Spring Break
Mario and crew strike again and earn red cards in "Strikers Charged"
By: Dave Goncalves
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Originally published: 8/24/07 at 2:49 AM EST
Last update: 8/24/07 at 2:48 AM EST
Originally published: 8/24/07 at 2:49 AM EST
Last update: 8/24/07 at 2:48 AM EST
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Due to his massive marketing potential, Mario, of Super Mario Bros. fame, has been subjected to numerous sports related titles. Ranging from his exploits as a painter, kart racer, golfer, tennis player, et cetera, only a select group of his sports titles have received sequel releases. OK, maybe most of them did, but this year announces the release of Mario Strikers Charged, the Mario crews take on soccer. Facing unbelievable challenges and playing games of what seems like virtual "chicken," Strikers attacks and challenges player's senses and reflexes at lightning speeds.
Using the Wii-mote only to a certain level of its capabilities, the controls for the game feel pretty solid. Though it doesn't rely heavily on the gimmick of having a motion sensitive remote, the game manages to layout the controls in a manner that makes the game more than manageable. The only issue is that in order to play, a nun-chuck is required, which makes playing a 2 player game an additional $60 (the combined price, minus tax, of a new Wii-mote and nun-chuck). Using the control stick on the nun-chuck to move your character and the d-pad on the main remote to tackle makes defending and running simultaneously much easier, considering that the two commands are on two different remotes actually adds a surprising amount of flexibility. When in the heat of the game, the players arms can move about naturally, throwing their arms all over without losing grasp of the key components of the controller. Remember the Z-button on the N64 controller? The Wii-mote's B-button is located on the bottom of the controller much like the Z used to be, adding a bit more flexibility as the index finger rests right on top of it. B is the pass button and its easily accessible position allows players to make those game-breaker plays that are necessary in defeating the computer and pissing off their friends.
Graphically, the Wii isn't really a groundbreaking improvement from its predecessor, however, that doesn't mean games aren't looking much better. Strikers looks phenomenal. The characters are detailed beyond what we've seen in previous Mario sports titles. When smashed into a wall, the characters gain bruises and scratches that detail their faces and outfits. The arenas are each intricately designed with unbelievable detail. For instance, my favorite arena, the Lave Pit is excruciatingly well made. The light glow of the lava on the faces and surface of the arena, the dirt clouds from striking the ground, and animated flow and ebb of slowly shifting magma is just gorgeous. What really makes the arenas particularly wonderful is the interactivity. There is only one really non-gimmick arena, but you don't play a Mario sports title just to play the sport, to do that get Fifa 2007. There's a level where a hurricane is going on around the field, cows can be blown out into the arena and lightning strikes the ground, sometimes even hitting players and causing negative status effects or knocking the ball out of their control.
Using the Wii-mote only to a certain level of its capabilities, the controls for the game feel pretty solid. Though it doesn't rely heavily on the gimmick of having a motion sensitive remote, the game manages to layout the controls in a manner that makes the game more than manageable. The only issue is that in order to play, a nun-chuck is required, which makes playing a 2 player game an additional $60 (the combined price, minus tax, of a new Wii-mote and nun-chuck). Using the control stick on the nun-chuck to move your character and the d-pad on the main remote to tackle makes defending and running simultaneously much easier, considering that the two commands are on two different remotes actually adds a surprising amount of flexibility. When in the heat of the game, the players arms can move about naturally, throwing their arms all over without losing grasp of the key components of the controller. Remember the Z-button on the N64 controller? The Wii-mote's B-button is located on the bottom of the controller much like the Z used to be, adding a bit more flexibility as the index finger rests right on top of it. B is the pass button and its easily accessible position allows players to make those game-breaker plays that are necessary in defeating the computer and pissing off their friends.
Graphically, the Wii isn't really a groundbreaking improvement from its predecessor, however, that doesn't mean games aren't looking much better. Strikers looks phenomenal. The characters are detailed beyond what we've seen in previous Mario sports titles. When smashed into a wall, the characters gain bruises and scratches that detail their faces and outfits. The arenas are each intricately designed with unbelievable detail. For instance, my favorite arena, the Lave Pit is excruciatingly well made. The light glow of the lava on the faces and surface of the arena, the dirt clouds from striking the ground, and animated flow and ebb of slowly shifting magma is just gorgeous. What really makes the arenas particularly wonderful is the interactivity. There is only one really non-gimmick arena, but you don't play a Mario sports title just to play the sport, to do that get Fifa 2007. There's a level where a hurricane is going on around the field, cows can be blown out into the arena and lightning strikes the ground, sometimes even hitting players and causing negative status effects or knocking the ball out of their control.
