The meeting of popular characters from rivaling franchises within the same universe long belonged to the realm of pure fantasy for gamers – and fanfiction writers. But what used to be an exception, with the odd example of 1988’s Battle Soccer bringing together protagonists from Godzilla or Gundam, is now increasingly common in the gaming sphere. And there is more to the genre than a handful of combat games adding cross-franchise fighters to their roster. So, from visual novels to sports titles, let’s check out some fun video game crossovers.
Mario and Sonic at the Olympics
Throughout their history, Mario and Sonic have always been fierce competitors. Interestingly enough, the iconic blue hedgehog was originally created with the sole intention of catching up to Nintendo’s Italian plumber. While the Sonic franchise has had its ups and downs, despite a cinematic revival of late, Mario has stood its ground as one of the best-selling video game series in history for decades. The recent box-office hit of the Super Mario Bros. movie only served to reaffirm this supremacy.
Hence, avid gamers and nostalgic Sonic fans couldn’t help but be excited when Nintendo and Sega released Mario and Sonic at the Olympics. Expanding upon the classic formula of your run-of-the-mill Mario sports games, this crossover has Sonic and Mario’s characters compete in a variety of summer and winter sports minigames. Licensed by the very International Olympic Committee, a total of six mainline games have been released in the series since the Beijing Olympics of 2008.
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
The point-and-click adventure genre holds a special place among gamers with a knack for engrossing mystery-solving and endearing supporting characters. As it turns out, fans of this niche genre often find themselves with an equal number of Professor Layton and Ace Attorney titles in their game collection. When Capcom and Level 5 announced a crossover between these two universes, thus, fans could not contain their trepidation. And did Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney deliver on that ambitious premise.
The game takes place in a magical medieval world where alleged witches are regularly put on trial. Combative attorney Phoenix Wright and witty detective Hershel Layton will therefore join forces to rescue a young girl wrongly accused of sorcery and unveil the darkest secrets of the town of Labyrinthia. From clever puzzle segments to exhilarating witch trials against fearsome Inquisitors, this crossover game has more than enough mind-boggling twists and turns to keep you invested in its well-crafted narrative.
Poker Night at the Inventory
Telltale Games has garnered a reputation for developing story-driven adventure games that feel like bona fide interactive novels. But the California-based studio took a different approach with Poker Night at the Inventory. This poker simulation takes you to an underground den built underneath a game storage warehouse. Although it centers around poker, this crossover video game prioritizes the interactions and humorous banter between four emblematic characters from series like Sam & Max, Homestar Runner, and Team Fortress.
For all its clever humor and well-written protagonists, though, the game’s poker strategies and gameplay may feel a bit lackluster for seasoned gamblers. Gamers seeking genuine gambling experiences might therefore turn to platforms like CasinoBonusCA. Such websites feature free guidelines and reviews to get newcomers started. Regular updates also keep gamers informed on the latest casino offers around. Advanced filters even make the search that much easier by sorting through hundreds of bonuses, allowing gamers to select the most profitable and secure platform to suit their playing style.
Conclusion
Who would win in a race between Sonic and Mario? What if Professor Layton helped Phoenix Wright clear the name of innocent defendants by solving brain-scratching puzzles? Crossover video games are the entertaining answers to these seemingly outlandish questions every gamer has dreamed of at least once. The good news is, there is much more to the genre than the couple examples listed above. Of course, cult classics like Smash Bros. and Kingdom Hearts have redefined the genre entirely.
On GeekExtreme, we also told you all about the best Marvel games around, including such surprising crossovers as the sandbox toys-to-life entry Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes. The likes of Captain America and Wolverine even battled against popular Street Fighter and Mega Man figures in the brawler series Marvel vs. Capcom. And more crossovers are reportedly underway, such as Ubisoft’s Roller Champions receiving special guests from the Sega Jet Set Radio retro action game.
