Super Mario Strikers

By Tom Bramwell Published 22 June, 2005

Go team!

Games journalists are often accused of championing silly little semi-mediocre games because they want to sound clever. Well, I have long since given up on sounding clever, so I'm quite content to say whatever the hell I like. For example: SEGA Soccer Slam was brilliant fun, and its reception on GameCube and latterly PS2 and Xbox was downright maddening. Not least because I'd dig it out of a Friday night and my assembled chums would start, "Woah, woah... I heard that was awful." This angers me. You... wouldn't... like... the feeble joke I thought of wheeling out there. But, if you played it, you probably would like Soccer Slam.

The same is about to be true of Super Mario Strikers. I can see it happening. Barring a catastrophe, this is going to be brilliant fun - especially in multiplayer. And I bet it gets ripped apart by bored reviewers. And you know what would be really annoying? If they ripped into it because it's basically the same as SEGA Soccer Slam. Because it is. It really is worryingly close. But you know what? I don't care. Do you know how many copies Soccer Slam sold in the UK? It was actually less than the number of games I own in total.

Anyway. All this anger has two goals: 1) to illustrate that Super Mario Strikers is pretty similar to SEGA Soccer Slam, a game with which it shared some dev team members as far as I can work out, and which was brilliant fun and underrated, and 2) to call bored reviewers' bluffs whenever it comes out. Hopefully they'll decide to mark it up to show me up. Well, if this continues heading in the direction it currently is, then it deserves to be bought by those of you who don't own Soccer Slam, which is the vast majority of you, so I'm not that bothered. [Editor's note: Tom is genuinely ill at the moment, and, um, this might be influencing the tone of his copy. A little bit.]

'Super Mario Strikers' Screenshot 1

Moving on to the game, then, it basically works like this: you have about five players a side, one of whom's a goalkeeper who can't leave his area, and one of whom's a familiar Mario series type. In the case of my demo we had Mario on one side and Donkey Kong on the other. The rest are Koopa Troopas or Toad types. The pitch is quite small and the ball can't go off it thanks to electrified boundaries. The physics and collision detection are extremely impressive. The object is to score goals, amazingly. And, as far as rules go, that's about it; you can clobber the hell out of people to win the ball and that, my friends, is where the frenzied fun is most acute.

Controls are basic. You hold the left trigger to run, which exposes you to easier tackling, you press A to pass and press or hold B to shoot. You can of course tackle and, using the C-stick, perform little spinny flair moves in a manner that's sure to have Electronic Arts reaching for their Big Book of Stupid Sports Trademarks in search of some random infringement.

The joy of it is that scoring isn't piss-easy. The goalie is capable of clubbing things away and fending off the brutality of your front-men, and although you can send some impressive arcing shots goalward, they won't always go in. The surprising complexity of the engine means it's possible to have the ball rolling across the goal-line, flying off at unusual angles, hitting posts and bouncing back to the keeper, and generally behaving with the degree of randomness we all want to see from the sport of football, and with the added mash-their-legs tackling system you can upset just about anybody's preparations to shoot.

'Super Mario Strikers' Screenshot 2

As you move toward goal, there seem to be a couple of ways of setting yourself up in a manner most likely to result in a goal. First, you can lay the ball off to a team-mate, basically doing the old "A and then B" routine. This gives the ball a fair old thwack, but it isn't going to work most of the time, despite the handy slow motion routine that accompanies it. The better and more spectacular option is similar to Soccer Slam's, whereby you hold down the B button and a meter pops up. In Soccer Slam you'd try and position a player on a glowing star having teed the ball up. Here you have to hold the button and then, as a ticker moves from one side of the meter to the other, hit the B button to try and land it on two thin green strips. Think of it like the service meter in a tennis game. And try not to get clobbered during your preparations, because it takes a while, and the defenders really will go for you at this stage.

If you do manage to pull it off, most of the time it's going to pummel its way into the back of the net. Assuming you're cunning enough to aim it at an unguarded area - and the game doesn't give the opposition player any visual indicator of where it's going this time, unlike Soccer Slam. Best of all, if you can give the ball to your star player to score, he'll net two points rather than just one - and lay on a gorgeous CG animation to boot, rather like the power shots in Mario Tennis. Yes, it's an aberration. Yes, it's not something FIFA would approve of. (Well, Sepp Blatter might, but he's a bit eccentric.) And yes, it's going to rankle the average "real football" fan. But if you ask me, working in concert with the excellent ball physics and well-balanced panic on both sides, it makes for a multiplayer game that rarely lets up. It's like the principles of end-to-end basketball applied to football - and of course in football we care so much more about the individual points.

'Super Mario Strikers' Screenshot 3

There's mania on both sides. As a final example, the other day I played it against a chap I'd never met. Before long we were quite chatty, giggling along to our on-screen antics, and despite the fact I had never met this guy before, we had one of those gaming moments. With seconds left and me a goal behind, I scampered forward and blasted a shot goalwards. Save. Rebound! Save. Second rebound! It just scrambles in. Cue a bit of leaping and mutual exclamations - and the realisation it was worth two points. And I'd won. We'd both been hammering the pad with a reasonable chance of success on both sides, and had an absolute blast. So much so that I decided to use the expression "absolute blast", despite hating it. That's what you want from an arcade footy game, surely?

So then. Super Mario Strikers gets a big thumbs-up for now. Presumably it won't whenever it comes out, but if - and this is a serious "if" - it manages to provoke this kind of reaction when it's done, I'll definitely be playing it.

Super Mario Strikers is due out exclusively on GameCube. We're currently awaiting news of a release date.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (54) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • spidermanalf #1 7 years ago

    I have sega soccer slam for XB and it is great for a post pub blast! Especially when you start pulling off turbo goals!

  • mad_caddy #2 7 years ago

    Sega soccer slam with characters we all recognise......i'm already sold!

  • Genji #3 7 years ago

    /battens down the hatches for the "let's give Mario a rest" comments

  • joey #4 7 years ago

    He's not fat just big boned!

  • TILT #5 7 years ago

    Sounds fun. :-) Hey, I know a site where a bored reviewer slammed down Donkey Konga 2 down hard... and not because it was a sequel. I'm sure it was no bluff, though.

  • therev #6 7 years ago

    Oh! Oh! I bought Sega Soccer Slam!

    Course, I took it back a couple of days later when it turned out to be awful, but I did buy it.

  • Blerk #7 7 years ago

    Are those pictures from cut-scenes? 'cos that viewing angle and the distance betwixt players and camera is not going to make for 'great football gaming'.

  • Derblington #8 7 years ago

    It will be mine!

  • timo180 #9 7 years ago

    http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/sports/sup ermariostrikers/media.html

    Nice video clip.

  • kflarsen #10 7 years ago

    Ooh! It's a game from Nintendo. With Mario! This time, he's playing football. What will they think of next?

  • Domstercool #11 7 years ago

    It got gamespots sports game of E3 2005 :)

  • Genji #12 7 years ago

    Lucky I battened down those hatches!

  • Huntcjna #13 7 years ago

    Excellent article I bought sega soccer slam and it sits next to my copy of NBA street 2 for great post pub entertainment, will definatley be keeping an eye on that one

  • smelly #14 7 years ago

    Genji - lol.

    doubt he even read the preview... dummass fangirl (s)he probably is.

  • krudster #15 7 years ago

    /realises there's another two Mario-related features in the can...

  • krudster #16 7 years ago

    (actually, make that three)

  • Genji #17 7 years ago

    Hey, if they're good games...

  • itamae #18 7 years ago

    " /realises there's another two Mario-related features in the can..."

    But they are about jump-n-runs, right? Right? Bloody hatches. ;-)

  • mad_caddy #19 7 years ago

    I dont care if they do re-use mario over and over again he's a recognised face and without him the games wouldnt shift as much.


    look at super mario "2" if they'd have thrown that out in it's original state it would have sank!

  • kflarsen #20 7 years ago

    What, so pointing out that Mario playing football (sorry, "soccer";) isn't exactly the gaming revelation of the new millenium makes me a fanboy? What are you, stupid or something? But I suppose that kind of comments are cheap and make you feel good about yourself.

  • JHuxley #21 7 years ago

    Nintendo have a wealth of valuable IP's out there, it would be interesting to see them make better use of them outside the Smash Bros games. A 'Nintendo Soccer' would be a much more enticing prospect IMHO.

  • Stoatboy #22 7 years ago

    I'd be much more interested in this if it didn't feature Mario and chums, to be honest. I find the whole Mario thing twee, charmless (apart from Yoshi, perhaps), irritating and, well, yes, childish.

  • smelly #23 7 years ago

    "exactly the gaming revelation of the new millenium "

    An innovative football game with the emphasis on fun rather than reality? Hang on, let me sift through the millions of other games doing the same thing.

    Oh, you mean just because they're using one of their most recognisable characters that makes it bad?

    Im sure sony/microsoft would push their most recognisable brands just as much, if not more.. if they had any...

  • Kurgan #24 7 years ago

    I think the idea of Super Mario Strikers is a sound one, especially if the game that it apes (SEGA Soccer Slam, which to be honest I'd never heard of until this article) is as good as everyone thinks. The fact that Nintendo are using their mascot to head up the game just means that they're trying to ensure someone buys the game.
    'Good game with nobodies = few sales'. Maybe 'Good game with Mario and co. = sales'. It's worth a shot...

  • Nikanoru #25 7 years ago

    How come I never see any comments about the 20485th time "guy" has starred in a generic shooting/racing/sports game?

    I think Mario in a soccer game is quite refreshening.




    That said, soccer and its fans suck saggy hairy man balls.

  • sickpuppysoftware #26 7 years ago

    How different from soccer slam is this? Just wondering as I'm sure it'll be much cheaper to buy unless your football games just have to have apes and plumbers.

  • Nemesis #27 7 years ago

    /is sold.

  • smelly #28 7 years ago

    "That said, soccer and its fans suck saggy hairy man balls"

    Whereas i agree with you.. If they can make a game along lines of mario tennis where people who dont even like tennis can enjoy it... then that's great for me.

    I hate football.. This looks like it might be good for me.. Innovative(ish - hadnt heard of soccerslam until today) and fun.. and featuring mario... great! Works for me!

    Im 35, I like cartoony stuff. Seems to me the only people worried about things being kiddy are kids.. More fool them.. I hope they're enjoying their 10 billionth racing game *yawn* :-)

  • trevd72 #29 7 years ago

    get ready to wait 6 months after the US release for ours. or import it and play with freeloader and tell them you will not be shit on anymore.......the same message to sony too.

    Edited by 1 at 22/06/05 @ 13:10

  • caligari #30 7 years ago

    I usually LURVE games that include Super Bob Hoskins.

    But Mario Power Tennis was just NASTY...

  • Genji #31 7 years ago

    "Doesn't mean it's not a valid argument. I'd like to see the very talented and creative minds at Nintendo bring some new IP's to these kinda games."

    They put their talent and creation into the gameplay instead. Having Mario in it is only really a cosmetic choice, obviously a ploy to shift more copies. You can't sell a game on innovation alone. In Japan, he's more recognisable than Mickey Mouse. People like franchises, and Nintendo has created some of the best. I'd be more inclined to complain if the games were crap but, well, they're not.

  • ali-uk #32 7 years ago

    "I usually LURVE games that include Super Bob Hoskins."

    Quote of the day.

  • Sid-Nice #33 7 years ago

    Italian footballer's to me mean, a 0-0 draw and penalties. Seriously I love Soccer Slam, this and Beach Spikers are the two most underrated or under-purchased games of this generation. Pick-up and play is what they have in abundance.

  • Toonster #34 7 years ago

    let's see... this is probably Mario's 238th title on the GC. Don't get me wrong, I like Mario, but there's this, mario baseball and DDR (WTF?) What's next, Mario Croquet? I want another platformer!

  • #35 7 years ago

    Question for Eurogamers - which Tennis game do you prefer?

    SNES Super Tennis or GC Mario Power Tennis?

    I'm inclined towards the SNES title. I think the gameplay is more accessible.

  • smelly #36 7 years ago

    "I want another platformer! "

    There's one on it's way for the DS... be patient young sky walker.. :-)

  • Mint #37 7 years ago

    Where the hell do you get those sales figures from anyway? I can never seem to find them.

  • ave #38 7 years ago

    Smelly:

    "An innovative football game with the emphasis on fun rather than reality? Hang on, let me sift through the millions of other games doing the same thing."

    Guess you didnt read the preview either, before laying into someone else because you doubted they read the preview.

    "If they ripped into it because it's basically the same as SEGA Soccer Slam. Because it is. It really is worryingly close."

    Flametard.
    Edited by 2 at 22/06/05 @ 15:18

  • Ryu #39 7 years ago

    Sega Soccer Slam was class

    the Lightning team were waaay overpowered though.

  • smelly #40 7 years ago

    ave:

    Your correct.. one game which was launched ages ago which no-one bought is REALLY like sifting through millions of games doing the same thing.

    How wrong i was!

    ????

  • gerg #41 7 years ago

    I was worried when Nintendo announced taht all they had left for the GC is Mario sports games. Now, although I probably still won't buy them, it's not half as bad.

  • ProfessorLesser #42 7 years ago

    /Defends Smelly's honour with big sword

  • ave #43 7 years ago

    "Your correct.. one game which was launched ages ago which no-one bought is REALLY like sifting through millions of games doing the same thing.

    How wrong i was! "

    Oh, there are over a million games now? You use hyperbole, and then respond as if the hyperbole was true, and thus you win.

    Also, respond to point #2, i.e., you didnt read the preview either.

    Tard.

  • ekko #44 7 years ago

    I bought Sega Soccer Slam on the Cube, mainly because it was the only decent football game for it at the time (and still is until Mario Soccer?)

    Yes I have Pro Evo/Winning Eleven and enjoy it, Soccer Slam is also good fun too.

    I knew it didn't set the world alight in sales, but I thought it reached top ten (although that's probably not saying much).

  • Trowel #45 7 years ago

    Flame wars over Mario playing football. Supoib.

    The Internet has finally reached its zenith!!

  • Balfa #46 7 years ago

    Genji: Mario is actually more recognisable than Mickey Mouse worldwide, not just in japan.

    Mint: Can't remember the name of the statistics company, but they provide sales statistics for journalists eyes only, they don't release them to the public. Journalists are then allowed to comment on the statistics, but can't quote actual numbers, etc.

    Everyone else: I'm definitely buying this game :D And Mario Baseball. That'll be fantastic. Like the old RBI games on NES and PC :)

    Nintendo have been doing tonnes of sports games since The Beginning, but they only copped on that they can sell more if they shoehorn Mario into them later on. There was golf, ice hockey, tennis, soccer, baseball, etc. on the NES long before mario put on his shinguards. These are still the same old sports game series, and they're still as simple, pure and fun as they always have been, but now mario's in them.

    As for more mario platformers, the NES and GB are the only consoles that got three of them (plus the spinoff warioland games on GBC and GBA). SNES got marioworld and spinoff yoshi's island (i won't count allstars). N64 got mario64 and spinoff yoshi's story (i don't think there were any other games). GC got Mario Sunshine and spinoff Luigi's Mansion and might possibly get Mario 128 (but i'd put money on it being a Revolution title). So he's pretty much on track. There are only so many goombas to be mashed! Give the guy a break :)
    Edited by 2 at 23/06/05 @ 04:28

  • Genji #47 7 years ago

    I stand corrected!

  • Galvanizer #48 7 years ago

    FINALLY!!!!

    The GameCube answer to Konami's Pro Evolution!

  • smelly #49 7 years ago

    Can someone please explain to me what "ave" is upset about?

    I dont quite get what he's moaning about, or whether he is actually AGREEING with me?

    yes.. hang on.. just re-read it.. he just really doesnt get irony does he?

    Okay.. in terms an american president could understand : When I said "let me sift thru the millions of games doing the same thing".. I was saying "Apart from sega soccer slam which is a yonks old game, there arent exactly a LOT of (i.e. any) football games out there which are innovative, fun, quick to pick up and play, etc etc"

    See?

    I'm not slagging the game off you monkey!
    If it does for soccer/footy what mario tennis did for tennis.. i'll be first in the queue!

  • sickpuppysoftware #50 7 years ago

    Here's some innovation for you, how about a game where Mario actually does a plumbing job. I can picture rotating the analogue stick to tighten a washer and I'm working on how to incorperate bored, barely covered housewives.

  • rstilekar #51 6 years ago

    What a fantastic game really it is!

  • rstilekar #52 6 years ago

    What a fantastic game really it is!

  • morriss #53 6 years ago

    /wants

  • ImGameCube #54 6 years ago

    Typical day of a healthy game reviewer:
    Get up. Have a Cup of Tea. Play video games for 8 hours. Write review.

    Typical day of a sick game reviewer:
    Get up. Have a Lemsip. Play video games for 8 hours. Write review.

    I'd love a day off work so I can play video games all day!
    :)