Mario Strikers: Battle League is the long awaited soccer game in the Mario Sports world.

As with all sports games set in Mario’s universe, everything is colorful and lively. Make a team with four characters and your goalie, adjust their stats to better fit your play style, and face off against other teams on-line or on the couch. Play alone or with up to eight others!

I was able to play with friends who all had the game and we made a 4 person team to play against others on-line. Being the least experienced with the game my friends were able to do cool tricks and “Hyper Strikes” to score while I had a great time using items that fell on the field or tackling any one who even looked at the ball. We all enjoyed making some really odd combinations of teams which is where the game shines. We took the smallest character Toad and gave him equipment that made him too heavy to be pushed around by bigger characters. This game isn’t as whacky as other Mario sports titles. It walks the line of fun cartoon soccer game and semi serious competitive game. The game is very expressive, which is not something I expected to say about a sports game, but between goals the game will show you quick cut scenes of characters getting frustrated if they are losing or being antagonistic to the opposing team.

Mario Strikers: Battle League is rated E10+ and while I don’t think it needs the higher rating for content within the game I will say the mechanics are better suited for an older audience. There is a long tutorial that I would say every player needs to complete before playing which makes this a hard game to recommend for casual pick up and play. Dedicated players will find this game very rewarding and will scratch any competitive itch.