Mario & Sonic

[Shrikeswind]

A platformer game similar in concept to Super Mario Bros. crossed with Sonic the Hedgehog with a dash of...well, other games, so I don't spoil too much. Here's how it goes.

You play as six characters (well, twelve, but it's kinda like how in Paper Mario 2 you had Bowser and Peach playable only at certain points in the game and seperately from Mario) in a clash against a dynamic duo of EVIL, Bowser and Dr. Eggman.

So, what happened? Well, here's the deal. Bowser and Dr. Eggman have stolen the Master Emerald, and are using it to a) take over the Mushroom Kingdom in a SMB3 rip-off plot, and b) roboticize all who do or might oppose them. Knuckles told Tails and Sonic what happened and the three set off to obtain the Master Emerald. MEANWHILE, Mario and Luigi were doing whatever it is Mario and Luigi do when they aren't saving Peach when Toad comes bursting through the door. You see where this is going? Peach got kidnapped. AGAIN. And it's up to the Mario Bros. to save her. AGAIN. Toad tags along, and so the three set off to save the Princess. But hang on, that means they're walking right into a trap. BUT! Here's the clincher. Knuckles knew. He told Sonic and Tails and when the six of them meet, he tells the Mario Bros. and Toad. Luigi and Toad, of course, are scared and ask Mario what to do. Mario's reaction? "Spring the trap." (Not verbally, but it's implied.)

AND SO, ANOTHER ADVENTURE BEGINS FOR THE MARIO BROS., TOAD, AND TEAM SONIC!

Further, six more players are playing. Who are they? Well, they're three characters from the two series. If you like this game, I'll make a sequel and two of them (again, one from each series) will be expanded on (though all six will return, and it's possible two more will replace them. Not sure yet.) Which two is up to you.

So, here's the skinny on the heroes. There are six heroes, three from each series. They each have different stats, namely, speed, power, and jump. Here's how the stats roll.

&nbps;	Speed	Power	Jump
Mario	3	3	4
Luigi	2	3	5
Toad	4	4	2
Sonic	5	3	2
Tails	4	2	4
Knuckles	3	5	2

[Manspeed]

I had an idea like this. Couldn't come up with a suitable plot for it that wasn't a massive cliche storm. In the end I decided that a Mario and Sonic platformer would only be possible if it were still the 90s.

[Shrikeswind]

I thought that too. I decided to settle it by doing something that made it seem like they were already together and that kept it simple, like a classic Mario game, like Super Mario Bros. 3, yeah! But...hm...what would bring Sonic into this? I know! The Master Emerald! And thus, the plot was born. Sorta. I needed a villain. Eventually, I decided on a two-villain scheme. What happened? Well, you'll see.

What makes this a good Sonic game is that you don't actually HAVE to play as all the characters in order to get all the secrets, being more like Super Mario Bros. 2 in that regard. I mean, you CAN, and at times it seems like you SHOULD, but you actually don't have to, so even Luigi can, for example, cross the falling bridge even though it's WAY easier for Sonic to do it. Plus, the cut-scenes don't have voice-acting and they're funny as hell.

And you get to watch in the background as the other five are doing their thing. It's not just one of those "One guy does all the work and the other guys just appear at the end" sorta thing, Mario has to work for his glory even when you're playing Luigi. Sometimes, they even tip you off to traps you haven't reached yet, so when you reach them, you know what to do.

[Shrikeswind]

ITEM - BLUE MUSHROOM

Yea, and verily I say unto ye, "Thou shalt not suffer thine children to eat of the fungus that hath gone blue, for they shall assuredly die. If thou art large in stature, thou shalt be saved, though thine stature shall diminish."1 Kinopio 9:12

Fear the Blue Mushroom if size you lack! This item, as Kinopio mentions in this verse, is dangerous to smaller creatures (or as he states, children) as it will cause death. It is possible he is referring to social stature when he mentions its diminishing properties, though legend at the time implied it "Gave wise men the youth to do what they couldn't in age," a more likely interpretation. Kinopio, then, would be saying that an older creature would return to childhood. Kinopio's wisdom in this letter draws heavily on superstition, furthering the likelihood that he is referring to these legends still known today.

(Note that my updates will often be made as if these were ancient religious texts being pored over by some dusty scholar. This is just for style and humor. Oh, and the cat won't meow if it hasn't caught a mouse.)

[Manspeed]

Dude, forget this game idea, write an entire BIBLE based around the Marioverse with those mock religious texts. That first one was AWESOME.

[Johans Nidorino]

Jan 21, 2010 17:51:18 GMT -5 Manspeed said:

Dude, forget this game idea, write an entire BIBLE based around the Marioverse with those mock religious texts. That first one was AWESOME.

I agree

Or it could be an idea for a game's text or the text in a game's manual or walkthrough.

[Manspeed]

My point was that something that good shouldn't be wasted on a Mario/Sonic crossover. If anything it belongs in the next Paper Mario title or something. It definitely sounds like it.

[Koopaul]

I had an idea for a Mario and Sonic crossover but it was a sidescrolling team beat'em up with some platforming elements.

Since Mario and Sonic games play differently I thought put them in something they've never done before. I always loved team beat'em ups in arcades like that one Simpson's game, so I thought it would be a pretty cool idea.

But that's just me.

[Shrikeswind]

Man-Frog, you know me TOO DAMN WELL. It's creepy. That idea actually came to mind as I was writing that. Also, I'm not dumping this, but verily I say unto you, this is merely the beginning of the Holy Book of Mario. I have no intention of simply writing mock religious verses for a game half made out of hedgehog.

[Prince~Of~Light]

GOOD LUCK AT BEATING MUSHROOM KINGDOM FUSION!!!

Sonic games need more platforming. Momentum. (-ll-)

[Shrikeswind]

HERO - TOAD

Hail to the Koopas, sons of the dragon! I am Kinopio, warrior of the fungus. May I not need my spores, and may my strength go unseen as I preach the message of Mario. Koopas 1:2

Kinopio, the warrior of the fungus, apparently had significant knowledge of the land, likely due to his being a royal scout. Though it's unknown if this is the case, it does make sense, as record states that he was particularly fleet of foot and furthered by the fact that he wrote three letters dedicated to what is safe to eat, natural hazards, and wild species, the Letters of Kinopio. Kinopio was at times described by Luigi as incapable of jumping particularly high without prepartion, though Luigi lauds the strength of his lower body in these situations, including his capacity to strike enemies from below in doing so.

(There's no real pattern to what comes next or when it comes, just know that it will come.)

[Shrikeswind]

ITEM - Power Sneakers

His feet shall span miles as he chases the thief, and shall span farther when he wears the Sandals of Power. Echidna legend

As the legend states, the "Sandals of Power" shall cause "feet to span greater distances," which seems to mean that, when worn, he shall run faster. This inscription was found on Angel Island in the Temple of the Master Emerald.

(And that's a Sonic update in a nutshell. Not quite as biblical in style, but it certainly has an air of legend.)

[Shrikeswind]

HERO - Knuckles

The Son of the King shall guard the Emerald's keep. His power shall topple all who seek the Emerald's power. Echidna legend

This prophecy foretells of a mighty warrior, apparently a descendant of King Pachacamac, but it may refer to a member of his tribe. This inscription was found on Angel Island near the Shrine of the Master Emerald.

(Hey, guess what! Actual artwork may be coming soon! Being a fan-game, it won't exactly match the images you'll see in-game, which will be sprites, but I guarantee you'll enjoy the unique style. And if you don't, fear not! It's just art. I guarantee you'll crack up when you see Toad.)

[Fryguy64]

OK, just jumping in here. The idea of a crossover platformer is OK in theory, but in practice I see no way of making this work.

The levels in Mario are designed around platforms, exploring and bashing enemies, while the levels in Sonic are designed around long stretches of alternate pathways divided by short platforming sections and avoiding enemies. Speed is obviously key to Sonic, but patience is key to Mario. Unless you fudge one set of characters to make them fit the other set, then you are going to have an insane amount of difficulty making levels that fit both Mario and Sonic's individual styles.

And nobody wants to play a fudged Mario or Sonic game.

Mario in Sonic The Hedgehog
The maps in the Sonic games feature large expanses of space, and lots of curves and loops for Sonic to launch himself to different parts of the level. Mario is unable to perform any of these functions himself, and would likely spend a lot of time walking and jumping from platform to platform while Sonic can simply spin dash and away!

Sonic The Hedgehog in Mario
The maps in the Mario games have been designed for precise platforming, usually requiring you to manoeuver moving platforms and even the heads of enemies in order to progress at all. Sonic has moments like this, but there's usually less precision to make up for the speed requirements. On top of this, Tails can fly and Knuckles can climb/glide, which would pretty much cheapen the platforming entirely.

Perhaps you've thought of a way to design levels for this game without fudging the characters so they don't play like the original characters any more... But I really, genuinely think these two series are mutually exclusive and could not be combined in a satisfactory way.

[Koopaul]

See that's why I said that side scrolling beat 'em up earlier. To make it work you gotta stick them in a completely new style of gameplay that they could both fit into.