History of GamesLesson 2

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

Mario vs Sonic Think about the attributes of each character and describe the

similarities and differences between them both.

Know important characters in video game history

Understand key features of a platform game

Be able to compare two popular video games

Lesson Goals

#character#platform

What is a platform game?Think about platform games that you are familiar with…

Understand video game featuresBe able to play early video games

#gameplay#control

A platform game is on in which the player controls a character jumping or climbing over surfaces and obstacles to progress:

Platform Games

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

#gameplay#control

Donkey Kong was an early arcade platform game in which the player controlled Jump Man.

Jump Man (later renamed Mario) had to climb ladders and jump from suspended platforms.

While doing this the player had to avoid barrels and other objects thrown by Donkey Kong.

The objective was to rescue his girlfriend from Donkey Kong.

Platform Games

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

#character#platform

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

Side Scrolling

Super Mario Bros

1985

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

2nd Gen Scrolling

Sonic the Hedgehog

1990

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

3D Platformer

Crash Bandicoot

1996

Mario vs SonicWhy are Mario and Sonic such well known characters?

Understand video game featuresBe able to play early video games

#gameplay#control

Mario first appeared in 1981 but was originally given the name Jump Man in the Donkey Kong arcade game.

Mario

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

#character#platform

The original character had a moustache so that the designers didn’t have to make his mouth move when animated.

There have been various arcade, console and hand held Mario games including: Super Mario Bros Mario Kart Super Smash Bros Mario Tennis

Sonic

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

#character#platform

Sonic first appeared in 1991, a full 10 years after Mario and was credited for bringing platform games into the 90s.

Sonic actually made his debut in a game called Rad Mobile as an air freshener hanging from a car’s rear view mirror.

There have been many games featuring Sonic the Hedgehog including: Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic Dash Sonic Athletics Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

The success of a video game can hinge on the main character that the game is based upon. Both Mario and Sonic became iconic for their generation.

Other notable characters include: Lara Croft - Tomb Raider Gordon Freeman - Half Life Ryu - Street Fighter Solid Snake - Metal Gear Solid Link - Legend of Zelda Pikachu - Pokemon Red Nathan Drake - Uncharted

Characters

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

#character#platform

Go to freemario.org and freesonic.org and play both games.

Your Task

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

#character#platform

Use the review template provided to comment on the key gameplay features and the key attributes of Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog.

You must identify: Similarities – Which features are

common between both Mario and Sonic the hedgehog?

Differences – What makes each of the characters unique?

Keywords

Character

Platform

The user acting as the player in a game or others in the game such as enemies.

A game where the player controls a character jumping or climbing over surfaces.

Understand key platform featuresBe able to compare video games

#character#platform