If you want a team with one ultra-speedy attacker and a really strong defender, you can spend your coins to collate that sort of gear. You can purchase visors that boost your speed, for example, that adds a level of choice to proceedings. That said, there are plenty of options to customise the existing roster with gear that changes your stats. Notable omissions include Daisy, King Boo, and Birdo, and the lack of a character creator to add your Mii to the action seems like a missed opportunity. At launch there are ten characters to choose from, which is a good amount, but lacking when compared to the Mario Kart series, for example. One thing that may disappoint fans is the range of characters on offer. Combine that with a range of Mario-inspired stadium layouts, such as Mushroom Hills and Bowser's Castle, and you've got a Switch title that looks as good as anything else out on the system. They sadly aren't particularly reactive to the on-field events - no cooing at a harsh tackle or celebrating a goal, for example - but there's a tangible atmosphere to each match. First-party Nintendo games always have a certain level of polish, and this is no different, with impressive character models and detailed stadiums, teeming with animated spectators watching the action. Alongside that is the Hyper Strike move, where you'll need to collect a special pickup before sending a supersonic blast at goal, in the hope of scoring double points.įootball games are never renowned for putting visual fidelity first, but Mario Strikers: Battle League more than looks the part. It adds a veneer of luck, hoping you get an offensive powerup if you're a few goals behind. Random boxes will drop from the crowd sporadically throughout matches, containing anything from mushroom speed boosts to red shells that wipe out the nearest opposing player. It's more than just about footballing prowess though because powerups and special moves are also key to success. However, just like Mario Kart, Battle League is designed to welcome newcomers with open arms by never making itself too complicated. Of course, seasoned football fans can experiment with the more advanced controls, including lofted through balls and passes ricocheting off the walls to their intended destination. You'll rarely find yourself worrying too much about passing to teammates, instead focusing on tackling opponents out of the way and taking well-placed shots at the Boom Boom goalkeepers. That's because the gameplay loop is very easy to get to grips with, even if matches are lightning-fast in their pace. Even if you don't care for sports games at all, Battle League does enough to entice newcomers by never placing too heavy an emphasis on sporting prowess or tactical nous. You don't need to know your Messi from your Maldini to appreciate the simplicity of the concept. In that sense, it's probably the best arcade football game out there. Mario Strikers: Battle League is a confident return to form that warrants the fifteen-year wait. Luckily, the time I've spent with the latest entry proves that the undeniable charm of seeing Nintendo icons duke it out on the pitch hasn't wavered one bit. The series has lain dormant since 2007's Mario Strikers Charged on the Wii, with fans wondering whether a sequel would ever see the light of day. One of the surprise reveals in a presentation laden with new games, it was the next logical step after Mario Tennis Aces in 2018 and Mario Golf: Super Rush in 2021. That's why the arrival of Mario Strikers: Battle League, Nintendo's arcadey spin on the sport that first debuted on the GameCube, was such an enticing prospect when announced at this February's Nintendo Direct. While those days may sadly be long gone, my love for any kind of football game has never wavered. My final resort was plugging in an AFK second controller, leaving the opposition entirely idle so I could actually score. Some of my earliest memories in gaming involve playing various mid-noughties FIFA entries against my brother and dad, losing almost every time.
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