Mario Strikers Charged Impressions
I got the chance to check out Mario Strikers Charged today and I have to say I had a pretty good time for the 2-3 hours of play time. In the first 20mins you can pick up the controls and get by but its not until you have a concept of how to pass and use items at the right time that you can win effectively. The game is engaging when you are playing with another person in the room but I can see how this game can get boring when you’re by yourself.
The good news is that if you are alone you can always jump online and play a matched game. The game is a little laggy online so you will feel a difference playing online and playing locally. The friend code system is in place here as well so you will need to trade friend codes if you want to specifically play with someone you know offline.
Overall the game is solid and feels more balanced and strategic than the last. I like the fact that choosing your squad really makes a difference in this game. Instead of just choosing one type of assisting characters you get to choose them independently of each other. Building your squad based on their stats will sometimes give you an advantage over the other player and it can be felt in the game. The graphics of this game don’t seem to impress and the only sign of the game being on the Wii instead of the Gamecube is that you have to shake the controller to tackle and point the Wiimote to block the super charged shot. In the same way, I like how the super charged shot isn’t an automatic goal anymore. However, I can see how at high levels of the game the super charged shot can be rendered useless by elite players.
In the end, this game is probably a “buy” in my book simply because it’s currently the best game out there for the Wii. Not only can it entertain you when you’re by yourself but the fun increases exponentially when you have friends over.
My Rating 8.8/10
IGN Rating 8.3/10
