Good Game Despite Its Flaws
Super Mario Strikers isn't the perfect Mario sports game but it is quite a bit of fun.
The premise of the game is simple: soccer. What's fun about this game is that before each match you pick your captain, one of the many heroes of the Mario universe, followed by the side characters as the rest of the team (toads, koopas, hammer bros, etc).
During the game, the captain of the team can charge up a shot that is much more difficult to block. The captain is the only character that can power up unless you play with the unlockable robot team.
What makes the game stand out is that it rewards strategic play over a more brutal/violent play. Yes, you can trip your opponent to steal the ball but unnecessary trips will result in giving the opposing team a special item that they can use against you. Play too aggressively and you will hand them the game on a golden platter. It is better to play smart.
Why does this game not deserve a 5-star rating? For one, it is not a perfect party game because it only supports 2 players. The Gamecube having 4 ports and the fact that soccer has many players on the field would make it a perfect 4-player game... sadly Nintendo (or Next Level Games) did not agree. Also, the game can be pretty frustrating with its random number generator. Sometimes it feels like the goaltender is impossible to beat but will then let the most trivial shots go in.
All in all Mario Strikers is a fun game that is worth buying to play with your friends. Despite its flaws you will have many hours of fun and laughter.
Reviewed by: Mr. Gazillion from Ottawa, Canada on 11/3/2012
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