Mario Strikers: Battle League Football review – a funny old game
Super Mario fires up his aggression for his third and best outing on the football pitch, in what is a surprisingly involved footy sim.
Nintendo’s sporting ventures used to be an event. They might’ve been profitable stop-gaps between the plumber’s blockbuster platformers, but on the Nintendo 64 and GameCube they rarely felt like one. Mario Tennis and Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour were essential multiplayer cornerstones, designed for those who find serious sports sim unappealing but are still attracted to the basic ideas behind them.
Since then, Mario’s P.E. lessons have faded in star power. While they’ve continued to sell well, they’ve felt increasingly disposable. It’s a telling sign that Mario Golf: Super Rush, released this time last year, now has practically zero presence on Twitch. It might have been supported with DLC until November, but the core package wasn’t built to sustain any meaningful longevity. It was just a quick throwaway to boost financials during a summer lull.
As such, Mario Strikers: Battle League Football, a sequel to 2007’s Mario Strikers Charged on the Wii, might be approached with some hesitancy in 2022. Thankfully, despite some similar shortcomings, the foundation here is stronger and layered enough that it feels built for a longer lifespan – if the promised DLC can address some of the drawbacks.
If you’re unfamiliar with Mario Strikers, this is a five-on-five football sim with most of the rules stripped out and Mushroom Kingdom violence switched on. There’s no referee, offside rule, or any of the other annoying things about actual football, but there is charged shots, Bob-ombs, and Wario launching the ball from his caboose. With its speed and aggression, it feels closer to ice hockey most of the time –
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