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Super Mario Strikers cube Game Reviews
Super Mario Strikers
Critic Score
Metascore: 76 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.5 out of 10
based on 39 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 24 votes
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(Known as "Mario Smash Football" in the UK/EU) Nintendo’s foray into sports titles continues with Super Mario Strikers, a new soccer game that’s unlike anything ever to hit the pitch. Whether players are freezing their opponents with an ice-cold shell, unleashing a spiny shell on their hapless opponents or making entire teams flee in terror with a roving Chain Chomp, they’re sure to see something new around every corner kick. Super Mario Strikers features all the favorite characters from the Nintendo universe, as well as four-person multiplayer action that will have players and their friends cheering all night long. Get ready for the world cup of gaming. [Nintendo]

PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: Next Level Games
GENRE(S): Sports, Soccer
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: December 5, 2005

What The Critics Said

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...

100
GamePro
It's easily the Mario Kart of soccer games and that should tell you a lot. Even if you think you're a confirmed soccer hater, Super Mario Strikers just might rock your world.
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90
GameSpy
The multiplayer more than covers the bases, though, as Strikers will join Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Super Monkey Ball series, and the Mario Party games as one of the 'Cube's best titles for armchair warfare.
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88
Armchair Empire
A no-brainer as a family purchase... Great stuff.
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86
eToychest
The game is fast and fun, and while far from annoyance free, it is the best sports title to star Nintendo’s familiar mascots to come along in a good long while, if not ever.
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85
Play Magazine
This is by far the craziest Mario sports title yet and I had a blast with it. [Jan 2006, p.49]
83
Da Gameboyz
With solid graphics, good sound and a really addictive multiplayer component, this game should be rated for what it is, an arcade soccer game that is meant to be played with others.
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82
GameZone
Play it, beat it, and get away from it for a while. Then come back with a few friends to see what the multiplayer mode is made of.
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80
G4 TV
No matter the party size, the controls are fluidly responsive, which makes using tackles irresistible.
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80
Gamer 2.0
There are so many things that might have been implemented that would have taken it from being a very good game, to an excellent one. Nonetheless, the game is still a very good one.
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80
Adrenaline Vault
Perhaps it’s the beat-em-up aspect, and maybe it is the satisfaction of pulling off the difficult power shots, but the game seems to have gone an extra step beyond some of the other titles.
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80
Nintendojo
The fact that the atmosphere is the most notable part of the game means that it also fails in some respects.
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80
Pelit (Finland)
A simple arcade soccer. Fun for multiplayer sessions, but the lack of depth limits its longevity. Next Level guys come from the team behind Sega Soccer Slam, and it really shows. [Jan 2006]
80
NintendoWorldReport
With friends, the action is fierce and the competition is intense. The single player isn’t worth it on its own, but multiplayer is definitely worth the investment.
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80
EuroGamer
It's charmingly designed from the ground up to be as fun and accessible as possible, yet despite its astonishing simplicity, it still managed to hold our interest well beyond our expectations.
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79
BonusStage
One of those classic videogame cases in which the gameplay and overall design is handled extremely well, but the experience itself is so short-lived that even the great gameplay can’t keep it from growing stale over a pretty short period of time.
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76
IGN
The quintessential arcade sports game. It's short on options, lacks depth, but when you jump in and play it, you're bound to have a really good time. It delivers both intuitively learned and mastered control mechanics and that rare multiplayer experience that is incredibly hard to put down.
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75
Nintendo Power
It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a well-established franchise, but the core gameplay is nearly spot-on. [Jan 2006, p.111]
74
Cheat Code Central
You're only going to get your money's worth out of this game if you plan on getting a lot of use out of the multi-player mode.
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73
GameBrink
It's a great multi-player game, but single player can get very tedious.
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72
GameSpot
It's soccer starring Mario and friends, but the problem is, there just isn't enough "Mario" in Super Mario Strikers.
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70
Total Video Games
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.
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70
Kombo
If you can get together four people that enjoy Mario sports games or soccer titles in general, you’ll find plenty of fun to be had. If you can’t, then don’t even bother.
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70
Yahoo! Games
It does right by the arcade sports genre in that respect, and has great control to boot. What it's lacking in other respects, however -- stats, modes, and variety -- keeps Super Mario Strikers from pulling off the hat-trick.
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70
GamerFeed
Playing Strikers against others is a total blast, but the single player is mind numbingly boring.
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70
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Once you suss the A.I.'s intricacies, the game holds little mystery or reason for replay. [Jan 2006, p.125]
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70
NTSC-uk
Super Mario Strikers is an evolutionary step beyond Soccer Slam, and gives the small-team football game a new breath of life, trumping its predecessor and stamping other similar games such as FIFA Street into the ground.
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70
AceGamez
Mario Smash Football isn't trying to be a simulator, it's an all-out arcade style game that's huge fun while it lasts, and while it will make a great addition to your collection, the novelty and fun might wear thin a little sooner than you'd hoped.
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70
N-Insanity
A decent arcade soccer game with too little Mario. The developers could have put considerably more Mario-elements into the game other than the characters and the title.
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70
Games Radar
Invite some pals over and you'll have a multiplayer dream session.
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70
N-Europe
Yet another brilliantly ironic Mario Sports title which once again proves that everyones favorite portly plumber can indeed kick it with style.
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70
Maxim Online
With matches of five-on-five taking place on small fields with really basic controls, Strikers is classic arcade-style soccer, but the game gets an extra kick from power-ups, random Bowser attacks, and a Telemundo-style announcer.
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70
Sydney Morning Herald
The game is immediately likeable. The presentation is cheerful and anyone can pick up the joypad and have fun.
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68
My Gamer
With no real depth, like a true league mode with player stats, trades, and so on, it almost feels like it should be a mini game inside the next, inevitable "Mario Party."
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68
Game Informer
The fact that the gameplay never evolves and the defensive stops are too powerful means this game's legs aren't very long - just like Mario's stubby little limbs. [Dec 2005, p.178]
65
PALGN
It’s a real surprise that the single player portion of the game is so under baked, despite the wealth of content featured in the baseball, tennis and golf games – it’s almost like the game is worthless without a few friends.
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65
netjak
Super Mario Strikers both surprised me and disappointed me at the same time: it looks good, it plays good, and it takes the dreadfully boring sport of soccer and makes it somewhat enjoyable.
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60
games(TM)
Essentially you’re probably going to hate Mario Smash Football if you enjoy football games. Conversely, if you were a fan of "Sega Soccer Slam" you’ll love it. [Christmas 2005, p.108]
58
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Mario hasn't starred in something this weak since his pinball effort on GBA. [GamesMaster]
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58
Game Revolution
Nintendo didn't include enough extra fuel to give this otherwise fun endeavor the appeal of a "Mario Kart."
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Cobra J. gave it a6:
If you played this game for an hour a day, you'd have beat the game in 2 weeks. This game is really short, and there's barely any characters.

Jak G. gave it a7:
Its a good game but i miss the old mario games where you have to defeat bowser and all that, the sports games have taken the plot completly out of mario games.

J.L. T. gave it a5:
Another Mario game, i dont know why the nintendo company dont give this character a rest, they really did an awfully try of making a more mature look to the characters, they will be always being childish. The game is pretty easy, you will always win with those super shots.

Max M. gave it a9:
Definitely good, the Mario sports games keep on goin strong!

Michael A. gave it an8:
This game is very fun and can be quite challenging if you get far enough. Even though the game would be considered very short for those who are very skilled with soccer games, this is a game you will love to play for many months to come.

Tony G. gave it a10:
pick up and play soccer is best to describe it. great smooth animations, control is perfect, graphics cool as mario himself. I love nintendo, brings out the kid at heart! they have my support in every way. this game just confirms it.

Joe C. gave it a9:
It's fun. "Mario cash-in"?? That's like saying disney only makes money off it's characters. weak gameplay? If "Easy to learn but hard to master" is weak, then yes. "Zero Depths" not really sure what he is talking about. I think depths is actually singular, and "standard mario gimmicks". Right lets make a mario game that doesnt have the look or feel of a mario game. It's a fun game.

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