We push, we hit, we smash and we tackle our opponents. We rush into the field, leaving behind banana peels, swirling shells and fearsome bombs. In short, Mario Strikers : Battle League is nothing like a regular soccer game. And that is its main strength.
You don’t have to be a soccer fan to enjoy Mario Strikers : Battle League, available since yesterday. In fact, it’s probably best not to get too attached to the classic sport before grabbing the controllers. Because Nintendo here ignores all the usual rules (or almost!), sweeping ethics and conventions out the window.
Like its previous iterations, this new chapter of the saga brings together Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Bowser and company to play – locally or online – soccer matches, let’s say, a little special. All shots are allowed… and encouraged: the ball can literally be snatched from our opponents who we hit, strike down or even hit with a shell thrown at high speed on the pitch.
Not only can players unleash their aggression on the pitch, but the pitch is bounded by an electric fence that will give anyone who gets too close a hard time.
In short, it backfires in Mario Strikers: Battle League, even more than in any of the adventures of the friendly plumber and his band. And that is downright fun. The action is constant, fun, colorful and exciting.
Complex commands
Its Achilles heel, however, lies in its control mechanics. It took us a long time to master the different types of passes, shots and tackles, each requiring great precision and a timing flawless. It is particularly laborious and it may give a hard time to the youngest.
The same goes for the solo adventure, where the player alone controls his entire team. An “automatic” mode, by default, is responsible for designating which character will respond to the commands entered on the gamepad. It becomes very easy to lose track or, even, to realize that we are controlling a Mario who is now out of control. the screen.
Nevertheless, it is with scratched and sore thumbs from playing solo matches over the past few days that we sign this review.
That says it all, right?
- Mario Strikers : Battle League ★★★1⁄2
Available on Nintendo Switch
