Nintendo plucked the attention of the gaming world when it announced a February Direct with short notice, and its batch of reveals included Mario Strikers: Battle League. In a presentation full of crowd-pleasers, the return of this much beloved franchise has Nintendo Switch owners very excited about the next addition to the Mushroom Kingdom's extensive catalogue. Mario and friends (and enemies) have found themselves in plenty of settings over the years, from tennis to golf to partying, and now they return to the soccer field.
The Nintendo Direct showed off the signature blend of super-powered action akin to other sports titles from the Mushroom Kingdom. The game looks like a faithful follow-up that is sure to appeal to longtime Strikers fans as well as lure in newer Nintendo users. It also appears that Nintendo has put in the work to revamp the series for the modern era, teeing it up to perhaps be the next big multiplayer hit for the Nintendo Switch.
Mario Strikers: Battle League comes to the Switch as the third installment of the Strikers series that debuted back on the Nintendo GameCube in 2005 with Super Mario Strikers. This was then followed up by Mario Strikers Charged two years later for the Nintendo Wii, implementing the console's motion controls to perform the game's featured over-the-top skill shots that can change the momentum of any match. Developer Next Level Games then shifted to developing games of existing IPs like Punch-Out!! after a follow-up, Super Mario Spikers, which would blend the sports of wrestling and volleyball with the cast of the Mushroom Kingdom, was canceled. They were later acquired by Nintendo in 2014.
Now, Next Level Games is back on the soccer field with the third entry of Mario Strikers. Like many of Mario's other athletic ventures, the series takes the familiar sport and adds a flare of arcade-y action and easily accessible gameplay. Strikers pits gamers in five-on-five matches, with players choosing four of their teammates from Nintendo's recognizable cast, and retaining Boom Booms, non-playable Koopas, as goalies.
The reveal trailer for Mario Strikers: Battle League gives a great overview at both the gameplay of the soccer title, as well as the changes and additions Next Level Games has made for the newest generation of Nintendo. Before things even make it to the pitch, the trailer shows off a brand-new gear system. Players can equip different items that have both cosmetic and gameplay implications for their team, with each character having their own unique stats that can be boosted with gear, adding a new layer of depth and variation.
The footage also shows off new ways to play that Mario Strikers: Battle League brings to the table. Taking a page out of other competitive games in the online sphere, Battle League has implemented a Clubs system. These will support up to twenty players who can rep their colors and compete with their fellow clubmates in the leaderboards. Plus, Battle League will also support up to eight players for local co-op, allowing them to gather around and fill out both line-ups for maximum multiplayer mania.
Not the only franchise returning in 2022, fans will not have to wait long to tie up their boots and charge in on the goal. Announced alongside the game's initial reveal, Mario Strikers: Battle League is coming to the Nintendo Switch on June 10, 2022. Just a few short months away, Battle League is prepped to take over the summer as everyone's new favorite soccer sensation in what could be a big year for Nintendo. For players determined to kick-off on day one, pre-orders are now live.
Source: Trendz OH
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