Mario takes his turn at an other sport, this time soccer... and the results are excellent.
Super Mario Strikers is much different than the normal soccer game. Each team consists of four players and a goalie. Out of the four characters one of your players is your captain who can unleash vicious super strikes on your opponents. The super strike is the most affective shot in the game, but more on gameplay later. You have your choice of characters including Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Peach, Daisy, and Wario. Also after you chose your main character you have your choice of four sidekicks who are the Koopas, Birdos, Hammer Bros, and Toads.
The graphics for this game are excellent, however at times the frame rate does drop when you unleash a barrage of weapons on your opponents. Throughout a typical match your character acquires that they can use on an opponent including red shells, green shells, speed mushrooms, bob-ombs, bananas, and a few more. In order to win on the higher difficulty levels you must master the technique of using your weapons and super strike abilities in together.
The gameplay for Super Mario Strikers is phenomenal, at every instant in the game you have precise control over the character that you are focused on. The most effective move in this game is to check your opponents and then go steal the ball for a odd-man rush. Also, you can use spin and deke moves to get away from your opponents or you can risk it all and go for a steal.
Where this game disappoints is in the unlockables, and a lack of arenas to play in. In total there are about six different arenas, each having a unique look however they all play the same. In a Mario sports title I have come to expect each arena having it's own unique features. For instance, some levels should be icy and have slicker surfaces, some levels should have patches of the court that disappear when you least expect it, lava pits, tunnels, etc. Another weak point in this game is the short, and I do mean short, "career" mode.
When you first fire up this game you have the ability to participate in 'Cup Battles'. There are four cup battles available, including both round robin and playoff formats. After you beat these 'Cup Battles' you unlock the Super Team and the 'Super Cup Battles.' The only difference between the two is the 'Super Cup Battles' allow you to use the Super Team (every player can use a Super Strike) and the round robin or playoff formats are longer. I was expecting a little more, but the bread and butter of this game is it's multiplayer anyways.
If you're a fan of sports games and want a fast pace action filled game to play with your friends, Super Mario Strikers is a game that you can now get for under $30 and will keep you entertained for hours on end.