Mario Strikers: Battle League is the long-awaited return of the Mario Strikers franchise, with the last game being released in 2007 for that Wii. Developed by Next Level Games and authored by Nintendo, Mario Strikers: Battle League is available now for the Nintendo Switch.
Mario Strikers: Battle League is, at its core, a game about playing soccer. It’s sort of such as the popular FIFA series if you replaced lifelike graphics with top-notch animation and realistic gameplay with over-the-top special moves and items. That is to say, it’s really nothing beats FIFA except for the truth that both games incorporate some type of soccer being played. You can choose from several popular Mario characters (more about that later) and only abide by yourself or team up with friends for many excellent 4-on-4 action. The game is simple to understand too, which allows players of all ages to obtain the experience. High-level players also aren’t omitted, as online play can be quite challenging and competitive.
At launch, the characters available to play in Mario Strikers: Battle League are Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Peach, Yoshi, Toad, Rosalina, Wario, and Waluigi. If I’m being honest, since Mario Strikers: Charged in 2007 had 12 playable characters and 10 sidekick teammates to select from, it’s an incredibly disappointing roster. Nintendo has announced more characters take presctiption the way via free updates, but there's no known timetable for when those might come. Each character has their own unique stats and skills, making completing your team a very strategic endeavor, but the limited selection of characters means the optimal strategy is going to be figured out soon and also the “meta” is going to be extremely limited.
In addition to the lack of characters, the absence of a tale mode is quite disappointing. A good single-player campaign could help make up for the lack of characters by giving the ones that do appear some depth, but sadly we don’t get that. The sport only comes with a cup battle mode that allows players on a local console, as much as four players total, to take on computer opponents in six different tournament-style cups. When you beat all six cups, there is an unlockable galactic mode which makes the cups tougher. You also unlock the Bushido gear, which provides a slightly higher bonus than the gear possibilities in the beginning.
Speaking of equipment, let’s talk about the main unlockables hanging around so far. Each character has four slots for gear, with each slot having five different items available to buy with the coins earned through playing matches. The problem is that every character has the exact same options with regards to upgradeable gear. Sure, each gear type looks different with respect to the character, however the stat boosts are the same and supply only a minimal strategic challenge for players seeking to craft the best player lineup possible. The Bushido gear unlocked with the cup battle mode happens to be the only gear that isn't available for purchase from the beginning, also it could be nice to see other kinds of unlockable items obtainable in the future.
Other than the cup battle mode, the only real other gameplay options are quick battles and Strikers Club. Quick battles are simply one-off games, ideal for anyone looking to get a game in but don’t have the time to commit to a complete cup. Strikers Club mode allows players to get together online and form a club where each player can earn points for his or her club and rise up the online division rankings. It’s very similar to the internet divisions within the FIFA games, and it’s a neat method for friends to team up and help their club reach the very top. The rewards are minimal though, with coins and tokens being awarded that can help buy upgrades for individual players or for the club in general. I’d want to see more options here, but the baseline mode is still quite enjoyable.
Mario Strikers: Battle League may be barebones, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. More characters, customization options, and game modes could really help improve the game, however the package delivered on release still holds incredible replay value. It’s a game worth coming back to over and over again, whether with friends or on your own. Over-the-top action and also the stylized Mario look make Mario Strikers: Battle League probably the most fun sports game experiences, I simply hope more is added soon so it doesn’t get stale after a few months.
Mario Strikers: Battle League has gone out now on Nintendo Switch
