GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!
You take the pitch as Mario or his friends in five-on-five battles. The game is simple. Score more points than the opponent does. However, just like in real footie, this is not as simple as it sounds. You will have to fight thru strong defenders and one iron-wall keeper. Each goal is a hard-earned battle that is ultimately very satisfying to send that ball through the net. Shots are aided with a strong visual and audio flair that really gives you the feeling of firing the ball into the net. Graphics and sound are well done, with a certain cartoony flair that is easy on the eyes and entertaining to listen to. Not too much background music to speak of, but the sounds of the cheering crowd and gurgles of the other players being shocked on the surrounding electric fence are quite entertaining.
With no penalties to stop you, the games get quite insane. Slide tackles, crosschecks, head butts, Super-saian sized super strikes, and the regular Mario arsenal of bombombs and turtles shells are all par for the course, making each match literally explosive and very exciting. Soccer is a very violent sport, and it really shows itself in this game. An electric fence surrounds the field, and you are encouraged to regularly tackle your opponents into this wall. This is easily the most violent Mario title made. Moreover, just as a Mario title should be, the controls are simple enough to learn, and very much pick-up-and-play. But once you learn the advanced control mechanics and maneuvers, you can have an absolute blast with this game. The game is even more fun in groups, with an extensive multiplayer mode that can provide fun for hours.
Are there problems with this game? Well, if you are not playing this on a Wii, you can run into some frame rate issues (nothing game stopping, but annoying nonetheless), and the game can be a little boring in single player. Over all, however, Super Mario Strikers is a well-rounded and exciting arcade sports title that appeals to anyone looking for an adrenaline rush. Even if you are not a fan of soccer games, there is little denying the pure intensity and fun of this title.
Pros: Super-fast gameplay, tight and easy controls, excellent multiplayer options, great sound and graphical design.
Cons: Some frame rate issues, single player isn’t as exciting as the multiplayer