franchises, many gamers would say that Mario comes out on top in terms of consistency. The reception of Sonic titles has been more than a little mixed over the years, after all.
While there’s some truth to that, let’s go for the glass half full approach here. Sonic might have taken various odd directions over the years. He might have taken a talking sword along for the ride in Sonic and the Black Knight. He might have transformed into a werehog in Sonic Unleashed. Heck, he was even steered left and right with the Wiimote like a Flintstones foot-powered car in Sonic and the Secret Rings. However, all of these things took chutzpah and took the power to experiment, while Mario often plays it safe.
7 MARIO: Sticking To A Solid, Successful Formula
On the flipside, though, we’ve got to ask ourselves just how well these bursts of creativity worked for Sonic Team. One of the main criticisms leveled at the series is that it’s moved too far from its roots, gotten a little muddled since the transition to 3D. This is why the Blue Blur’s most successful recent ventures have tried to rekindle that spirit (Sonic Mania, for instance).
For some, Super Mario has the opposite problem. Nintendo knows what makes its main man tick, the essential components of a Mario title, and it rarely strays from that formula. Super Mario Odyssey’s capture mechanic was jarring at first, but soon became second nature and still felt uniquely Mario.
6 SONIC: Story Variety
Continuing the theme of Mario sticking resolutely to what he does best, this attitude is a real double-edged sword. Where does all the Bowser kidnapping Peach yet again snark come from? It’s what the plot amounts to in just about every Super Mario game ever, that’s where.
Platforming games don’t tend to be very plot-centric, granted, but Sonic still deserves credit for trying to mix things up in that department. From titles inspired by the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Sonic and the Black Knight) to those themed around Arabian Nights (Sonic and the Secret Rings), there’s no denying that Sonic Team actively try to keep players on their toes.
5 MARIO: Power-Ups That Vary Gameplay And Fit Naturally
As already mentioned, Nintendo seem to prefer to make subtle additions to the formula and adapt the gameplay around them, ensuring that the overall experience feels familiar yet refreshing. Cappy was controversial at first and the whole concept may have seemed super silly, but it just clicked after a while.
By contrast, perhaps, Sonic’s power-ups and new mechanics are broader and more jarring. If the ‘Werehog levels’ were some of the best parts of Sonic Unleashed, why was the rest so different?
4 SONIC: Making Enemies And Villains Unpredictable And Threatening
As we all know, both Sonic and Mario have their own archenemies that they tangle with again and again. Dr Robotnik/Eggman and Bowser have been foiled countless times by their respective heroes, becoming almost as iconic as they are along the way.
Outside of Bowser, though, who does Mario have to contend with? The incompetent Koopalings? A swarm of angry little Goombas harmlessly nibbling at his ankles, like the Compys from Jurassic Park? In 2006’s Sonic the Hedgehog, our hero battled Solaris, Soleanna’s sun god and perhaps the strongest being in the history of either franchise.
3 MARIO: Adding New Characters To The Mix
The core Mushroom Kingdom cast has expanded exponentially over the course of the franchise. Back in the day, it was just Mario, Donkey Kong, Bowser and Mario’s tedious palette swap of a brother. Today, everyone from Yoshi to Wario has their own dedicated fanbase and legendary status (yes, there are Wario fans out there, we promise).
This isn’t to say that Sonic hasn’t also had success in this area too. Tails has been his beloved sidekick since Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the likes of Knuckles and Amy Rose also have their fans. Things got a little hazy beyond that, though, as the roster increased to include the likes of Rogue the Bat and Big the Cat (the latter of which being a bit of a hated meme in his own right).
2 SONIC: Having A Bit Of An Mature Vibe
Nintendo has cultivated a proud reputation as the family friendly funsters of the gaming industry. Their first-party fare tends to be bright, colorful, accessible, and inclusive, so wholesome that Animal Crossing’s most adorable villagers would spam the Delight reaction at the very thought of it all.
Meanwhile, Sonic Team haven’t been afraid to pump up the attitude and get a bit of a dark vibe going to try to broaden the games’ appeal. This can be misguided --Shadow the Hedgehog was a little too on the nose with the whole idea, as the titular ‘hog brandished his guns like he was in an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie—but it’s certainly added flavor to Sonic’s CV.
1 MARIO: Spin-Offs
We’ve already touched on the fact that both of these beloved characters have been shoehorned into a huge variety of spin-offs. From racing games to fighters, they’ve tried their permanently gloved hands at just about everything.
In that regard, it’s been tough for Sonic to compete. Mario has the might of the Mario Kart, Mario & Luigi and many more franchises behind him, while the best Sonic can counter with is Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (a solid Nintendo DS RPG from BioWare which has been sadly forgotten).