The Fun Factor 6.11.07: Super Mario Strikers
Posted by Cory Moore on 06.11.2007
Oversized gators as goalies, electrified crowd barriers and red shells homing in on the team captain? Yep, this is Mario soccer alright.
Just before the 20th century wrapped, Nintendo found itself in a tight position. Its third home console, the Nintendo 64, was both slammed and applauded. The cartridge format was getting old, as consumers were not interested in paying $60 to Sony's $40, CD-based Playstation titles. Still, the N64 was revolutionary because it was the first console to provide four-player support out of the box. Naturally, this made for some awesome titles. In the past, I've covered Goldeneye, No Mercy, and other multiplayer classics that were exclusive to the system. The Nintendo 64 still gives many gamers some great multiplayer thrills to this day.
Nintendo's first attempt at four-person gaming was crazy good; the second attempt felt rehashed. Nintendo's next system, the Gamecube, competed with the PS2 and Xbox, both noted for their online play later in their lifespan. Meanwhile, the ‘Cube was stuck, as it never jumped into the online arena. Nintendo flipped the script and made one of the best 64 titles – Mario Kart – too complex for its own good. Mario Tennis was simple and fun on the 64, but became too hectic by including too many power-ups in the ‘Cube edition. Mario Golf and Mario Party produced good but hardly innovative sequels.
One obvious exception to the lackluster trend on Nintendo's lunch pale-shaped system was Super Smash Brothers Melee. Big surprise there. But two other ‘extracurricular' games were born last generation, too. Mario Superstar Baseball was a new take on America's favorite pastime, and Super Mario Strikers happened to give a unique vision on the *original* game of football, depending on which continent you ask…
Super Mario Strikers
Gamecube
2005
The Controlled Substance
Super Mario Strikers is a soccer game given the Nintendo treatment. Most of the familiar themes of the popular European game are present, from lob passes to the goalies that block your way to the nets. This game isn't for pansies, though, because penalties don't apply. Like Mario Kart, you obtain items to hinder your opponent's progress, such as bananas to make them slip and slide or green shells to bounce off the chain fences. The most unique feature of Mario Strikers is the Super Strike. While lining up for a goal, holding the B button will charge up your kick's energy, sending the ball flying at the net with emphasis. If you execute a perfect Super Strike, you'll perform a Monster Strike that'll earn you two points and a guaranteed goal.
While the four-player grudge matches and tournaments are the most fun, Mario Strikers also offers a substantial amount of single-player objectives you can complete. You can conquer eight Cups (Mushroom, Flower, Star and Bowser + "Super" variations of the four), earn trophies for accomplishments (such as a Paramedic Trophy for x-number of Big Hits) and even unlock cheats to enhance gameplay. Anyone up for a match on a tilting field?
The Fun Factor
So, we're talking about a Mario-themed party game. Do we really have to explore why this game is fun? Okay, okay, we shall…
First and foremost, Super Mario Strikers benefits from the over-the-top style Nintendo sports games are known for. No, the game is not a realistic representation of soccer. The virtual fans would be rioting if it was. But in this game, who can blame them for toning down their style? After all, Strikers does have an electrical current surrounding the chain-link fence, meaning any player who gets tossed into it gets the shock treatment. That'll make those rowdy fans in the stands think twice about jumping the barriers. Just about every other element is ramped up to the max, too. A score is overly dramatic, celebrations are magnificently animated, and it truly captures your imagination.
Of course, none of this would matter if the game had lackluster controls, right? Like other Mario-themed sports games, a wealth of knowledge of the sport is not a prerequisite. I've never watched a complete soccer game in my life, but found myself having fun right away. The experience excels at both ends of the ball. On offense, you balance power moves, strategic passes and quick feet to succeed. Defense – while not true to the real-life counterpart – is just as entertaining. Spoiling opponents' power shots by tackling their player at the last second is just as gloat-worthy as netting points in this game. It's truly an all-around experience, which is a rarity for sports games.
Super Mario Strikers is soccer on steroids, figuratively speaking. The field of play has been shrunk to where the action always moves at a fast tempo, meaning you have to be on your toes at all times in order to survive the wild combat. Needless to say, a game in this mold can only be truly appreciated when four pals congregate in the living room and duke it out. Simply put, European football was the perfect game to adapt to the Nintendo style. Everyone can get in on the action with little to no experience, making for another Nintendo game that targets no specific audience, just gamers looking for a good time. Experience helps, but when you have Bowzer descending from the sky and causing chaos on the field, that experience does not always guarantee victory. There are so many scenarios that can play out, and these intangibles are what make the Nintendo sports franchises so fresh and entertaining.
The 411
Nintendo's Gamecube had its share of lackluster games, with a limited batch of third-party titles to less-than-spectacular first-party releases. Super Mario Strikers is one of the exceptions. It was released rather quietly and didn't receive much fanfare, but it garnered a good enough reception to spawn an upcoming sequel on the Wii: Mario Strikers Charged.
Mario Strikers with online play? As Kevin Nash would say, "Toooooooooo sweeeet!" For those wanting to go head-to-head in late July, I'm soooooo there.
