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Mario Smash Football Mini Review
Jon Wilcox
25/11/2005
TVG grabs a football and takes to the pitch in Mario's latest sporting title...
He's a Super legend; a tennis legend, and more recently a dancing and baseball legend, but now Mario has returned to the world in Mario Smash Football. Unveiled at E3 with overly rapturous applause it seemed that the pint-sized plumber had been once again taken advantage ofâ¦where was Mario 128? (Let it dropâ¦Ed.) Anyway, six months on and Mario Smash Football is now on European shores having undergone a name change from the earlier Super Mario Strikers. The stadia have been built, the crowds have gathered, and the teams are walking onto the pitch, but how does it cope with bringing a Mario twist to the beautiful game?
Point number one to make is this: forget the official FIFA rules and regulations because aside from getting the ball into the back of the net, everything else is different. This isn't a game about replicating the complex facets of football, this is all about the classic Nintendo desire: to be fun, which to be honest, it is.
Besides the instant action 'Grudge Match' the game focuses on two main elements: a Cup Challenge and (wait for it) a Super Cup Challenge, which is locked at first. In addition those options Smash Football also features playable tutorials that help gamers learn some of the more exotic football manoeuvres in the game such as executing a Smash Strike or fire a power upâ¦
Up to four players can take part in the games themselves, which much like other Mario sports games are split into several cups including the Mushroom Cup and Flower Cup; the aim is to win the Bowser Cup and ultimately the Super Bowser Cup - though one step at a time. The structure is Round Robin so each team plays each other once in a cup competition. A win gets three points and a draw just one, and though they aren't seen, goal differences do count so it's imperative that players score as many goals as they can in a match. There are nine team captains (one locked) with most of the major characters from the Mario universe available including Wario, Princesses Peach and Daisy, Yoshi, Luigi, and of course Mario himself. From there it's the small matter of choosing your co-players from a small selection of other characters (including Toad, Koopas, and Hammer Bros.) before heading out to the pitch.
Smash Football is very much a simplified version of the beautiful game, which may annoy certain quarters, but in actual just reinforces the idea that this is a game about having fun, and not about strict replication of the real world game. The control system is very easy to grasp and ensures that it has strong pick-up-and-playability. Much like five-a-side football, except for the lack of corners, free kicks, and throw-ins (Smash Football is a game with no fouls), the action is fast with gamers needing to aware that the difficulty curving quite steeply after the initial Novice stages. One key element that puts the Smash into Mario Smash Football is the Super Smash Strike, which can only be executed by the team captains. Each of the Captains have their own visual effect heavy move such as Mario's Fire Strike, Luigi's Vicious Vortex, and Donkey Kong's Power Fist Strike. These ferocious shots do take a few seconds to charge but they'll be a guaranteed two goals for the side - yes two goals, so players had better get good at them early on.
The collection and use of various power ups is another necessary gameplay dynamic in the game; many of them have appeared in other Mario sports titles including Mario Kart so the likes of Green, Red, Blue, and Spiked Shells should be understood by a large percentage of Smash Football gamers. Banana Peels and Powers Stars also feature in the game though the likes of a chained Chain-Chomp munching thought pitch (and anything in its path) is one sight more unique to Smash Football. Using these items carefully can stop goals from being scored and can certainly turn the tide of a match. Also a certain King Bowser Koopa will make an appearance on the pitch every so often, causing chaos to both sides of the pitchâ¦
If there's one thing about Mario Smash Football it's that it can be considered over simplistic; there's not a lot of difference between the different teams despite claims to the contrary, and the leap between Novice and the next difficulty (Professional) is big enough - let along the other two more challenging Superstar and Legendary skill levels. It's certainly a game that's more fun with friends so it's worth inviting them round once in a while too.
We had a healthy scepticism for the game back in May, though we have to admit Mario Smash Football has won us over. Its emphasis on fun football gameplay with a heavy dose of Mario power-ups including Koopa Shells, Stars, Mushrooms, and BobOmbs ensure that the title (and the player) never takes itself too seriously. It has instant playability for a wide age range that will hopefully reflect in sales success.
mario/zelda fan
Date Added:Sun 1st Jul 2007 19:55
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