Mario Super Sluggers

I remember when the first Super Mario Baseball game came out on the Nintendo Gamecube and how much I liked it, now that they made another Mario baseball game for the Wii using the slick controls it was a no-brainer for me to pick up this game for my Wii. I'll tell you right away I wasn't disappointed one bit, I'm not a baseball fan at all and I even hesitated playing the first game so you don't really need to be a fan of baseball to enjoy Mario Supper Sluggers. It's very much like Mario Super Strikers, as long you like Mario there are strong chances you will like this game, no need to be a sports fan. If you liked the first baseball edition of Mario you're almost guaranteed to like this one with everything the Wii brings to this game.

The best mode of the game is obviously Challenge mode in which you pick as superstar (Mario, Luigi, Wario, Peach...) as you play in baseball kingdom and challenge other teams one by one and earn some of their players along the way in order the face Bowser's team, it's pretty much the same as the original Mario Baseball, the concept remains the same. There is exhibition mode if you just want to play with some friends for some fun, Mini-Game mode is entertaining and offers some cool mini-games like Bomb-Omb barrel, Toy Field was interesting but I didn't like it as much and of course there's the training mode to perfect your play. That's what's in the game right there, after you finished Challenge mode there is still some fun to be had.

The controls are what you would expect; you pitch and hit the ball with the Wiimote in the same way a baseball player would, without the same intensity of course but you get the point. The controls are very easy to figure out and comfortable playing with, you'll get used in no time and there are practices just in case. There are many things to consider while playing for instance the special moves and when you can use them, the chemistry of the players which will make them do special abilities and the stadiums you play in because they're all different and some could make you lose or win some points depending on your chances ex: tornado hits the other team's player and you can score a home run while he's dizzy.

The game looks very good, better than the first for sure. There isn't a huge improvement between the Wii and Gamecube graphics but it's certainly there and noticeable, after all I'd rather play a fun game with average graphics than one that isn't nearly as fun with great graphics. The colors are vivid in that Mario fashion and the stadiums look very good, nothing wrong at all.

Don't underestimate this game it's harder than it looks and got me very frustrated at times because of the way the CPU would make a bunch of points in a row and beat me at the very end, that would be my small issue with this game. It can be an issue to some and not for others, some like the fierce competition and will see it as a challenge, some like me get frustrated but it remains an excellent game Overall.Mario Supper Sluggers is a very fun game and is worth at least a rental, if you make an impulse buy you may find out that you wasted money on a game you never even tried. That would be my advice; unless you loved the Mario Baseball game you should rent it before you buy, if you're not interested in baseball or sports for that matter it's still worth checking out. Did Mario belt a home run with this one? Not totally but let's say he scored a few points for sure! I really ended up liking Mario Supper Sluggers and do not regret my purchase, 4 stars.
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