Mario Super Sluggers – WII – Review

Sometimes you need to keep your
expectations at a certain level when it comes to playing and reviewing games.
Certain games are released that everyone jumps on the bandwagon to offer
unlimited praise regardless of their imperfections or striking similarities to
other games. Then other games are released that still offer a fun gaming
experience yet reviewers and hardcore gamers still pan them. It seems we’re at
this point with many Wii games coming out since they don’t have the hardcore
appeal that many reviewers and gamers want nowadays. Mario Super Sluggers is
going to be one of those games that won’t have the hardcore buzz to make it a
sure fire must have game. However the game is still a fun experience that should
keep families and friends playing for hours.

Mario Super Sluggers (MSS) is an
arcade-style game similar to the previous entries in the Mario sports series.
Gamers looking for a deep simulation-influenced baseball game should keep on
looking. Gamers looking for a revolutionary, over-the-top baseball game that is
brimming with tons of innovative and unique idea need to keep on looking as
well. But if want a baseball title to sit back and play with your friends that is
still loads of fun then MSS should fit the bill nicely. Remember not every game
has to be a blockbuster for you to still have fun.

There are five modes in MSS:
Exhibition, Challenge, Mini Games, Toy Field and Training. Exhibition is your
typical free mode that allows you to get in a quick game with no consequences
while Training lets you get use to different parts of the game. Challenge mode
is the main part of the game but it definitely isn’t the typical baseball mode
you might be expecting. Instead Challenge can be considered 40 percent Mario RPG
with 60 percent baseball thrown in the mix.  Mario and his crew arrive on
a baseball-themed island that soon is overtaken by Bowser and his minions. You
have to explore all of the baseball stadiums to recruit new teammates for your
team while collecting coins and other items to use in the game.

Each stadium is usually segmented
into a few small areas that you can explore. Certain items you can pick up right
away while other items are locked to certain Team Captains. You’ll need to
switch among various Captains in the game several times to unlock all of the
items in the game. This will require backtracking to earlier parks you’ve
already cleared. Each stadium will usually contain an item store that allows you
purchase new items to improve the skills of your players. Even with the small
amount of exploration and item hunting the rest of Challenge mode really does
center on baseball.

During your explorations of the
stadiums you will discover different characters; some can be teammates while
others play for Bowser’s team. Usually these characters will challenge you to
beat them in a competition on the baseball field. The challenges are usually
composed of performing a certain number of hits or moves on the baseball field
within a certain number of pitches. For example, you have 10 pitches to hit the
ball to the right field at least three times. Or you have ten pitches to tag a
base runner out with a grounder in the infield at least three times. Many of the
challenges are repeated over again regardless of the characters you run across
in the game. These challenges also play a key part in clearing a stadium since
the boss encounters are played out the same way. The progression of the
challenge mode is fairly linear with only a few stadiums unlocked at first and
segments of each stadium are locked until you unlock additional characters.

The mini games could have been a
small diversion from the rest of the game instead the mini games are parts of
the regular game. Some of the mini games are connected to the baseball theme of
MSS while others will probably remind you of mini games found in other Wii
titles. Honestly the mini games don’t really offer anything new or different
than what we’ve seen and played in other games by now on the Wii. You’ll still
have fun playing with your friends but it would have been nice if there were
more mini games included that weren’t part of the main game.

Toy Field could almost be considered
a weird gambling mini game though you’re not really gambling. Strange, I know,
but the Toy Field was a strange experience anyway. Your ultimate goal is to
collect as many coins as possible while playing in Toy Field. If you’re playing
in the outfield you and two other characters are fighting over the chance to be
the next one up to bat. If you collect or take the ball away from the other
players it will be your opportunity to bat. Batting is where you can earn a
large sum of coins because the outfield is broken down into grids with different
values. Where the ball lands on the grid determines how many coins you can earn.
But there is a catch because you can use special items to take out the other
players on the field. At the beginning of each round you see a slot machine that
lets you select (if you’re fast enough) the item you can use against the other
players. Once the ball is in the air you will see a target reticule on the
screen that you aim and fire with the Wii Remote.

The controls of the game can be
customized or simplified to your liking depending on three control types. The
first is using the Wii Remote by itself. Swinging the bat is done by swinging
the Wii Remote similar to a real baseball bat. A quick swing performs a normal
swing while holding the Wii Remote back will perform a charge swing. Pitching is
done by holding the Wii Remote facing up and then swiping downwards. These
motions are very similar to what you’ve probably done before playing Wii Sports.
The majority of the other plays in the game such as fielding and running are
controlled automatically by computer with you only having to shake the Wii
Remote.

There are some additional moves you
can perform using just the Wii Remote control setup. The Star Swing and Star
Pitch are performed by holding the A & B buttons at the same time when swinging
or pitching. These are powerful pitches and hits that can be extremely difficult
to field or hit. Close plays at home come up with a quick time event that is
currently popular in games today. If a play is going to be close at the home
plate the screen will change and then you will see a button appear on the screen
for you to press. If you press the button fast enough you will be safe at home.

Jump Actions let you jump at a
nearby ball to catch it by pressing the A button. You can even perform buddy
actions such as a buddy jump or buddy toss. When two players are near each other
that share the same chemistry (such as Mario and Luigi) they can execute these
moves. The buddy jump lets you jump on top of the other player for a bigger jump
to catch a possible homerun. The buddy toss lets you toss a ball to your buddy
who will then throw it very quickly to the infield for a possible out on the
base runner.  Attacking is another fielding move that lets you attack a ball
that is nearby or items that are nearby. Yes, the items used in the Toy Field
mode can be used in the regular game to take out fielders chasing after the
ball. But if you attack the item (called Error Items) coming after you they
won’t harm you or you can dodge them completely.

There are two more control setups
that you can use in MSS. The second is the Nunchuk mode that gives you more
control over your base runners than just using the Wii Remote. You can control
when to steal a base, which base runner should try to move to and some additional
choices. The last control option is the Wii Remote Sideways which replicates
playing the game using a normal controller. Almost everything is reduced to
using the directional control pad and the 1 and 2 buttons. The A button is used
only during fielding to switch characters. Really the controls are not a barrier
to playing MSS since you have everything from the motion controls to a regular
controller setup.

Mario Super Slugger really is a game
that will probably find more people playing the Exhibition mode simply because
that is the true baseball portion of the game. The Mario theme of the game,
special Star hits/pitches and Error Items do make for a fun filled baseball
experience. The simplified controls should allow for almost anyone young or old
to get into the game as well. Yet the main part of the game, the challenge mode,
does feel rather flat simply because it feels like an overblown training. You
get 10 pitches to win a challenge and even if you lose you can keep trying
until you win. There simply aren’t enough mini games to keep people playing them
repeatedly. So in the end we’re left with a Mario Baseball that is still fun to
play yet only in certain parts of the game. Don’t let that spoil your chance to
still play a fun game that will keep your friends and family dusting off their
uniforms with Mario Super Slugger.

Gameplay: 7.5
Nothing too hard or complicated to get you playing the game. Just like Wii
Sports Baseball the motion controls are easy enough to get use almost
immediately. The Nunchuk option gives you a little more precise controls while
the Sideways options lets the old school gamers play like they’re used to.

Graphics: 8.3
This is another visually appealing Wii game with bright and colorful graphics
that look really good. All of the stadiums are uniquely designed and themed
based upon certain characters. The Star Power hits and pitches give the game a
noticeable kick in the pants at times to really turn on the wow factor. The
presentation of the overall baseball game is done really well with nice replays
and close ups of the action.

Sound: 7.0
Most of the music in the game are remixes of the classic Mario themes you’ve
heard before yet the main themes usually disappear after a few seconds. All of
the voice acting and sound effects are the classic Mario style we’re use to by
now.

Concept: 6.0
What MSS breaks down to is a simplified RPG game with some limited baseball
stuff thrown into the mix. The actual baseball portion of the game plays really
well but unfortunately you have to wade through more filler than necessary to
get to the actual game.

Multiplayer: 7.5
Sadly no WiFi multiplayer, only local multiplayer with up to four players.

Difficulty: Easy
The controls make it simple enough for anyone to get into almost immediately.

Overall: 7.3
Mario Super Slugger might not hit a home run out of the park but it still offers
a fun-filled gaming experience that I’m sure many Wii owners will check out. 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.