Mario vs Sonic: Comparing the Two Most Iconic Franchises of All-Time
Ever since the Console Wars between Nintendo and Sega, one question has remained: who is better: Mario or Sonic? Is Nintendo's plumber superior...
Published 4 years ago in Ftw
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When comparing Mario and Sonic as respective franchises, the first step is to determine which franchise has the better character. Is it Sonic or is it Mario? Undeniably, Mario is one of video game’s most iconic protagonists. His design is emblematic. He’s recognizable the world over. However, what is Mario’s personality? Basic, that’s what. He’s a great character design, but not a great personality.
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Sonic, though, has personality. That’s what set him apart from the start from other video game characters. Is his character the most nuanced or even mature? No, certainly not. But he has a personality, unlike Mario. On top of that, he also has a distinct power: he moves fast. Mario is malleable, which means his specific powers change game to game. That means his character is less distinct. This makes Sonic better as a character because he has a distinct character.
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On the other hand, Mario has better side-kicks than Sonic. Yes, Sonic’s cast of characters is large. Tails and Knuckles are iconic characters in their own right. Games like Sonic Heroes even showed you can make an entire game centered around giving Sonic’s friends something to do and adventures to partake on.
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However, none of those characters could be the star of their own game like Luigi is. Luigi’s Mansion is iconic in its own right, and it’s supported upon Luigi’s shoulders, squarely. Knuckles had a spin-off game, Knuckles Chaotix, but it’s a far-cry from Luigi’s Mansion in terms of quality. Take Sonic away from his friends, and...could they support a whole franchise like Luigi? Well, they’ve never tried, so we don’t know.
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On the other hand, Amy is just a better character than Princess Peach. Sure, Princess Peach has starred in her own games and is very good in Super Smash Bros, but in the majority of Mario games, she’s just someone Mario has to save. Amy Rose, however, has spunk and personality. When people attack her, she beats them up with a hammer. Amy has taken on a diverse set of roles throughout the Sonic series, often being the hero of her own story alongside Sonic’s story.
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That said, who has the better villain? Dr. Eggman is a mad scientist whose schemes range from world domination to just defeating Sonic. He has a personality and a manic edge that makes him one of the most widely beloved figures in gaming history. Even if you dislike Sonic, you have to admit that Eggman is pretty cool.
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But Bowser is Bowser. How can you compete with one of the most iconic video game villains ever? It’s unfair to compare Bowser to any other villain since he’s just that iconic. He’s a cool turtle-dragon monster who breathes fire, raises a healthy family, and manages his entire kingdom. He can be evil or terrifying just as often as he could be bumbling and fun. He’s the kind of villain you beat up one day then go golfing with the next. He’s just great.
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Sadly, Mario’s other villains don’t compare to Sonic’s Rogues Gallery. Shadow, Metal Sonic, Chaos, and many others manage to diversity Sonic’s list of enemies. While Mario does have Wario, the majority of his villains are less memorable and lack the longevity of Sonic’s villains. Plus, many of them don’t end up transforming into epic final bosses.
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Mario’s levels are often designed far better than Sonic’s. Mario level designs are works of art. The first level of Super Mario Bros teaches you everything you need to know about how to play the game right off the bat. Every game in the franchise to follow would do this as well. Mario 64’s levels are open-ended. Mario Galaxy’s defy gravity, and Mario Odyssey encourages you to experiment and reimagine how you can play the game.
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Sonic’s levels aren’t bad, but they aren’t on-par with Mario games' level designs. They often are sloppy, don’t always utilize Sonic’s speed efficiently, and sometimes prioritize flash and style over complexity. Many levels, especially in the 3D era, feature levels that almost work on-rails, meaning players have less input and creativity on what they can do. Are they cool? Yes. The first level of Sonic Adventure 2 is so much fun. However, there is no room for innovation and creativity when playing.
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It’s almost impossible to compare the music to both franchises, so it’s hard to even try. Both have iconic tracks. Both have mediocre tracks. Sonic, though, does feature tons of rock tracks that were cool to listen to as a kid, got lame as we grew up until they immediately became unironically fun once we stopped denying how cool Sonic’s soundtrack is. Still, when you think of video game music, you get the Mario theme stuck in your head.
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Ultimately, though, which franchise has the better games? Quality is not an objective marker, but Mario’s games are typically better selling and more critically acclaimed than the games that Sonic has put out. Mario 64, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, Mario Galaxy, Mario Odyssey – the list goes on and on. The sheer best this franchise has to offer is impressive.
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On the other hand, while Sonic has had some great games too, the series has had more misfires. Sonic 2006 is a big black mark on the franchise – one Mario has never really had outside of the CD-I – but Sonic Boom is arguably an even worse entry in the series. Say what you will about Sonic ‘06, but that game-breaking Knuckles bug didn’t exist in it.
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