Super Mario Strikers Review

On defense there’s even more mayhem to enjoy. You can slide attack to steal the ball with B, do a nasty body hit with Y and utilize your power-ups with X. Body hits are very useful and many players will end up using them a lot during games. They are more or less making who you’re controlling (change with A) to lunge towards an opponent with their body trying to smack them. This is an easy way to knock them off the ball, away from the ball, or tasting electric fence. The outside of the soccer is literally lined with an electric fence, and players will experience some humorous shocking if knocked into it. There are also various power-ups in the game, and each are used on the soccer field as you please. This can range from a set of three bananas to chain chomps that will literally chase down your whole opponent team and stun them. Each have their uses, but it’s best to use them only when you really need to so you avoid wasting them when you may need them.

One power-up though that no one ever has access to is Bowser himself. At random times during a game, and sometimes never, he will show up on the field with a thundering presence. During this time he literally tips the field like a seesaw and starts breathing fire at anyone who may be caught in his unfortunate path. He can be both a very useful tool or a huge annoyance depending on your position and the time of the game. It’s rather difficult to see around him, let alone play around him, so don’t expect to be able to take his presence lightly. He’s there for a reason, and that’s of course to create extra mayhem.

The game itself is set up very simply as well. You have Grudge Matches which allow you to take on a friend or computer opponent in an exhibition match. Then you have Cup Battles. Cup battles obviously have you go through a tournament to prove who’s the best Strikers player. The beginning cup isn’t exactly long but others like the final one in the last Super Cup Battle can be as long as 16 games. Most of the cups are enjoyable to play, and they are the only way to unlock most of the games’ goodies. This includes new stadiums and cheats to turn on or off in the options menu. There really is no story driving the concept of winning the cups, just the sheer grit and sweat of beating your opponents to a pulp. It is satisfying to win the Cup of a tournament though, as sometimes computer opponents prove to be very challenging. First place in a game nets you three points, a Sudden Death loss is worth one and losses obviously leave you hanging. The only frustrating aspect of these tournaments is even if you have enough points to never lose first place and you still have two games left to play, you can’t just be deemed the winner automatically. The biggest issue of the Cup Battles lies in repetitiveness, but generally they are fun to play so it shouldn’t be too bad for most.

Strikers also has a nice bit of music and sounds. The music isn’t exactly a huge focus in the game, as you will really only hear the main stuff while in the game’s menus. During a game, there really isn’t any exciting music in the background, which can leave some disappointed. But playing the game is fun enough that most shouldn’t really notice. The sounds are well-done though, and there’s plenty of them. You actually hear players kicking the ball as you’re heading from one end of the field to the other. The sound effects from the Super Strike animations are cool as well, but again not seeing anything different can make it seem repetitive. When you score a goal though, you will hear the soccer trademark yell “GGGGGOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!” as whoever got it will do their personal celebration. The captains have a few different ones, and the sidekicks have a couple. Then when the game resumes you will hear a somewhat muffled announcer in the background say “Goal!” If you did it with your captain, he will say the name of him or her.

The strongest aspect of Strikers is most definitely the replay value. Strikers was meant to be a multiplayer game, hands down. If you have any friends and play this game with them, you will more than likely not be disappointed. Matches with your friends can get incredibly dramatic and intense, as each player truly has an equal chance of winning. All players are different too, so you should never expect to see the same style of play when you face different people. The computer is fun to play when you do, so don’t get the impression that is isn’t. But Strikers was definitely meant for two or more actual people to play together, and the experience is really something awesome. Playing the game like that can truly suck up the hours if you’re not careful, it’s just that fun.

Super Mario Strikers is a very worthy Mario sports title, despite its number of shortcomings. Sure the actual presentation isn’t stellar and the music and sounds could’ve certainly been better. But the game is just plain fun, and that’s truly what matters. If you play the computer, you’ll have fun. If you play friends, family members or total strangers, you’ll have fun. There’s just that much entertainment to be seen and had, and this game will not disappoint you in that matter. If you like Mario sports titles and have friends to play them with, by all means pick up Strikers. If not, it can still be a worthy single player experience, but probably more geared for a rent. But friends or no friends, Super Mario Strikers has what it takes to bring people together and just have fun.