While manySuper Mariotitles got special treatment in 2020 during Mario’s 35th anniversary, other games went without too much acknowledgment. A title that’s gone without recognition for yearswould beSuper Mario Strikers, the (literally) electrifying five-a-side sports game that was released for the GameCube in 2005. After the title’s sat on many fans' revival wish lists, the game is finding new life on the Switch in June asMario Strikers: Battle League.
While the game was fun to play and served its purpose well as a soccer-based title, one thing that separatedMario Strikersfrom the crowd was how crude and violent it could be. The game set itself apart by giving itself an attitude; whereasMariowas usually all smiles, even withMario Kart. Instead of the usual brightSuper Marioaesthetics,Strikerssaw theMariocharacters taking the sport rather seriously, as they used Super Strikes and items to attack the competition.
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Mario Strikers' Appeal
While giving such a family-friendly character such as Mario an attitude might have ended up being a rather questionable choice, themore gritty nature ofMario Strikershelped it stand out. With fans' characters of choice leading a five-by-five team, be it regular matches, Grudge Matches, or any of the game’s other modes,Strikersmade itself into a unique experience that stuck with many of its players for how it did a lot of things different.
It also helps that being able to watch as a Green Koopa shell distracts a goalie and knocks your opponents into electric barricades makes scoring goals and beating the opponent feel incredibly satisfying, and also hilarious. While manyMariosports games, andevenMario Partyto a degree, present itself as a fun time to be had,Mario Strikersembraced the sweet competitive spirit. It took the competitive spirit that naturally comes out of sports and made it the spirit of the game. Even in this day in age, being that aggressively competitive in the open isn’t something many sports games do.
Mario Strikers Battle League’s Trailer
When it came tobringing backStrikersfor the Nintendo Switch, it seemed that the company was aware that the game wouldn’t have been the same without a similar aesthetic backing it up. With the announcement trailer ofMario Strikers: Battle League, players can look forward to yet another game of smashing their enemies into electric walls, while also literally punching and kicking them out of the way.
Fans can happily look forward toMario Strikersreturning properly, as the trailer showcases Yoshi panicking as he runs from different items that knock him around the field. There are also tackles, which can also be dodged, and Hyper Strikes that may completely knock enemies into the electric walls around the arena for a clean sweep of a victory. The trailer currently shows Rosalina as the only newcomer, butmany Rosalina fansare probably wondering just what she’ll bring to the table in a game full of roughhousing.
As much asMario Strikerswouldn’t be the same without the more aggressive take onaMariosports title, it’s safe to assume that some parts from the original title will be toned down. Nintendo is far stricter with its image these days, so naturally, the conglomerate won’t allow certain gestures in the game, even if Waluigi has kept his spot on the roster.
However, the game has already beenrated by the ESRB, and it sits at an E10+ despite what Nintendo normally aims for with its titles. There may be a chance that the game has more brutality to show that the current trailer has left as a surprise. Even despite how Nintendo has an image to keep up with regardingMario, it’s opted to make sureMario Strikers: Battle Leaguekept everything fans loved from the original, and it certainly helps make the game stand out as the series always has.
Mario Strikers: Battle Leaguereleases on May 20, 2025, for Nintendo Switch.
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