Mario Strikers Charged

A Mammoth Load of Modes

The core gameplay in Mario Strikers Charged is arguably the best available on the Nintendo Wii, and while the game succeeds most as a multiplayer experience--we defy you to invite three friends over and not have a good time with this game--it is still a total blast if you're playing by yourself because there are number of modes to keep you thoroughly entertained and challenged, such as Domination Mode. This is the standard mode in the game, but while playing alone you can set the computer's skill level from 1 (Rookie) to 9 (Mega Striker).

Another addicting solo gameplay mode that will keep you busy after you've grown tired of the main game modes is the Striker Challenges. After completing one of the twelve Challenges--which range from having to win a match while players are missing from your team, to having to gain a shutout--you unlock "Cheats" which can be toggled on and off from the Domination Mode menu. Cheats vary from Environmental Cheats like one which makes electric fences more devastatingly powerful, and Power-Up Cheats like one that makes you play without any Power-Ups.

You'll Never Stop Playing This Game

There is also a Road to the Striker Cup, which acts as the season mode in Mario Strikers Charged, where you can compete in three separate tournaments, the Fire Cup, the Crystal Cup, and the Striker Cup. Each match is progressively harder than the last and by the time you reach the Striker Cup, matches become so grueling, you'll most likely have to take breaks to prevent hand paralysis.

By successfully winning the Cups, you unlock secret playable characters--the coolest of these being Petey, the fireball spewing Venus Fly Trap that has been appearing in Mario games since the original Super Mario Bros. You can also earn trophies for exceptional offensive and defensive feats, which can be viewed from the Hall of Fame menu.

Mario Strikers Charged also happens to be one of the very first games on the Wii that you can take online via Wi-Fi connection. Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to take the service out for a spin at press time as we were dealing with an advanced review copy but we can only imagine how much fun to hop online and battle it out with random strangers. We'll have to reserve judgment to see how Nintendo's version of online multiplayer pans out, but again, Strikers Charged is the kind of game that screams for multiple human players to be involved, so the multiplayer portion would have to be outright broken for it to not be a positive addition.

Gooooooooooooooal!

At the end of the day, Mario Strikers Charged is a phenomenal addition to the Wii's library and will rival GoldenEye 64 in terms of the exhilarating multiplayer experiences that it offers up. Don't turn your nose up at it just because you don't like soccer or you'll be missing out on one of the best gaming experiences around. Now, bring on Super Smash Bros. Brawl!

Pros: Offers an insanely addictive and fun multiplayer experience. Invite your friends over and watch the hilarity ensue.
Cons: Mega Strikes can easily be abused.

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