Mario & Sonic Sports Showdown

Mario & Sonic Sports Showdown is a Mario & Sonic sports game for the Nintendo Switch The game features Mario, Sonic and company competing in six sports: soccer, hockey, tennis, basketball, dodgeball, and volleyball.

The game was later rereleased for the Switch digital download on the Nintendo Switch in Europe and Australia on October 8, 2020, in North America on August 11, 2020, and in Japan on August 24, 2020.

Contents
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 * 1Story
 * 2Gameplay
 * 2.1Basketball
 * 2.2 Badminton
 * 2.3 Volleyball
 * 2.4 Dodgeball
 * 2.5 Hockey
 * 2.6 Soccer
 * 2.7 Sports Showdown
 * 3Controls
 * 3.1Basketball
 * 3.2Soccer
 * 3.3Volleyball
 * 3.4Dodgeball
 * 3.5Hockey
 * 3.6Badminton
 * 3.7Metal Boss battle
 * 4Characters
 * 4.1Playable characters
 * 4.1.1Starting characters
 * 4.1.1.1All-around characters
 * 4.1.1.2Technical characters
 * 4.1.1.3Powerful characters
 * 4.1.1.4Speedy characters
 * 4.1.2Unlockable characters
 * 4.1.2.1All-around character
 * 4.1.2.2Technical character
 * 4.1.2.3Tricky characters
 * 4.1.3Alternate colors
 * 4.2Non-playable characters
 * 5Courts
 * 5.1Unlockable courts
 * 6Items
 * 7Modes of play
 * 7.1Exhibition
 * 7.2Tournament
 * 7.2.1In-game description
 * 7.2.2Alternate routes
 * 7.2.3Graphical changes
 * 8Party games
 * 9Record book
 * 10Reception
 * 11Media
 * 12Gallery
 * 13Pre-release and unused content
 * 14Glitches
 * 14.1Ball sound glitch
 * 15Staff
 * 15.1Director
 * 15.2Art Director
 * 15.3Lead Planning
 * 15.4Planning
 * 15.5Lead Design
 * 16Regional differences
 * 17References to other games
 * 18Quotes
 * 19Names in other languages
 * 20Trivia
 * 21References
 * 22External links

Story
One day in the Mushroom Kingdom, Toad is gardening flowers when suddenly the sky turns dark, and a strange object falls from the sky and crashes. Toad is worried about the situation, so he, along with some other Toads, rushes to the crashed object to examine it. The Toads find six colored crystals: a red crystal containing a basketball; a green crystal containing a volleyball; a orange one for soccer; a pink one for Badminton; a yellow crystal containing a dodgeball; and a blue crystal containing a coin. While observing the mysterious crystals, the Toads suddenly come up with an idea of introducing new sports - Basketball, Badminton, Volleyball, Soccer, Dodgeball and Hockey - to the Mushroom Kingdom. The Toads also organize tournaments for the six sports. The best players of the tournament earn a prize: one of the four crystals that fell from the sky. Mario, Sonic, their friends, and their foes are ready to play sports and enter the tournaments to find out who are the best players of the Mushroom Kingdom.

The discovery of the Sports Crystals lead to the events in the game.

When the players' team wins the Mushroom, Chao, Flower and Spring Cups, and gets to the end of the Star and Emerald Cups, everything seems to be normal. However, in the final round, the Egg Carrier appears and the players' opponent turns out to be Zavok in disguise. Zavok steals the trophy and jumps onto the Egg Carrier, which prompts the players to follow Zavok to get the trophy back. They end up playing against the Deadly team, while the Egg Carrier flies through space. When the players win against the Team Deadly, they receive one of the crystals that fell from the sky. The leader of the team then uses it to power the Egg Carrier and take the team back home.

After players receive all six crystals, the crystals merge and turn into a dark, glowing crystal. The dark crystal takes the players to the End of the World from Sonic 06. In this area, players encounter the Metal Madness, a boss from Sonic Heroes. The players must defeat the Metal Maddnes before it defeats them. When the players defeat Metal Madness, the dark energy from the dark crystal disappears and turns into a rainbow-colored crystal. The players use the crystal again to power the Star Ship to take them back home.

Sports Showdown mode's story is highly identical but the last two cups are the Special Cup and the Goal Ring Cup, except after the players' team defeats Team Eggman, the six Sports Showdown trophies that they receive will end up merging into a dark crystal. That crystal also leads them to an alternate dimension, where the Metal Overload is found. Similarly with Metal Madness, players have to defeat Metal Overload before it takes them out. When Metal Overload is defeated, the crystal's dark energy disappears, and it turns back into a rainbow crystal. The players use that crystal to power the Star Ship to take them back home.

Gameplay
Mario & Sonic Sports Showdown features six playable sports, all unique from each other. Players can play either alone with CPU allies, cooperatively with others up to three players, or against one another. Four players can participate; however, they can participate only in Vs. mode since it is impossible to have all four players team up. The Joy Con Grip and Pro Controller control style is used as the primary control scheme for the game. However, the players can also use the Joy Con in the horizontal position. Players are able to perform actions through shaking the Joy Con and/or inputting buttons as shown in horizontal Joy Con scheme. All sports are played in periods, where, except for volleyball and Badminton there is a certain time limit to each period. When the time limit reaches zero, players move to the next period and change sides. Excluding dodgeball, points acquired in past periods also add up to the current game's total score. In dodgeball, another period commences when all team players get knocked out.

? Panels return from Mario Hoops 3-on-3, where they serve the same purpose: to provide players with either coins, rings or an item. Unlike Mario Hoops 3-on-3, items are held in reserve rather than players holding them. The more coins or rings players have, the more points they can get when they achieve a scoring. Players lose coins or rings when they get hit by an opposing item, which makes the coins and rings scatter on the floor. However, in dodgeball, coins and rings increase the attack power of attacks, and in Badminton, coins and rings increase the power of hitting the ball and players cannot lose coins or rings from items.

There are also special options that can be adjusted for each sport in exhibition mode, such as turning on and off ? Panels, setting the number of periods and the time limit, and other options which can be specific for each sport. Once the options are set, they do not reset whenever a players turns off the game.

On a side note, there's an option which enables the players to receive commands. However, this option is available only when the CPU level is set to "Easy, Normal, Hard, or Expert".

Basketball
Basketball is played in a similar fashion as in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. Players must score points by shooting a basketball into their hoop in order to win the game. Whichever team has the most points after all periods wins the match. Two points are acquired when the ball makes it in the hoop; three points are acquired when the ball gets shot from the three pointer and beyond or when a special shot is performed. The coins that the players gather along the way are added to their total score. Also in this sport, which is exclusive to this game, there is a shot clock on the bottom-left hand corner of the screen so the characters can shoot within the time limit, just like in a professional NBA game. If they do not shoot before time runs out, the other team gets possession. Players are also able to defend, block, and make dunks in this game in a similar way to the actual sport. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, then overtime will begin. With overtime in this sport, no game ends in a draw.

Soccer
A sport previously playable in the Mario Strikers series. Unlike that series and as in the actual sport, players participate in 2-vs-2, 3-vs-3 or 4-vs-4 matches. Teams are composed of a designated team captain, who represents the team with their shield emblem, an assistant captain, who is another team captain character as an ally, a goalie (either Birdo or Boom Boom), and the rest are supporting audience characters such as Koopa Troopas, Toads, Omochaos, Chaos, or Shy Guys. Prior to beginning a match, players can adjust placement of their entire team in various formations. On the top screen, team members are identified by specific HUD circular markers underneath them. Both captains are represented by icons of their faces and are displayed in their current position while the generic characters are represented by dots. Once players select their team and formation, players have the option to save the team as "My Team", which allows for ease of access if players have a select favorite team they wish to use in future games. During the middle of the match, players can change their team formation as they wish, including when a half-time is called.

As in the Mario Strikers games and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the object is to kick the ball into the opponent's goal, overcoming the opposing team members and their goalie, who attempts to block balls, within the designated pseudo 90-minute time limit (the speed of the time limit goes up depending on the settings, but generally speaking, having the highest time setting, 15-minute matches, causes the time limit to slow down). Halfway through the match, at the 45-minute mark, players halt the game and are taken to a screen that records the current progress of both teams. Afterward, the losing team initiates the kick, and the game continues, with the team's goals reversed until the 90-minute mark is reached. Whichever team has the most goals by the end of the match wins the game. Whenever a goal is scored, a replay of the shot is shown. Players can skip the replay if they wish or change the angle from which it is shown. The opposing team captains then get possession of the ball and start off in the middle of the field, beginning the play again.

Unlike in those games, however, players have more control options and strategies available to them to accommodate the actual sport's additional rules. For example, players on the defense can attempt to steal the ball in possession from other players via slide-kicks, pressure defending with their team via the  or by themselves with  (per the default Type A control scheme), or by simply running into the ball. Players who possess the ball may attempt to dodge confrontations by sliding around holding  by default. However, if the character in possession of the ball is struck with a slide-kick without the ball being touched, a foul is called and the player who is hit by the slide-kicking player earns a free kick, which depends on the orientation where the foul was initiated. There are now throw-ins if the ball rolls out of bounds, and if this happens in the area adjacent to the goalie, a corner kick is initiated instead. If the opponent team knocks the ball into their opponent's goal side, a goal kick is initiated in which the goalie kicks the ball back onto the field. When kicking into the goal, players may press and hold the button to charge up their shots; a meter is represented below the character to indicate how powerful the shot will be. Certain types of passes also have their own power meter that indicates the power of the pass. Players can additionally perform an extra technique of kicks if  is held and a corresponding button is pressed, such as lobbing a pass with ZR+A . Powerful Special Shots can be performed by the captain and assistant captain when the ball starts to sparkle. Each Special Shot has a unique visual effect that varies with the character. Team captains may also pass the ball using their Special Combo Shot move to another captain when the ball is glowing as well. All actions are tied to a character's stamina, which is represented by a blue arrow above the controlled character. The more a character plays and dashes across the field, the more stamina is lost. Characters who have a lowered stamina bar have weaker passes, shots, and speed. Players replenish stamina when they do not partake in any action.

Volleyball
Volleyball is played by hitting a ball without making it touch the ground. Players first start matches by serving the ball, either by ground or by air. The match then proceeds, while the players try to smack the volleyball so it touches the ground. If that occurs, the last team to successfully hit the ball over the net gains a point. When a point limit is reached (the default is fifteen points), the set is won. Players can spike the ball, deflect a spike, and use many other moves that bear resemblance to the actual game. Volleyball also has an out zone, much like tennis: any player who hits the ball into this zone forfeits a point to the opposing team. Volleyball is the only sport in the game that can never have a time limit.

Dodgeball
A Dodgeball game always begins with a jump-ball that is done by Lakitu to determine which team gets to attack first. Dodgeball is mostly played by throwing a ball to the opposing team. There are two teams of two, three, or four characters and a pink colored Yoshi on one team and a orange on the other team. Players can prevent a hit by catching the ball. Players who fail to catch the ball or dodge it will lose their vitality. They can prevent this if they catch the ball before it hits the ground, especially if the ball flies upwards. Players cannot catch the ball if they are facing away from them, nor can they catch it if an item is in effect.

Players have a Health Meter and lose a portion when they get hit, except for the colored Yoshi, who can never be "knocked out," but cannot leave the box at the back of the court. Players cannot control the Yoshis, unless they encounter the ball, and even then, the only commands that the players can give them is to pass or attack. If players lose all their HP, they are out, and they are sent into their box. However, unlike the Yoshis in the box, they can leave if they damage their target with the ball. Players that do this also get a small amount of their HP regained, but are out immediately if damaged again. However, some alternate route objectives do prevent players who are out from leaving the box; this can also be applied to exhibition matches in the settings.

The first team to knock out the opposing team before the time limit expires wins the set. Additionally, the team who has the most number of remaining players automatically wins when time runs out. If both teams have the same number of players remaining at the end of the time limit, sudden death follows. With this term, no set ends in a draw. In sudden death, the first team to take damage loses the set. On a side note, this is the only sport which has a time limit in which players can set the timer to infinite.

Badminton
The Badminton event starts out with a chart of who the player is playing against in 2-on-2, 3-on-3, or 4-on-4 matches. This chart is shown again after winning the first round (but not if it was lost) except with the winner of the other two in the center. Then the team on the left serves for the start of the first and third game and the team on the right serves for the second game. Otherwise the that scored serves. If the player is late, however, the shuttlecock goes high into the air and falls down slowly. When this happens, the shuttlecock is launched with huge power. Eventually, the shuttlecock becomes red. When this happens and the player is late, the other team gets a chance to do a Special Shot. But if the shuttlecock is near the ground, it becomes less powerful, but still powerful than a normal shot. If the shuttlecock lands on a side, the other side gets a point. If the shuttlecock hits a player, the other team gets a point as well. This can happen even if the person who shot it was on the same team as the character that got hit. Points continue until one team gets the set number of points. However, if both teams have at least the set number of points minus one, it will be called a deuce. When this happens, one team must get two points to win. But, after enough deuces, it becomes game or match point for both. If there are multiple rounds, it goes to the second round after the first round, and the third round if both teams have won a game.

Hockey
A hockey game always begins with a face-off that is done by Lakitu to determine which team will get the puck at the start of the period. If a team scores a goal or a special shot, another face-off will take place. The goalkeepers in this sport are Shy Guys, and their color depends on which team they are in. In order to steal the puck, players must tackle each other, which can be achieved by the motion of shaking the  ( in sideways mode) or simply by making a character go in front of the opponent with the puck. Sometimes, a struggle ensues and players must shake their Wii Remote the fastest that they can in order to win the puck over and knock the opponents away. The team with the most points wins and, very much like basketball, this game is played in time limits and transitional periods. This sport uses a Hockey Stick.

Sports Showdown
Sports Showdown is a tournament-only game mode, which uses all of the sports. To unlock it, players must complete all six Star and Emerald Cups and defeat Metal Madness. In this game mode, the sport that is played is chosen randomly for each round. Computer controlled characters are set on Easy, Normal, Hard or Expert difficulty levels, When the players beat the Star and Emerald Cups, they fight the Metal Overload instead of Metal Madness. Metal Overload has more health than Metal Madness and is harder to beat.

Players can select only characters and costumes that are unlocked in all six sports. For example on a similar manner, recolors cannot be used unless they are unlocked for all six sports as well.

Playable characters
There are thirty-three playable characters in Mario Sports Mix; everyone are default. All of them are categorized by four groups: As Mario Hoops 3-on-3, this game is shown to make use of character specific abilities. Prior to using these abilities, there is a meter that needs to be filled (shown on the bottom left and right corners of the gameplay screen). These abilities in question can allow the characters to unleash a powerful move in the variety of sports in the game that can help the players win a game. Each special ability is unique to each character and these moves tend to vary from the sport that players are playing.
 * All-around - All-around characters have average Power, Speed, and Technique. They generally are not weak at any stats, but they are not strong in any either.
 * Technical - Technical characters have more Technique, but less Speed and Power. These characters can better aim their shots.
 * Powerful - Powerful characters have more Power, but less Speed and Technique. These characters have stronger and faster attacks and shots.
 * Speedy - Speedy characters have more Speed, but less Power and Technique. These characters can move faster over the ground.

Finally, the playable characters have their own stat values, which depict their strengths and weaknesses. For the respective charts shown below on this article, the stat values for each playable character are out of 5.

Speedy characters
Zavok, Zazz, and Zeena appear as CPU opponents for the Star Cup finals. However, they can appear when players are taking alternate routes.

Alternate colors and outfits
Certain characters have alternate colors that can be unlocked by performing certain objectives. Alternate colors can be used only in the sports that they are unlocked in, but colors unlocked by clearing Star Road can be used for all sports. To scroll through colors, the players can press the  button on the Wii Remote, regardless of the control scheme used.

In tournaments, it is possible for the CPU team to use more than one of a certain character, which is not possible for the players' team, nor in exhibition matches. Likewise, if the players' team contains a character who has an alternate color, the CPU team can still use that character's unused colors in tournaments; for example, if the players' team contains Yoshi, it is still possible to see a different color Yoshi in a CPU team. CPUs can use alternate colors of characters even if the player has not unlocked them yet.