Developer – Next Level Publisher - Nintendo Features 1-4 Players Memory Card Progressive Scan Compatible 16x9 Widescreen Mario seems to be a sportsaholic lately as he has found himself participating in so many different sports games on so many Nintendo branded consoles. The latest sport for Mario to tackle (pun intended) is soccer. Developed by Next Level Games in Vancouver Canada, this game is a blast to play and once you get a friend or two over to join all will find a strange inability to put the controller down. Graphics Mario Strikers is a good looking game but those looking for graphics perfection maybe a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the game is a looker but in some ways there is something missing here. As seems to be the way lately, the game was very bright and colorful and even when played on a bigger screen still looked clean and crisp. Character models are pretty solid too and they animate quite well. Special moves also look great but I was surprised that there weren't an abundance of them for each character. I guess Next Level wanted to make signature moves for each player and keep them specific for each one. Special Effects are also quite abundant when playing Mario Strikers. Everything from well known bombs to the times when you knock your opponent into the electrified force-field looks great. I actually got quite a chuckle after a few of my characters got hit by a bomb. They continued to play but remained charred from the explosion. It is focus on details like this that I really appreciated. There are different stadiums and the main difference is mainly in the playing surface and the surrounding building. They look pretty good but they seem to miss that ‘Mario-land' feel to it. I think I can attribute this to the game itself being a hard fighting arcade soccer game and not some cute fluffy sports game that has been marioized. For those with the great displays, Mario Strikers supports Progressive Scan and 16x9 Widescreen modes. After playing the game at Next Level on their Sony rear projection TV, and at home on my DLP front projector, I can say that the game even looks better on these kinds of displays. If there is any negative to mention it is that the framerate takes a hit now and then. It isn't that often and I really don't know why it happens at all, but you will notice it now and then but it doesn't take away from the game's overall beauty. Sound One of the simplest ways to describe the audio in this game is good, but limited. There are plenty of sound effects for characters when they get hit by power up items or the electric fence, but once you have heard them all you will consistently hear them over and over again. The crowd is also interactive in the game as they cheer wildly for spectacular plays. And of course what would a soccer game be without the world renowned GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! Music is not a big factor in this game as all the action is on the field and the sound effects are what matters here. There is no commentating in the game. After speaking with Next Level on the day we were at their studios I can really understand why this is the case. This game moves pretty quickly in terms of the play and I don't think announcing could have kept up to the pace. You can bet dollars to dimes that it would have become too repetitive after sometime. Gameplay After spending time at Next Level's development office,and then playing the game at home, my biggest fear is that this game will not be looked at for what it is, a great multiplayer experience. Next Level has gone a route not seen with past Mario games, sports titles included, as they do not concern themselves with any semblance of a story. Many diehard Nintendo fans may see this as weak, but I applaud them as this is an arcade soccer game, so a story is not really needed at all. People have to remember that this is an arcade title through and through, so the official FIFA soccer rule book has been thrown out the door. Here the focus is on big tackles, power-up items and charged up super shots. There is an invisible electric fence around the field that many gamers will find themselves falling face first into as they are pummelled into it by a big tackle from their opponent. Sure, the game sticks to the main rule and focus of soccer, get the round ball into the opponent's goal at the other end however as you attempt to complete this feat your opponent will use everything at their disposal to stop you. This includes big tackles to items that will stop you in your tracks. Items follow the Mario way with turtle shells, big bombs and other recognizable fare. Using the X button allows one to launch an attack with what items you may have. The feeling of satisfaction when you launch an ice shell at your opponent and freeze them allowing you to steal the ball and score is a very rewarding experience indeed. Soccer purists will no doubt cringe at ideas like this, but who cares about them as this is an arcade title with arcade rules. The single player experience does exist, and in my mind it is not the focus of the game, but Next Level has made sure to include one in order to allow the lone gamer to play. One has the choice of 9 main characters, ranging from Mario, Peach to Waluigi or Donkey Kong. These main characters are the captains of the team and you only get one marquee character per side. Rounding out the rest of your four player team are three other characters that you choose from selection of minor players from other Mario games. I expect people to complain that they could not choose a team of all marquee characters, but this really didn't bother me as the gameplay itself really made up for this fact. The main focus in Strikers, and the single player mode, is the Cup and unlockable Super Cup Battles. These are basically tournaments which one would expect in a soccer game. Other modes include a quick Grudge Match (against Computer or Human), Custom Battle, and tutorial and trophy section. Computer AI isn't that bad and they can provide quite a challenge, especially in the higher skill level settings. All in all the inclusion of a single player mode is good but many may complain that is not as deep as it could be. Where this game really shines is the multiplayer mode. Using the 4 controller ports on the Gamecube multiplayer games can consist of 2 to 4 players. While at Next Level's offices we had the chance to hook up for quite a few multiplayer games. For an arcadey title there was some strategy to this game. As me and my partner were playing we were always looking at the possibilities for our opponents to pass. This would cause us to take out who we thought were the most likely candidates for them to pass to. If one of us was wrong this would usually open up a great scoring chance for them but if we were right we turned the tables on them. We also had a chance to watch various Next Level staff members play this game. It was quite a sight to behold as those who knew the game best really put on a show of skill. Novice players will be able to hold their own against more skilled players as basic functions are assigned to the main buttons. However it will only be a matter of time before the skilled player uses the nuances of the game and starts to distance themselves from the rookie player as they start to master the power up shot and learn when to use the right power up at the right time. Passing is important as well and a skilled player should become proficient at this skill to succeed. Conclusion Next Level has been given the keys to a marquee Nintendo franchise name and they have done the lineage proud with their latest game, Mario Strikers. Sure the single player game is not a deep soccer simulation but hey, this game is meant to be played in the multiplayer arena. With solid graphics, good sound and a really addictive multiplayer component, this game should be rated for what it is, an arcade soccer game that is meant to be played with others.