I can’t quite a remember a time when Mario and his friends/frenemies weren’t actively engaged in a whole host of different sporting activities and this month (June 2022), they’ve decided to get back on the football field and go up against one another in perhaps the most frantic and chaotic matches of ‘the beautiful game’ ever seen.
Mario Strikers: Battle League Football follows on from the huge success of other Super Mario titles that tackled the sport. Nintendo have a history of adding very little if they have a hit on their hands, but here, there seems to be more than just a small addition to the foundations that were laid before it. This feels like a fully-fleshed out and expanded video game, separate entirely from its predecessors despite their clear inspiration.
What does become quickly apparent is that this is a game you'll want to be playing with friends or online. There are limited modes on offer for single players and they quickly become dated. Whilst you’ll want to win the cup tournaments (that can be more challenging than you’d imagine), it’s when you take on local or online multiplayer that Battle League really comes into its own.
Playing against other humans means that every single match-up is unpredictable. You have no idea what you’re going to be facing, because of the wide variety of powers and abilities that can be utilised to get the upper hand. It’s a volatile and chaotic affair from the moment the first whistle blows, right up until the final few seconds, with no referee to stop you from engaging in malicious acts. Violence is encouraged, as you blast through your opponent by any means possible to get the win.
A roster of 10 characters (with more promised in DLC at some point in the future) means that you can pick your perfect five, each with their own individual stats such as strength and speed. This allows you to put together a team to match your playstyle, along with additional gear that will elevate your gameplay to that next level. Whilst the controls are simple, they do still take some practice to perfect – at least for this humble gamer!
Whilst this is definitely a game you’ll play in bite-sized chunks here and there, rather than consistently and rampantly, there was perhaps nothing more rewarding than hearing my little brother laugh as he put a handful of goals past my players, whooping my butt and leaving my ego a little bruised. This is a title that will bring family and friends together and for that alone, it’s worth celebrating.
Mario Strikers: Battle League Football is available now on Nintendo Switch. A code was given to Female First in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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Tagged in Nintendo Super Mario