Super Mario Strikers

"Take No Regard To Others; This Game Is Awesome"

I've noticed that several people have been dissing this game for several reasons. It has a shortage of characters and fields, controlling Super Strikes takes a bit of practice, and the difficulty levels are somewhat steep. But what people don't understand is that this game is more Mario than they realize.

Super Mario Strikers is tailor-made for people who love to play with their friends. At points, cooperation is very important if you're playing with more than one person per team. If you don't have any available friends, however, you'll be just as amused with Cup Battles. This has always been a pattern in Mario Sports games, but it never gets old.

Graphics are bright and cheerful, as you would expect. The fields are somewhat bland and lack the detail of the areas in Mario Superstar Baseball, and aren't all that varied either. The character models, however, are very well-designed, whether they're celebrating, being blown up (check out the soot that remains on their faces after that happens), or being electrocuted. And the special effects are stunning, such as the explosions and the character's Power Strikes.

The sound is nothing too special. The trumpets and guitars of the opening, title, and select screens doesn't seem too noticeable, and neither does the techno music at the opening of every match. On the other hand, the triumphant music after winning matches reminds you of a victory you deserved (an awesome feeling). Character voices are okay, if annoying at times; the same goes for the audience.

Ah, yes... the gameplay. As I have mentioned, controlling Super Strikes can get frustrating, and it requires a lot of practice. But it's a snap once you can get the hang of it, and can be very useful in Cup Matches. Computer players catch on quicker on higher difficulties, and that, my friend, is the challenge of the game; trying to trick the computer into letting down their guard. Controls are very responsive, and that is an advantage in such a case.

Mario fans will agree with most critics that this game isn't "Mario" enough, including me. But what difference does that make? It has Mario characters and gameplay, so fans should give it a shot. It's a guaranteed score for any Mario or soccer fan, so if you don't like it, Waluigi has two words for you: "SUCK IT!"

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/16/06