Summary
Next week is going to be a huge one for anyone that grew up in the 90s, as two of the greatest video game rivalries from that decade will be getting reignited. While theconsole warscertainly existed prior to the 90s, the heated rivalry between Sega and Nintendo during that era is what really helped popularize the concept.
Nintendo and Sega were fierce rivals in the 90s, particularly when it came to the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. The competing 16-bit consoles were neck-and-neck at one point, with the Genesis proving especially popular in North America, but the SNES blew past it in the end. During the height of theSega and Nintendo rivalry, Sega introduced a platformer mascot of its own to compete directly with Nintendo’s Mario: Sonic the Hedgehog.
TheSonic the Hedgehog2D platformer games from Sega were made to compete directly with Nintendo’sSuper Mario Bros.franchise. That classic rivalry is about to be reignited as next week, Nintendo and Sega are both releasing brand-new 2D platformers in their respective franchises within days of each other.Sonic Superstarsis launching on Tuesday, October 17for various platforms, whileSuper Mario Bros. Wonderis releasing on Friday, October 20 as a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
The New Sonic and Mario Games Are Throwbacks
Not only are newSonicandSuper Mariogames releasing in the same week, but they are both throwbacks to their roots, the kind of games that the franchises were at the time of their feud.BothSuper Mario Bros. WonderandSonic Superstarsare 2D platformers, just like the classicSuper MarioandSonic the Hedgehoggames that released on the SNES and Sega Genesis back in the 90s.
Both games also share a unique gimmick. WhileSuper MarioandSonicgames in the 90s had forms of co-op, they weren’t nearly like what fans can expect fromSuper Mario Bros. WonderandSonic Superstars. Both games offer 4-player co-op support, withSuper Mario Bros. Wonderhaving some additional online multiplayer functionalitythat is oddly reminiscent of games likeDark Souls, with players able to see others who are playing on the same level and how they’re performing in the stage.
So next week, there are two brand-new 2DSonicandSuper Mariogames releasing within days of each other, and both are 4-player co-op games. But while the games may be competing for consumer dollars, one key difference between next week and the 90s is thatSonicis no longer being used to compete directly with Nintendo. It may be competing withSuper Mario, but it is actually releasing on the Nintendo Switch as well. Regardless,90s kidsand platformer fans in general have a lot to look forward to next week, especially if both games live up to the high bar set by their 90s predecessors.
Nintendo isn’t just reigniting its rivalry with Sega andSonicnext week. After Sega was mostly out of the picture with the lukewarm reception to the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast, a new console war started that saw Nintendo and PlayStation go head-to-head. Nintendo and PlayStation’s bitter rivalry saw franchises that were once synonymous with Nintendo jump ship to the PS1, withSony’s new console trouncing the Nintendo 64in terms of overall sales numbers.
PlayStation’s supremacy over Nintendo when it came to console sales numbers continued in the following generation, with the PS2 cementing itself as the best-selling video game console of all time and the GameCube becoming one of Nintendo’s lowest-selling consoles.Nintendo made a big comeback with the Wii, which sold many more units than the PS3, but at that point, Nintendo started to transition away from directly competing with PlayStation and Microsoft. It really started to do its own thing and quit trying to match its competitors when it came to console power.
This strategy continued with the Wii U, which was a commercial failure,and the Switch, which is now the third highest-selling video game console of all time. But while Nintendo and PlayStation don’t really directly compete with each other anymore, their old 90s rivalry is about to get a jumpstart, as the companies are both releasing two of their biggest 2023 games on the exactly same day.
October 20 will not just see the launch ofSuper Mario Bros. Wonder. On that same day, Sony will be releasing thePS5 exclusiveSpider-Man 2game, easily one of the most highly-anticipated new releases of the year. Gamers with both a Switch and a PS5 may have to make a tough decision come October 20, as they will have to decide which game they want to dedicate their money and time to first: the PlayStation exclusive or the Nintendo exclusive.
Sonic Superstarsis launching on October 17 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Super Mario Bros. Wonderis launching on October 20 for Switch.Spider-Man 2launches October 20 for PS5.
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