A game about playing a sport has higher dramatic stakes than games where Mario literally saves the universe.Įnhancing all of this is the stellar presentation and bouncy animation. It’s not that violent, but sprinkling in just a little danger into Mario’s otherwise safe world really amps up the excitement. Instead of happily jumping through mushroom fields, Mario and friends strap on battle-ready combat armor and slam each other into electrified fences while hard rock music blares. Mario Strikers: Battle League brings things full circle, as the first Strikers game was the initial partnership between the two companies.Įven if you didn’t know this backstory, Mario Strikers: Battle League has a unique, Next Level vibe that fans love. After working its magic on Luigi’s Mansion and Punch-Out!!, Next Level Games was acquired by Nintendo. One reason Mario Strikers went on hiatus might be because the developer, Next Level Games, has been extremely busy. Feeling even more devious? Fake out opponents by initiating a strike only to cancel it with a dodge. Charging the strike takes time and leaves you vulnerable, but you can score two points at once if you pull it off. In addition, your team gains access to a powerful Hyper Strike shot by snagging its orb when it appears on that field. For example, you can trip up opponents with bananas and shells, Mario Kart-style. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Mario sports game if things didn’t get silly. Mario Strikers: Battle League isn’t a fighting game in disguise, unlike Knockout City or Mario Tennis Aces, but it has enough depth that you’ll want to play through the tutorial before attempting a serious match.
You can also offensively tackle opponents to steal the ball or defensively tackle teammates to boost them forward. While playing alone, swapping between characters puts them in a winning position. With the right timing, you can give the ball a boost as you pass it to your teammate or charge it slightly to increase your shot accuracy. Moves are easy to perform, but the game requires you to execute fast tactics in the heat of battle.
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