Improvements were clearly made from the previous Striker game, but the single player mode is still seriously lacking.
The Bad: The single player mode is still critically lacking; Opponent AI tends to be either too easy or too cheap
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Mario is an Italian plumber who's job is to constantly save the princess. However, he also has to have some fun and play some sports. However, why did it take so long (until the Gamecube) before they released a soccer/football game. Mario is supposedly Italian, yet he races karts, plays tennis and golf before he kicks a ball? Something isn't right Nintendo. Though anyways, the GC Strikers game was a whole lot of fun, but that's only if you had friends. The multiplayer was exceptional, but the single player was seriously lacking. Though now they made another Strikers game for the Wii, and improvements were clearly made. The multiplayer is still great (plus online play), but the single player is still severely lacking.
The one thing that was apparent in the GC game, and carried over to here, is the fact that Mario likes both American and European football. This game has the basic soccer mechanics. You kick a ball into a large net. However, it's also the most brutal game of soccer you will ever see in your life. You are able to body check your opponents, and the body checks aren't little kiddy ones either. There is also and invisible electric fence around the edge of the field. That can provide some rather shocking hits as well. Though how can this be a Mario game without items? So say Mario hits Luigi from behind and Luigi didn't have the ball. Now Luigi would obviously be angry. So how does he solve his problem? He simply sends the big Chain Chomp after Mario and his team. Then Luigi takes the ball and blasts it into the net with a megastrike, getting six goals out of that. Even the goalies (who are always Kritters) like to hit people. In fact, this looks more like a good old Canadian hockey game (I'm Canadian, so I have no complaints).
In this game, one noticeable improvement is the stats and types. For example, there are balanced, power, offensive, and defensive type players, each with their own stats. This adds a whole new element. This applies for both the captains and the side-kicks. Also, this time, you can choose three different side-kicks instead of having to only choose one. The strategy element added is a real plus.
Even though the goalies can knock down anybody the comes near them (and trust me, those Kritters can hit hard), but they have to take some shots as well. Imagine if you had to stop a large metallic flamming ball coming at you at at least 80 mph. That's the life of the Kritters lead in this game, day in and day out. It makes you sorry for them. The sidekicks this time have their own special abilities and skillshots. For example, Dry Bones can either warp right through the goalie, or he can electrocute him with his skillshot. Then comes the captains with their megastrikes. You do a megastrike by simply holding the B button until a meter appears, ad with proper timing, you could get 6 powerful shots on the goalie. Though if a megastrike is being shot at you, you take control of your goalie and a little mini-game pops up where you simple have to use your Wiimote to block the shots. This mini-game is actually a nice new addition to the game. Megastrikes against lower difficulty opponents can be easy to execute well, but against higher difficulties, you would have to be pretty lucky to get 6 shots in.
This time, the terrain plays a more key role in the game. Some of the arenas are straightforward (especially the classic ones), but some of the arenas are seriously insane. In one, you have cows and buses flying around, and it's actually possibly to get knocked off the stage. In another, there are large pieces of magma flying around that could burn everybody one the field. On another, lightning bolts strike anybody around the ball at random times. These crazy environments do add to the fun, but sometimes it can get a little too hectic. Though that's just simply Mario for you.
Now for the game modes. The first is Domination Mode, which is simply like an exhibition mode where you can set up your own matches and play with friends if you got any. The next is the main mode of single player called Road to the Strikers Cup. There are 3 cups in this mode to collect (including the Strikers Cup). The cups are more challenging and do take longer to do, but come on, only 3 cups is almost nothing. Then there is the Challenge mode where you are put in certain situations and you must accomplish a certain task (score 3 goals, get a shutout, etc.). This can be challenging as well, but this doesn't take long to do either. That's pretty much it for the single player, which is disappointing. There is a mode for beginners called Strikers 101 which is a training mode. Then there is online play. There is noticeable lag in this mode, and you pretty much can only face players from your region. Another disappointment is the moronic Friend Code system. Why can't you just use the Wii system code? Seriously, typing in 12-digit codes is no fun at all (plus just using the Wii system code would provide far more advantages). Other than that, it's a good thing they added online play. It does make up for the real disappointing single player.
The controls are fairly smooth in this game and are easy to learn. A to pass, B to shoot, C to use item, and Z to lob. To check players, you simply swing the Wiimote. As for the graphics, they are clearly improved and do look nice (though they are sometimes bland). The music is improved as well, though nothing is really memorable. Overall, the mechanics work fine in this game.
One problem with this game is the opponent AI. They tend to be either too easy or too cheap. One match, you could win like 20-0, the next match, you could lose like 3-0. After going through a whole cup, you could end up losing because the opponent is simply too cheap for you. It is a real apparent fault, and it just makes everything annoying. Also, this can be apparent on online play as well. You could be standing nowhere near the ball and get absolutely cranked. You might get an item that might compensate for this, but you also might not. Without the items, this game might not feel as much as a Mario game, but with them, it just feels far more annoying.
Also, in addition to receiving items, you might instead receive a special ability for your captain. Each have their own special ability (except Mario and Luigi have the same one... Well, they're both pretty much equivalent). Though some special attacks are just plain cheap, or are too superior. For example, Diddy Kong's special attack actually removes opponents from the playing field until a goal is scored. Meanwhile, Daisy's special attack just simply knocks down any surrounding players. That is almost not even comparable, and the power or offensive players have "dekes" that pretty much do the same thing. The special abilities or attacks are a nice new crazy addition, but just like items, they can get really annoying and cheap.
Overall, this is a really fun game, especially if you got some friends (either in your neighbourhood or your region with the online play), but the single player is lacking and is cheap. This game is seriously improved from the first one, but adding more to the single player would've helped a lot more. The new strategy elements, the megastrikes, the skillshots, and the online play are all great additions. Though as well, the items, the new special attacks and abilities, and the tougher enemy AI make the game seem annoying. The mechanics all work well though. I would recommend buying this game as long as if you got friends nearby or friends in your region with the game, cause then it will be a lot of fun. Though if you don't, then this game does make a nice rental to try out.