Mario Sports Mix review
Now, of the four games that come with Mario Sports Mix, I can’t really pick a
definitive “best” one, because they all control very, very well and are paced very well.
Halves are three minutes long, which is just long enough but not so long that you get
bored quickly, and in each of the sports there is a very a satisfying feeling to scoring
a goal or getting a basket. At least, if you play it on the right difficulty. This, however,
brings me to my only complaint about the game.
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It’s just one complaint, I swear.
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When playing through the grand-prix-esque mode, no matter which sport it is, there is
initially only one difficulty unlocked: Normal. While I assumed “Normal” meant “A good
balance between ease and difficulty”, it in fact seems to mean “Easier than convincing a
pack of wolves that you’re not a wolf.”
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Which is easier said than done if you’re this guy.
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In my first three games (the number of games you have to win to get the championship
trophy), the scores were as follows: 63-0 (My win), 73-0 (My win), and 67-4 (My win).
Becoming frustrated at the sheer simplicity of the AI on easy, however, I switched over
to an exhibition match and ramped the difficulty up to expert. The score then? 48-6,
their win. So, all in all, I’d say the AI isn’t so much a problem as is the fact that you
must play through the easier difficulties before unlocking the more appropriate
ones.
This last thing I want to mention is a bit more of a side note, considering it’s a small part
of the game, but just as every Wii game these days seems to need, so does Mario
Sports Mix need a good ol’ collection of minigames to play with your friends at a
party!
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Don’t let your parties get too exciting though.
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The four of these mini games aren’t particularly fun nor exciting, so I really don’t see
much a need to go over them, but if you’re one of them curious types, I’ll indulge you:
The first game is played with up to four players who all run around trying to avoid getting
hit by bob-ombs that shoot out of cannons on the side of the map.
Woo hoo.
The second, third and fourth ones are as follows: In one, you skate around trying to
push each other off of a platform. In one, you throw balls of fruit into Petey Pirhanna’s
mouth. In the last one, you… Uh… You do something else. I can’t really remember
because it wasn’t particularly exciting. Sort of like Fun Town.
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So, what did we learn today? Number one: Mario Sports Mix is actually pretty
fun. Number two: Fun town ain’t so fun. Tune in next time when I get to interview the
guys over at Gamestaq.com and talk about GameStop and their evil used game market!
Stay tuned for that tomorrow/Sunday.
Bottom line:
Mario Sports Mix, much like all the previous sports titles bearing his likeness, is an
enjoyable, very accessible romp through the more athletic side of our favorite plumber.
Is it the definitive Mario title of this generation? Not at all, but the fact that we get four
sports instead of one this time around makes it the definitely Mario sports title thus far in
the series’ lifetime, especially when played locally.
Score: 8/10
