What's up, speedrunning fanatics and Olympic hopefuls! Today, we're diving headfirst into the exhilarating chaos of *Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games* on the Nintendo Switch. Forget casual play; we're going for the ultimate challenge: a full speedrun of *every single event* set to the infuriatingly difficult "Very Hard" setting. This isn't just about beating the game; it's about pushing the limits, mastering every pixel, and shaving off milliseconds to achieve glory. If you're looking to understand the insane strats, the potential glitches, or just witness some top-tier gameplay, you've come to the right place.
The Ultimate Challenge: All Events, Very Hard
The premise is simple, but the execution is brutal. We're tackling every single Olympic event available in *Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020* on the highest difficulty. This means opponents are faster, your margin for error is minuscule, and every input needs to be precise. For those unfamiliar with speedrunning this particular title, it's a unique beast. Unlike a linear game with one clear end goal, this involves a sequence of distinct challenges, each requiring its own specialized strategy. My personal experience tells me that consistency across all events is the true test here, far more than mastering a single one.
This run demands incredible versatility. You can't just be good at the 100m dash; you need to be proficient in the pool, on the mat, and even on the skateboard!
The difficulty spike on "Very Hard" is no joke. It transforms seemingly simple button-mashing or motion-controlled events into intense tests of reflexes and timing. This is where the true
speedrun magic happens – finding those tiny advantages, exploiting AI quirks, and executing flawless inputs under pressure.
Mario & Sonic: More Than Just Mini-Games
While often perceived as a collection of party games, *Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020* offers surprising depth, especially when viewed through a speedrunning lens.
The game boasts a surprisingly robust roster of characters, each with slightly different stats and animations that can influence run times. You have your classics: Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Tails, and a host of others from both the Nintendo and SEGA universes. Beyond the standard Olympic events, there are also the "Dream Events." These are where things get truly wild, with power-ups, unique mechanics, and even a story mode that takes you back to retro 2D sports.
For a speedrun encompassing all events, we generally focus on the main Olympic competitions. However, understanding the mechanics of the Dream Events can sometimes reveal unexpected shortcuts or movement techniques applicable elsewhere. The controls themselves offer flexibility: motion controls or traditional button inputs. For a
speedrun, precise button inputs are almost always preferred for consistency and speed.
Speedrunning Fundamentals in Mario & Sonic
Every speedrun boils down to a few core principles: optimizing movement, minimizing downtime, and executing inputs perfectly. In *Mario & Sonic*, this translates to:
- Mastering Controls: Knowing exactly how much pressure to apply, when to tap, when to hold, and how to chain actions together. This is crucial for events like the 100m sprint or the long jump.
- Optimal Character Choice: Selecting characters whose specific attributes (speed, power, etc.) give an edge in certain events. For example, Sonic is generally a top pick for speed-focused events.
- Route Optimization: While the events are set, the order you *select* them or how you navigate menus can shave off precious seconds.
- Understanding Game Mechanics: Exploiting physics, jump timings, and even subtle animation cancels.
My personal approach involves practicing each event individually until I can perform it consistently near world-record pace, then stringing them all together. The mental fatigue is a significant factor; staying focused through dozens of distinct challenges is incredibly demanding.
The real challenge isn't mastering one event, it's maintaining peak performance across the entire spectrum of disciplines.
Key Event Strats and Potential Skips
Let's break down some of the iconic events and the kind of strats needed for a "Very Hard"
speedrun.
Track Events (100m, 200m, etc.)
These are often heavily reliant on rapid button presses or precise stick movements. The "Very Hard" AI will match your initial bursts, so the key is often in the *timing* of your acceleration and maintaining top speed without 'blowing out'. Learning the exact point where the opponent gains an advantage and countering it is vital.
Gymnastics (Floor Exercise, Vault)
Requires perfect timing for quick-time events (QTEs) and directional inputs. Missing a single QTE can cost you the gold medal and potentially the run. Perfect scores are mandatory.
Aquatics (Swimming)
Stamina management and precise button mashing/timing are key. Conserving stamina early can pay off in the final stretch, but going too slow means the AI pulls ahead.
Combat Sports (Boxing, Karate)
This is less about pure speed and more about flawless defense and perfectly timed counter-attacks. Exploiting AI patterns is essential. You need to anticipate their moves and punish them ruthlessly.
Field Events (Long Jump, Javelin)
Requires perfect charge-up for power and precise angle control during the throw or jump. Even a slight miscalculation can drastically reduce the distance.
It's worth noting that glitches are generally less common or impactful in these more structured events compared to open-world games. The challenge here is almost entirely execution-based.
Dealing with RNG and Perfect Execution
The bane of any speedrunner: Random Number Generation (RNG). In *Mario & Sonic*, RNG can manifest in various ways:
- Opponent AI Behavior: Sometimes, the AI can be slightly more aggressive or passive than usual.
- Event Start Cues: The exact timing window for the perfect start can feel inconsistent.
- Physics: While usually predictable, slight variations in how an object bounces or travels can occur.
A truly great
speedrun isn't just about performing the optimal strategy; it's about performing it *consistently* despite minor RNG variations. This requires thousands of hours of practice. The goal is to make your execution so perfect that the RNG has minimal impact. You need muscle memory for every button press, every flick of the stick.
When you hit that perfect sequence of inputs, and the AI just can't keep up, there's no better feeling in gaming.
The "Very Hard" Difference
On "Very Hard," the AI is tuned to be almost flawless. This means *your* execution needs to be even more precise. If the AI makes zero mistakes, and you make even one tiny error in timing or input, you lose. This level of play demands near-perfect runs on *every single event*. It's a true test of endurance and skill, pushing the boundaries of what's possible within the game's mechanics.
Community and Resources
If this deep dive into the Olympic Games has sparked your interest in speedrunning, there are fantastic resources available:
- Speedrun.com: The central hub for all things speedrunning. You'll find leaderboards, guides, and forums for *Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020* and countless other titles. Check out the specific [Mario & Sonic Tokyo 2020 leaderboard](https://www.speedrun.com/msog2020) for WR times and strategies.
- YouTube & Twitch: Many top runners, including creators like EazySpeezy, share their runs and tutorials. Watching these gameplay videos is invaluable for learning strats.
- Discord Communities: Dedicated Discord servers for specific games or for speedrunning in general are great places to ask questions and connect with other runners.
The
speedrunning community is incredibly welcoming. Don't be afraid to jump in, ask questions, and share your own progress. It's all about the shared passion for mastering games. The pursuit of a
PB (Personal Best) or even a
World Record (
WR) is a journey, and every step is worth celebrating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the fastest way to complete a single event in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games?
A1: This varies greatly by event. For sprint events, it's about rapid, consistent button presses and perfect timing. For throwing events, it's a precise power meter and angle. For combat events, it's flawless counter-attacks. Always check specific guides on speedrun.com for the optimal character and strategy.
Q2: Is Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games a popular speedrun game?
A2: While not as massive as games like Super Mario 64 or Ocarina of Time, it has a dedicated community, especially for specific categories like "All Events" or individual event records. The "Very Hard" all-events category is particularly challenging.
Q3: How difficult is the "Very Hard" setting for speedrunning?
A3: Extremely difficult. The AI is nearly perfect, leaving virtually no room for error. It requires impeccable execution on every single input across all events.
Q4: Are there any major glitches or skips used in speedruns?
A4: For the "All Events" category, major skips are less common as the goal is to complete each listed event. However, minor animation cancels or movement exploits might be used in specific individual events to gain fractions of a second.
Q5: What character is generally considered best for speedrunning Mario & Sonic?
A5: Sonic and characters with similar speed stats are often preferred for speed-focused events. However, some characters might have slight advantages in specific events due to unique animations or stats, so it's worth checking individual event strategies.
In conclusion, speedrunning *Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games* on "Very Hard" is a monumental task. It’s a testament to dedication, precision, and a deep understanding of game mechanics. Whether you're aiming for a new
WR or just want to improve your own
PB, the journey is incredibly rewarding. The satisfaction of executing a perfect run, event after event, is unlike anything else.
So, what are your favorite events to speedrun? Have you ever attempted an "All Events" run? Share your experiences, your struggles, and your triumphs in the comments below! Let's build an even stronger community and push the boundaries of what's possible in the world of
speedrunning! Join our Discord to chat with fellow runners and share your runs.
