Nintendo has frequently released family-focused sports games in recent years. From Mario Tennis Aces to Mario Golf: Super Rush, the company has put out multiple games that have each been met with praise upon their release. After its announcement at the February 2022 Nintendo Direct, Mario Strikers: Battle League will join that list. It's the first soccer-centric Mario title that has been released in 15 years, and will look to capture the hearts of players for the first time since the early years of the Nintendo Wii.
The last entry in the Mario Strikers series was 2007's Mario Strikers Charged, which used similar mechanics as the GameCube original but implemented small quirks that made use of the Wii console's hardware. It was met with favorable reviews, so it's hard to believe it's been so long since Nintendo tested the waters. In 2022, the series is making a comeback on the wildly successful Switch, and as it's been a while since players honed their skills on the soccer field, there's a great chance Mario Strikers: Battle League will be another hit.
Mario Strikers' History
Mario Strikers is one of the many sports that its titular character has taken part in, with a new game centered around a different activity releasing every few years. Mario has taken to the tennis court, found success on the golf course, and even swung for the fences with two baseball games on Wii and GabeCube respectively. With so many events comes a lengthy wait between entries, and Mario Strikers has waited two console generations.
Mario Strikers Charged was one of the Wii's most beloved sports games. It offered a soccer experience different from the ones found with FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer, as it had the action-packed arcade gameplay that fans had come to expect from the Mario Kart series. Though its single-player options were limited, online availability was surprisingly smooth and offered fun that lasted longer than many expected. Mario Strikers: Battle League will look to replicate this, and has a great opportunity to be a success in the competitive gaming scene like Super Smash Bros. before it.
Battle League's Budding Potential
Whereas the Wii seemed better suited to activity or fitness games thanks to its motion controls, the Nintendo Switch is not short of Mario sports games. Over the years it has proven that the console is more than capable of housing games like Mario Golf: Super Rush, which has been instrumental in reviving the genre. The Switch, with its massive popularity and impressive hardware, has found fans in both casual families and hardcore gamers.
The Switch's online functionality will hopefully improve the experience in Mario Strikers: Battle League, and it would do well to follow the footsteps of Rocket League with regards to future content. The game has a lot of potential, even if it was to utilize a similar gameplay formula to 2007's Mario Strikers Charged. Bringing such an enjoyable game design to a current system would be enough to get by, but with the Switch wielding features that the Wii didn't, it could be something special if executed well.
A lot has changed since the last Mario Strikers. The hardware is remarkably different, provoking new mechanics to be explored in Mario Strikers: Battle League as a real home run for Nintendo. Mario's take on the genre is one that has wielded consistently positive results, but the newest title is in a great position to succeed. Mario sports games have flourished on the Switch, and all signs point to Battle League being no exception.
Mario Strikers: Battle League releases June 10 for Nintendo Switch.
