GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | Metacritic | MP3.com | TV.com
 |
|
||||
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
How Metascores Are Calculated
|
(Also known as "Super Mario Stadium: Miracle Baseball") Players can try their hands at the single-player Challenge Mode, where they must wander the land clearing baseball-related trials. This mode gives you plenty of opportunities to nab special items and teammates by winning three-inning games, minigames and offbeat challenges from Boswer Jr. Mario Superstar Baseball gives you a lot of flexibility in filling out your lineup card. The 50-plus available characters include all-arounders like Mario, Luigi, Daisy, Shy Guy and Koopa Troopa. Technical players include Peach, Boo, Toadsworth and Dry Bones (swinging a bone for a bat, Dry Bone makes his first appearance in a sports title). The speedster squad stars Yoshi, Diddy Kong, Baby Luigi (good field, lousy bat) and Paragoomba (a Goomba with itty-bitty wings). The roster of power players has expanded beyond the usual heavyweight suspects -- Wario, Donkey Kong and Bowser -- to include Blue Pianta (from "Super Mario Sunshine") and King Boo. [Nintendo]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 90
Nintendo Power
The game's controls are top-notch, especially the arcade-style pitching and hitting. [Oct 2005, p.99]
85
Play Magazine
It wasn't exactly what I wanted. [Oct 2005, p.59]
84
BonusStage
At this point it does seem that Nintendo is milking their cash cow of a mascot a bit much, but as long as they keep the quality of the games on the up and up it’s hard to complain.
 82
Pelit (Finland)
A fun and easy-to-play sports game for the whole family. You can feel and see the Nintendo touch everywhere. What a nice experience. [Nov 2005]
80
Da Gameboyz
With easy to pick up and play controls, good sound, solid graphics, and a very enjoyable multiplayer component, one really can not go wrong with Mario Superstar Baseball.
80
N-Europe
The game contains all the elements to expect from a Ninty sport title; colourful graphics, classic Nintendo tunes and characters, addictive gameplay and simple fun.
80
Armchair Empire
Anyone on the lookout for a fast-paced, cutesy arcade baseball title which happens to feature famous Nintendo mascots need look no further.
80
GameZone
A truly well-crafted game that exemplifies what the term “family game” really means, a game that most ages can play and enjoy together. Kudos to Namco.
80
Deeko
A must have if you already own all previous installments of the franchise. Not quite an inside the park home run, but it will have you swinging for the fences every time you take the field.
80
DarkStation
Sick of the MLB? Let the legendary plumber take your troubles away with this challenging baseball title, complete with the good-old Nintendo charm.
80
WHAM! Gaming
Mix a basic but solid game of baseball with the usual hallucinogenic properties of Mario's special toadstools and you get this fun and frothy confection.
80
Kombo
Another winner from Nintendo. It’s no cake walk though – this one takes some practice and even some study to understand the timing involved with pressing the A button at just the right moment.
80
GamerFeed
This isn't the defining baseball experience, mind you, just another fun game with Mario and company. Nothing wrong with that.
80
G4 TV
Not the most technically advanced game, and if you're looking for all the hardball minutiae you're going to be disappointed. What it does have is gameplay that's easy to pick up, and a great deal of depth for those who dig.
80
GamePro
Graphics too, are impressively done, with sharp textures and bright, colorful areas giving life to the game. Unfortunately, the sounds of Mario Superstar Baseball can't stand up to its graphics.
80
GameSpy
I was totally engrossed with challenge mode and had lots of fun with the mini-games. The core gameplay, which is quite good, is overflowing with that inimitable Mario charm. The gameplay, characters, and fields more than make up for any defects in the A.I.
80
GameSpot
While the game successfully melds Nintendo's signature charm to America's pastime, a couple of fundamental gameplay gaffes keep it from being the exceptional arcade hardball game that it could be.
79
IGN
Although the gameplay experience is occasionally limited by a lack of features or cramped running/fielding configurations, the end result is still arcadey fun. Recommended for die-hard Nintendo fans and for gamers looking for a simplified, yet quickened take on the sport of baseball.
76
VGPub
The best part of Mario Baseball, and really the main reason to consider picking it up, is the multiplayer.
75
NintendoWorldReport
Gamers who've enjoyed a more realistic game of baseball in the past (i.e. any game from the MVP Baseball, High Heat, World Series 2K, All-Star Baseball, or Powerful Pro series) may have to let go of their perceptions of how a pitcher/batter interface should work in order to enjoy the game.
75
eToychest
The developers at Namco didn’t quite have a grasp on how to marry Mario-esque simplicity with a game that can survive under heavy play.
75
1UP
Superstar Baseball was obviously meant to be played in short bursts instead of long sessions. (The lack of any sort of regular season mode ensures this.) And as this simple type of game that's neither too deep nor too shallow, Superstar's "swing at anything, steal all the time, watch out for the Thwomps in right field" brand of baseball is tough to beat.
75
Nintendophiles
Players will wonder what could have been had Nintendo and Namco implemented a deeper single player experience. Where's the season mode? Thankfully multiplayer exhibitions greatly extend the game's life.
75
Detroit Free Press
Mario's powered-up version of baseball is the best virtual diamond on the GameCube, and while baseball purists may cringe at the characters' cutesy antics, no one will dispute the game is fun.
74
Inside Gamer Online
Namco has done a heck of a job emulating the sports experience usually provided by Camelot, but those who spent a lot of long hours with previous Mario sports titles can tell that this game wouldn’t mind having a bit more polish to it.
74
Gaming Target
A game that is meant for multi-player action. The single-player mode and mini-games will keep you entertained for a little while, but sooner or later you will get extremely bored because it becomes too repetitive or the AI becomes too easy for you.
73
netjak
The game is worth a purchase if you're looking for a decent new party game, but it isn't anything more than a weekend rental if you're not.
70
My Gamer
It is an all right start if Nintendo decides to make this into a series, but they simply need to add more content to make this worthwhile.
70
PALGN
While not as well tuned as other Mario sports titles, Mario Superstar Baseball achieves exactly what it set out to do - provide a good arcade-style baseball game.
70
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The lack of a season mode or player development helps make this the perfect Friday night pick-up before (or after) hitting the town. [Oct 2005, p.118]
70
Game Informer
I never would have thought that Mario and Jose Canseco would have a lot in common, but they both tarnish this great sport. [Sept 2005, p.104]
69
Gaming Horizon
It’s worth a look as a rental, as you can certainly have a good time with the game over the course of a weekend, but its flaws keep it from being worthy of a purchase.
67
GameShark
The minigames, which could have filled out the shortcomings of its multiplayer and single player components, were a major let down.
60
EuroGamer
The squeaky eccentricity of proceedings leaves you charmed, if a little frustrated with the lack of a truly solid baseball game.
60
Sydney Morning Herald
Dull mini-games are also available, with winnings used to buy items to improve skills. Each stadium has wacky hazards but the selection of parks is limited.
60
Cheat Code Central
It's all about picking up the controller, having some wacky baseball fun for a half an hour or less and then going to grandma's house for a nice homecooked roast beef dinner. Roast beef not included.
60
Yahoo! Games
The controls and performance are too unreliable for non-baseball fans to make this a hit a la Mario Kart, and true fans just won't be satisfied by the troublesome fielding.
60
Edge Magazine
Mario can still throw a mean pitch and has a solid swing, but it's his lazy ambition that catches him out.
Cobra J. gave it a6: Sarina V. gave it a10: David O. gave it a9: Baustin B. gave it a10: Kenny gave it a10: Henry R. gave it a10: Mike G. gave it a7: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
