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Mario Super Sluggers

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7.2 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 31 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 14 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

Genre(s): Baseball, Sports

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: August 25, 2008

Summary

In the same spirit as other sports-themed Mario games on Wii, Mario Super Sluggers blends richly interactive baseball action with eccentric characters and elements from across the popular Mario universe. Players can swing the wireless Wii Remote just like a real bat or wave it toward the plate to deliver a masterful pitch, enjoying the same intuitive, easy-to-learn controls that helped make Wii Sports a living room hit. With Mario and his unpredictable pals filling out the roster, imagination and active-play innovation are sure to dominate the diamond in this lively title. [Nintendo]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

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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...

Games Master UK

A step back for Wii baseball controls, but enough of a gameplay leap to warrant playing. [Sept 2008, p.70]

GameDaily

A major improvement on the formula first introduced in 2005 with "Mario Superstar Baseball" on the GameCube.

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NintendoWorldReport

I recommend it highly to anyone that missed the first game, but anyone who played the GameCube original to completion won’t see much of a difference.

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GameSpy

The biggest control-related issues arise from the system's imperfect recognition of your motions and button presses.

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n-Revolution Magazine UK

Mario Super Sluggers oozes the kind of kinetic gameplay and light-hearted fun that the Wii was built for.

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Wii Brasil

Nintendo loses the chance of releasing an "Excellent" game, as it only remains "Great" because of the repeated graphics engine and only being an upgrade to "Mario Superstar Baseball."

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NGamer UK

It isn't quite the game we were hoping for, but taken as another Mario sports game rather than a baseball sim, it's as solid and enjoyable as you'd expect. [JPN Import; Sept 2008, p.52]

Nintendo Power

This baseball diamond loses some of its luster with occasionally confusing or clunky play (it's too easy to accidentally pitch or swing prematurely), but the game's simplified approach is great for sports-curious gamers looking to avoid the complexities of a real simulation. [Oct 2008, p.87]

1UP

Super Sluggers succeeds and fails as most Mario sports games do. Its quick, arcade-style action is easy to get into and plenty fun, coming at the expense of the nuances -- and balance -- you'll find in a sim.

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IGN

We wouldn’t go as far as to say this is Nintendo-made shovelware, but there's very little that has changed in the three years between "Mario Superstar Baseball" on GCN, and Mario Super Sluggers on Wii.

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GamingExcellence

Overall, this is a fun, Mario “party” game that is a good addition to the Mario sports collection.

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Da Gameboyz

Mario Super Sluggers is a decent game, but is lacks any significant improvement over the GameCube version it is supposed to replace.

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GameZone

If the Challenge Mode offered some additional options then I know the game could have scored higher. Yet if you’re looking for a game to play with your friends Mario Super Slugger should still be on your list.

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GameFocus

If you’re new to the series, love all things Mario, or are just curious about how the great game of baseball is given a new twist in the Mushroom Kingdom, then by all means, give "Mario Super Sluggers" a chance, as it does offer some great fun in both multiplayer and single player games. However, if you’ve already got "Mario Superstar Baseball" for the Gamecube, the Wii version just doesn’t add enough to warrant a purchase outright.

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Video Game Talk

The game is a no-brainer in terms of entertainment value for the whole family and it's definitely a title to pick up if you're looking for some relaxed game time with the kids (or parents).

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Kombo

It'd make a great rental though. Take it for a test drive and see if the experience sticks for your preferred control method and number of available players.

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Gamervision

In addition to the questionable controls, the main problem with this game is that there really aren’t any significant improvements over its predecessor, and definitely not any to make this game worth fifty bucks.

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Destructoid

You're not getting a sports sim here; this is about simple Wiimote-swinging fun. Those looking for a high level of challenge need to look elsewhere.

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GameTrailers

Mario Super Sluggers is fun to pick up and play for a short session with friends, but as a game to play by yourself it's shallow. It also doesn't make much use of the system's capabilities with limited motion control and no online play.

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Game Revolution

It masks a lot of complexity in front of you without much of having a real impact, and the vague passes it makes at being a more complete baseball simulation are laughable at best.

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Armchair Empire

If you want to play baseball on the Wii, try The Bigs or MLB Power Pros. Even though Sluggers does have fast paced action, giant baseball super pitches and fireball star hits, as a baseball game, Mario Super Sluggers is too simplistic for the average game player.

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GameSpot

It's not another Mario sports gem, but Mario Super Sluggers still has a rough, unpolished appeal.

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Cheat Code Central

With Mario Superstar Baseball on the Gamecube being such a great game three years ago, it is fairly disappointing to see Super Sluggers not really doing much to improve on its formula. Sure, player chemistry and attack items are good additions, but there is really nothing else.

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G4 TV

For anyone familiar with Mario Superstar Baseball, there are very few surprises awaiting you here. Fans of Superstar might find comfort in this, but for everyone else it just means you're getting a slightly updated, somewhat enjoyable, uber-Nintendo-y baseball game whose biggest addition is the option to swing and throw with the Wiimote.

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GamePro

Poor controls, frustrating gameplay and a repetitive single-player mode mean it's three strikes and you're out for Mario and his friends.

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Gaming Age

Mario Super Sluggers really doesn't innovate the baseball experience. It's more of an extension of the GameCube version, with slightly improved visuals (16x9 support) and decent audio.

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GameShark

As long as you remember that Super Mario Sluggers is more casual entertainment than an actual baseball simulation game, you should find it enjoyable, if a bit simple, playing with friends and family.

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Gamer 2.0

Mario Super Sluggers is an ambitious title that had a lot going for it, but unfortunately the developers hardly did anything to improve the mediocre experience its predecessor had on the GameCube.

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Game Informer

Multiplayer is amusing in that hanging out with your friends is fun anyway, but the single-player content is truly terrible. A series of boring one-off challenges punctuated by simplistic exploration and the occasional full game makes up Mario’s quest to foil Bowser Jr. via baseball. Yes, it’s as insipid as it sounds.

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Zentendo

Mario Super Sluggers attempts to bring the over-the-top fun of Mario Kart to the game of baseball, but instead brings chaos and confusion. The control schemes are broken and the roster is mostly lame. In the end, Mario Super Sluggers does more to damage the reputation of the Wii Remote then promote its functionality.

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Giant Bomb

As a Mario game, Mario Super Sluggers feels kind of cheap; as a baseball game, it fails to capture the finer points that make the sport interesting in the first place. Its accessibility is probably Mario Super Sluggers' most well-realized characteristic, but what you're getting access to simply isn't much fun.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brad J gave it an8:
I don't see why everyone is hating on this game. Sure the graphics aren't improved much from the gc version, but there are like 10-15 new characters, more stadiums (also playable at night), and I thought the single player mode was a lot more fun than the original's. There are also gameplay improvements, and the wii controls feel great, as they usually do! I give it a 7.5. It's not the best game ever, (Or the longest, really, 'bout 10 hours) but some of these reviews are just, plain bad!!!

gilberto L gave it a9:
Mario super sluggers is actually a very good game, it is really fun to play, especially with another person and it can get really competitive and thats what makes a good game, graphics are pretty too, so theres no real complain about it. yes, it may be really similar to its predesesor but it brings lots of new characters, new stadiums and the ability to play them at nigth or at day which i think is a great thing that nintendo put. not only that but now characters with chemistry can throw ITEMS and it is great and a lot of fun. so by far this is the greayes baseball game in terms of fun, not only on wii but overall in all consoles! i mean who wants to play a boring simulation of real life baseball!

Syrin D. gave it a2:
AWFUL, compared to Mario Baseball for the GC. Way too easy, no player development, simplistic gameplay, and short short game. Buy MLB Power Pros 2008 instead.

Phillip D. gave it a10:
I haven't had it long enough to talk about the longevity or difficulty at higher levels but so far this game is everything I was looking for out of a Mario Baseball game. I'll look elsewhere for my simulation fix but when I want to shoot shells at the opposing team while they're trying to field the ball or do crazy super jumps to prevent a home run this is the game.

Gray Z gave it an8:
Great fun. Control scheme took a while to get used to, but once I did it was a blast! Could've used a better single player mode in the vein of the original Mario baseball, but gameplay is better than ever.

John J. gave it a7:
It's a decent baseball game with good AI and gameplay. The player looking for a more serious baseball game or a perfect Wii Sports replica should look elsewhere. However, it is an enjoyable game ^^

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Mario Super Sluggers

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