Review: Mario Strikers Battle League explained to parents

What parents need to know

Mario Strikers Battle League features characters from the Mario universe in soccer/football matches. On the menu, wild and whimsical games with powers drawn from the games, many characters, the ability to play up to 8 players on the same console, or 4 players online.

In France, the game was named Mario Strikers Battle League Football.

Mario Strikers Battle League Boxart Shared Screen

Buy Mario Strikers Battle League cartridge on Amazon.ca

Buy Mario Strikers Battle League digital version on Amazon.ca

Buy Mario Strikers Battle League in digital version on Humble Bundle

Possible configurations of the Nintendo Switch:

Requires to apprehend and understand the basics of the game to enjoy it.

Difficulty

Against the computer, there are quite tough tests but several levels of difficulty. Online, the level will be higher or lower depending on the opposing player.

Violence, fear, nudity?

Characters who play soccer/football. Sometimes you can shoot the ball at an opponent, he is then dizzy at that moment. Characters can be pushed into electrical barriers and be electrocuted. They can also take many objects such as bombs, bananas and shells.

Language level used

Adolescent language. Provocations between characters, and victory poses.

Positive message

Encourages to be social and to play as a team.

Minimum reading level required

Requires reading for years.

Additional costs ?

none.

Minimum level of execution on the controller required

Requires time to learn and train. Each of the players will have to go through the tutorial to understand what is happening. The action on the screen can be confusing for neophytes.

Even the tutorial is quite complicated and difficult to assimilate.

Game principle

(It is not necessary to have played the previous 2 games released on GameCube and Wii)

Mario Strikers: Battle League Football is the latest game in the Mario Strikers series.

Like previous games, it features a four-on-four combat sport (with a console-controlled goalkeeper) that combines football with Nintendo characters. It looks chaotic in the first few hours of play and looks childish, but it’s actually a highly competitive experience that requires skill, cunning, and quick reactions to win.

Each of the characters has special abilities that need to be used intelligently and you can also specify different tactical locations for each member of your team.

In each of the football matches, players are allowed to tackle, attack and knock out the players of the opposing team. They can also push them into the electrical barriers around the field. I do not understand why this possibility was added, the electrocuted opponent is then momentarily unable to move. I guess it’s to push the players to stay in the center of the field as much as possible, to avoid being vulnerable on the edges.

Added to this is the ability to load the ball when you pass it from one player to another, making it easier for you to score. You also have Mario Kart style bonuses that give you special abilities. In the manner of Mario Kart, when a team is too many goals behind, the chances of obtaining a star making invincible is increased and allows to guarantee a goal.

Finally, you can opt for a Hyper Strike that allows you to score multiple goals at once. The animation featuring each of the Hyper Strike is far too long and quickly becomes repetitive.

This latest iteration allows you to further customize your team by equipping it with equipment that not only changes its appearance, but also its statistics such as speed, strength and accuracy of passes. The game also expands the number of players who can compete with up to 8 players in two teams of only 4 locally.

Local game mode

Quick Battle

A simple football match with the rules you want.

Can be played locally from 1 to 8 players

In local communication of 1 to 2 players per console

Online from 1 to 2 players per console

Cup Battle

A series of single matches against the opponent controlled by the console. Similar to Mario Kart’s Grand Prix mode.

1 to 4 players simultaneously

Online game mode

Requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play online.

You can either play against opponents in singles matches. Either recruit people for your “club” and play against them.

Conclusion

Under its childish appearances in the Mario universe, the Mario Strikers Battle League game hides a very demanding game and unfortunately quite poor in content. Just like Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf Super Rush , you will have to take the time to learn the rules and persevere in order to triumph.

Solo players won’t have much to put under the spike, as no adventure or story mode is included. Only 10 characters and 5 stages are selectable. The stadiums are merged with each other at each match but this does not change much, apart from the scenery during the highlights.

It is also a pity that the online mode is limited to 4 players unfortunately, instead of 8 locally.

If you have friends ready to learn the game, or if you like to play online, Mario Strikers Battle League will please you. Otherwise it is better to wait because like Kirby Star Allies , Nintendo has planned and announced that it will update the game in the following months.

We can expect possible new characters especially, and perhaps new stadiums and game modes.

Buy Mario Strikers Battle League cartridge on Amazon.ca

Buy Mario Strikers Battle League digital version on Amazon.ca

Buy Mario Strikers Battle League in digital version on Humble Bundle