Mario Sports Superstars combines a multitude of sports-themed, Mario mini-games. Are you wondering if its a slam dunk? Kidzworld has your information on the newest games.
By: Max Cannon
Most of Mario's side-projects have been pretty well received. I've got a soft spot for the earliest Mario Party games, everyone loves Mario Kart, and, as far as sports go, Mario Golf has a pretty devout group of fans. Mario Sports Superstars for the Nintendo 3DS crams 5 of these games into one package but lacks the depth that made previous entries great.
Mario Sports Superstars doesn't struggle in terms of looks.
Less Than Stellar Sports
Golf, Tennis, Soccer (or Football, for the rest of the world,) Baseball, and Horse Racing make up the collection in Mario Sports Superstars. Each game controls well and the rules are pretty straightforward, even if you're not familiar with the rules of each sport. Overall, the game feels like it nails a difficulty balance that can often be hard to hit in other sports titles. The arcadey pick-up-and-play style that worked well in sillier sports titles from the past, i.e Blitz, NBA Street, lends itself very well to a portable, Nintendo-themed, sports collection.
However, we're living in a world of free-to-play mobile games to really fill in those gaps to play games in short bursts and if you're looking for a deeper game to play on a commute then the Nintendo Switch can fill in that gap. Mario Sports Superstars would've benefited from a bit of extra depth; the inclusion of more stats, more variations, and crazier gameplay would've only helped the final product.
Mario Sports Superstars - Nintendo 3DS Launch Trailer
Mini-Games Getting Mini...er
These games feel like they're a small part of a collection you'd find in Mario Party. While those games succeed because they're part of a collection with dozens of varied games, Mario Sports Superstars can't be held up by these 5 games, no matter how good some of them are. Each of these inclusions has a better, fuller counterpart.
If you know the rules/controls of any other sports game you'll fit right in here.
Tennis has been done by Mario Tennis, Mario Power Tennis, Mario Tennis Ultra Smash, and Mario Tennis Open. Soccer was explored in Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers Charged. Golf was realized in Mario Golf, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, and Mario Golf: World Tour. Mario brought his friends to the baseball diamond in Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers. And I don't think I need to list the handful of Mario Kart games that succeed upon what is presented in horse racing.
Of course, it still has that Nintendo charm, this is one of the best looking games you'll find on the 3DS. And if you've got a Mario character that you love there are some high chances you'll find who you're looking for in this lineup. Like usual, each character plays differently with stats that offer more/less power/speed/stamina etc. However, if you have a character that you really want to play as, and he has less than ideal stats, you can typically use any player anywhere.
The list of characters available in Mario Sports Superstars.
Final Thoughts
Mario Sports Superstars is a run-of-the-mill game that could've really been something special. It's lacking that Nintendo charm, outside of the graphics/art style, that really sets apart the gameplay. If the looks were stripped away from this game then you'd have a product that most people wouldn't give a second look. Here's to hoping that Nintendo reclaims greatness for its spin-off titles in the future.
Pros
- Stylish Art
- Controls Well
Cons
- Boring Game Modes
- Lack of Variety
Mario Sports Superstars Game Rating:
Available for Nintendo 3DS
Mario Sports Superstars Box Art
Have Your Say!
Which Mario-games bring you the fondest memories? Are you a fan of the traditional Mario Kart or hitting the field in Super Mario Strikers? Comment below!
