Super Mario Strikers is one of the four new titles which Mario and his crew will be making an appearance in this year. We got our hands on this game, and although it was an early build, it is thoroughly enjoyable. In fact, I am willing to say that this is the greatest Mario sports title ever, period. In this build, two teams were available - Mario and Donkey Kong.  Each team captain has a few Koopa Troopa’s or Toad-like teammates. Now, the soccer mechanics are just great. If you remember Sega Soccer Slam, I would say that the actual soccer game actually plays a bit better in Strikers. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Mario title if there weren’t some twists. Unlike what you will find in the latest iteration of Mario Tennis on the Gamecube, the power-ups and distractions in Strikers don’t seem too gimmicky.

One example of a power-up is the ability to send blue turtle shells flying across the field which, if touched, will freeze your opponent for a few seconds allowing you to get past them. If you hold the shoot button for a few seconds without being hit, you will bring up a power meter. Stop the meter in the right place, and you will enter a cool slow motion cinematic sequence where you try to kick the ball into the net with fire, thunder, or some other force of nature propelling it at high velocity.

You can also unleash tornadoes, Chain Chomp’s, and a few other surprises on your foes. This one is going to be a mainstay in your party game stack, with support for four players. The control is spot on, and only takes a few minutes to learn, making this one a must have title. This is one that I definitely cannot wait to bring home.