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Although Mario is best known for his Princess rescuing exploits in platformers, he has actually been appearing in sporting spin-offs for almost as long as he has been bopping goombas and kicking Koopa shells.
NES Open Tournament Golf featured Mario prominently on the cover in 1987. Since then, he has popped up in dozens of sports-related titles, with the majority featuring his name right there in the title.
Mario Kart is almost universally loved amongst Nintendo fans, and there have been numerous entries in the Golf, Tennis and ‘at the Olympics’ series. Mario Strikers on the other hand, has had just two.
Releasing for the Gamecube in 2005, Strikers sold well enough to garner a sequel a couple of years later in 2007, this time on the Wii.
Then nothing…
Strikers didn’t get a DS or 3DS version like so many of the other Mario Spin-offs, and the Wii-U came and went without so much of a mention of a football game.
It looked like the final whistle had blown on the Mario Strikers franchise.
That was until the 9th of February 2022, when Ninty shocked us all with the news that a new instalment would be released this year for the Switch. Mario Strikers Battle League.
So 15 years down the line, Mario Strikers is back! But will it be a 90th-minute winner in the cup final, or have Nintendo scored an own goal bringing this one back?
Pre-Match Preview
Bringing back a game franchise after 15 years isn’t too far off launching a brand-new concept from scratch when you think about it.
Sure, there will be gamers who remember the original and its sequel fondly. But there will be two generations of gamers (console generations, that is) who probably haven't played a Mario Strikers game.
Nintendo seem to be aware of this too, as they ensured there was a ‘training mode’ demo released on the e-shop prior to release. They even allowed players a limited time to play some matches online.
I took advantage of both to see what might be in store for us come June 10th.
The Beautiful Game
First things first, the game looks gorgeous. But then this IS a Mario game and I’d expect nothing less.
The character models look great, and each player has their own footie gear that is upgradeable and customisable. This isn’t just a cosmetic touch though, as the gear can greatly influence the character’s base stats.
The arenas are vibrant, but of the ones I’ve seen so far (which in fairness aren’t many) they all seem to play in the same way.
One of the things that made Mario Strikers games so much fun were environmental hazards, like lava pits and quicksand. So far there has been no mention of these types of themed hazards in the new game.
Players CAN build their own stadiums though, choosing from various sizes, themes, pitch decorations and more. This comes as part of a larger ‘Team Designer’, geared strongly toward online play.
Finally, the ‘Super Strike’ animations match the previous games' sketchbook style, and they look stunning. This is a good thing, because you’re going to be seeing them a lot.
Game On
Having played through the extensive training mode and a handful of matches in the ‘early kick off’ period, I got a good grasp of how the game plays. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be 'chaotic'.
If I could use six I'd say 'chaotic, but in a good way'.
The action is fast-paced, frantic and sometimes quite brutal. Not only can you completely wipe out opponents with tackles reminiscent of Adidas Power Soccer, but you can even boot your own teammates into their path to stop an attack.
Luckily players are able to dodge out of the way just as quickly, or pass the ball around lunging opponents with passes and lobbed balls. Finally, depending on whether you are in your own half or the opponents, there is the option to hoof it upfield or take a shot.
What really sets Mario Strikers apart from your average football game are the items. Shells, Banana peels, bombs, mushrooms and stars all make an appearance with varying associated perks.
Finally, there’s the ‘Hyper Strike’. Pick one of these up and anyone on your team can unleash a powerful shot unique to them. A swing meter like the one used in Mario Golf determines the power of the shot, which if hit perfectly is almost unstoppable.
Final Thoughts
As a fan of the original Mario Strikers games, I’m naturally excited to get my hands on the new one. But I’m also worried, having been burned by a few Nintendo releases that didn’t feel finished when they were released.
Both Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf Super Rush both received criticism for being very bare bones when they first hit the shelves.
I personally felt the same about Switch Sports too, and although I did have fun with it, I didn’t appreciate the game's heavy focus on online play.
Based on the information released so far, I get the feeling Mario Strikers is pushing players toward online gameplay too, and therefore the need to have a Nintendo Online subscription.
That said, it’s nice to have an alternative to FIFA that is easy to pick up and play, with Mario Sports' unique brand of craziness slapped on top. I have a copy pre-ordered and can't wait to start putting the boot into my mates in the Mushroom Kingdom!