Thread by @WritNelson

I think I just played the most surprising game of 2019.

No one would expect THIS game to have the content and form that it takes.
It's ambitious as hell, in an entirely unexpected package.

I am going to double-check the embargo and make sure I can talk about this.

Okay, I can't upload screenshots from my Switch, but I can shout about this game without getting in trouble.

Okay.

Okay.

*deep breath*

MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES: TOKYO 2020 IS A FULL-BLOWN SPORTS MINIGAME RPG/JAPANESE TOURISM SIMULATOR??
COMPLETE WITH A PARTY???
AND AN OVERWORLD????

AND TIME TRAVEL????????

THERE ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TEXT DISPLAY, ANIMATION, AND INTERACTION CONVENTIONS, BASED ON THE CHARACTERS YOU SPEAK TO, THE RESPECTIVE UNIVERSE THEY COME FROM, AND THE TIME PERIOD YOU CURRENTLY OCCUPY?????

DID I MENTION THE TIME TRAVEL???????

The third thing you do in the story mode of the new Mario & Sonic game (it has a FULL STORY CAMPAIGN????) is kick Daisy's ass in a gymnastics floor routine so she'll join your party.

Bystanders tell you about their lives, their impressions of Tokyo, and also Olympics trivia.

In 2020, characters have interaction icons over their heads. Locations have tooltips.

The 'Tokyo '64' sections styled after classic games have no such aids--because they violate the internal logic of the world.

Yes, dear reader.

Mario & Sonic now has ENVIRONMENTAL STORYTELLING

This thing gets bigger every minute I play it. I ran a 100m race against Amy to recruit her, and honestly, she's a powerhouse.

No one is talking about this.
I didn't think I'd be saying this.

But, I think the new #MarioandSonic game is one of the most ambitious games of 2019.

When he gets a gold medal, Waluigi dabs.

if you need any more reason to investigate the new mario and sonic game, i cannot help you

tempted to take several Extremely Important items out of my bag mere hours before my flight so I can bring my Switch with me and play the Dabbing Waluigi Game at IndieCade

I'm still thinking about the Chao screaming at each other in front of a Kabuki theater, while people stood and cheered on the seemingly inevitable fight.

I think about the weeb Toad who came to Japan to see ninjas, disappointed they were hiding from him.

...I'm thinking about the Toad in the gymnastics arena, aware that their legs were too small to participate, but bouncing in excitement anyway.

This game - which again MAKES WALUIGI DAB - somehow contains more bite-sized pockets of humanity than I see in entire franchises.

EVEN A GAME WHICH GIVES NOTED LITERAL CHILD MILES PROWER A *GUN* AS LARGE AS HIS BODY?!

https://twitter.com/stirpicus/status/1181937481085644802

I adore how, every time you do an event, you unlock a tip page (with visuals!) that reveal mechanics and nuances for future reference--then that information is accessible at all times, so new players get the benefit of your hard-won knowledge.

Why don't all party games do this?!

...It also contributes to this constant sense of FAST mastery?

When you find out the seemingly-simplistic Karate event has THROW CANCELS among other wrinkles, your next play is--of course--much better.

It feels fricking brilliant - and you can brush up whenever you want.

Mario & Sonic: Tokyo 2020 is the one party game I've played where minigames don't feel like inevitably exhausted dead-ends.

It just grows.
And you grow.
And anyone who plays with you, experienced or new, can both jump in immediately, AND grow with you.

HOW DOES THIS GAME EXIST