The original game, Mario Strikers, was released during the demise of the Gamecube. A revamp and a restyle later and you have Mario Strikers Charged Football. One aspect of this game made it so exciting when it was announced – ONLINE GAMEPLAY! It’s the first game on the Wii (in Europe) to have it. This not only gives it something that no other Wii game has yet, but also sets the benchmark for all future Wii games. It seems that any game that does not have online gameplay these days is a step backwards. The single player section is extremely repetitive and the unlockable characters are predictable if you’ve ever played Nintendo games like these. In fact, every aspect of the game feels like it needs something more. The only thing that saves this game is the online play and even this is slightly repetitive. The game has the knack of giving no real satisfaction when you win, but dishing out frustration and despair when you lose. It is such a chore to play that boredom sets in very quickly. There is no substance, and, as far as longevity is concerned, there is none. The graphics are good for the Wii and the sound is the familiar voices of Mario and the gang with an upbeat soundtrack. But these pale into insignificance in a game that is boring and frustrating enough to make it almost unplayable.
