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Mario Super Sluggers wii Game Reviews
Mario Super Sluggers
Critic Score
Metascore: 68 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.1 out of 10
based on 28 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 10 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

In the same spirit as other sports-themed Mario games on Wii, Mario Super Sluggers blends richly interactive baseball action with eccentric characters and elements from across the popular Mario universe. Players can swing the wireless Wii Remote just like a real bat or wave it toward the plate to deliver a masterful pitch, enjoying the same intuitive, easy-to-learn controls that helped make Wii Sports a living room hit. With Mario and his unpredictable pals filling out the roster, imagination and active-play innovation are sure to dominate the diamond in this lively title. [Nintendo]

PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: Nintendo
GENRE(S): Baseball, Sports
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: August 25, 2008

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80
Games Master UK
A step back for Wii baseball controls, but enough of a gameplay leap to warrant playing. [Sept 2008, p.70]
80
GameDaily
A major improvement on the formula first introduced in 2005 with "Mario Superstar Baseball" on the GameCube.
Read Full Review
80
NintendoWorldReport
I recommend it highly to anyone that missed the first game, but anyone who played the GameCube original to completion won’t see much of a difference.
Read Full Review
80
GameSpy
The biggest control-related issues arise from the system's imperfect recognition of your motions and button presses.
Read Full Review
79
NGamer UK
It isn't quite the game we were hoping for, but taken as another Mario sports game rather than a baseball sim, it's as solid and enjoyable as you'd expect. [JPN Import; Sept 2008, p.52]
75
Nintendo Power
This baseball diamond loses some of its luster with occasionally confusing or clunky play (it's too easy to accidentally pitch or swing prematurely), but the game's simplified approach is great for sports-curious gamers looking to avoid the complexities of a real simulation. [Oct 2008, p.87]
75
1UP
Super Sluggers succeeds and fails as most Mario sports games do. Its quick, arcade-style action is easy to get into and plenty fun, coming at the expense of the nuances -- and balance -- you'll find in a sim.
Read Full Review
74
IGN
We wouldn’t go as far as to say this is Nintendo-made shovelware, but there's very little that has changed in the three years between "Mario Superstar Baseball" on GCN, and Mario Super Sluggers on Wii.
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73
Da Gameboyz
Mario Super Sluggers is a decent game, but is lacks any significant improvement over the GameCube version it is supposed to replace.
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73
GameZone
If the Challenge Mode offered some additional options then I know the game could have scored higher. Yet if you’re looking for a game to play with your friends Mario Super Slugger should still be on your list.
Read Full Review
71
GameFocus
If you’re new to the series, love all things Mario, or are just curious about how the great game of baseball is given a new twist in the Mushroom Kingdom, then by all means, give "Mario Super Sluggers" a chance, as it does offer some great fun in both multiplayer and single player games. However, if you’ve already got "Mario Superstar Baseball" for the Gamecube, the Wii version just doesn’t add enough to warrant a purchase outright.
Read Full Review
70
Video Game Talk
The game is a no-brainer in terms of entertainment value for the whole family and it's definitely a title to pick up if you're looking for some relaxed game time with the kids (or parents).
Read Full Review
70
Kombo
It'd make a great rental though. Take it for a test drive and see if the experience sticks for your preferred control method and number of available players.
Read Full Review
70
Gamervision
In addition to the questionable controls, the main problem with this game is that there really aren’t any significant improvements over its predecessor, and definitely not any to make this game worth fifty bucks.
Read Full Review
70
Destructoid
You're not getting a sports sim here; this is about simple Wiimote-swinging fun. Those looking for a high level of challenge need to look elsewhere.
Read Full Review
67
GameTrailers
Mario Super Sluggers is fun to pick up and play for a short session with friends, but as a game to play by yourself it's shallow. It also doesn't make much use of the system's capabilities with limited motion control and no online play.
Read Full Review
67
Game Revolution
It masks a lot of complexity in front of you without much of having a real impact, and the vague passes it makes at being a more complete baseball simulation are laughable at best.
Read Full Review
65
Armchair Empire
If you want to play baseball on the Wii, try The Bigs or MLB Power Pros. Even though Sluggers does have fast paced action, giant baseball super pitches and fireball star hits, as a baseball game, Mario Super Sluggers is too simplistic for the average game player.
Read Full Review
65
GameSpot
It's not another Mario sports gem, but Mario Super Sluggers still has a rough, unpolished appeal.
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64
Cheat Code Central
With Mario Superstar Baseball on the Gamecube being such a great game three years ago, it is fairly disappointing to see Super Sluggers not really doing much to improve on its formula. Sure, player chemistry and attack items are good additions, but there is really nothing else.
Read Full Review
60
G4 TV
For anyone familiar with Mario Superstar Baseball, there are very few surprises awaiting you here. Fans of Superstar might find comfort in this, but for everyone else it just means you're getting a slightly updated, somewhat enjoyable, uber-Nintendo-y baseball game whose biggest addition is the option to swing and throw with the Wiimote.
Read Full Review
60
GamePro
Poor controls, frustrating gameplay and a repetitive single-player mode mean it's three strikes and you're out for Mario and his friends.
Read Full Review
58
Gaming Age
Mario Super Sluggers really doesn't innovate the baseball experience. It's more of an extension of the GameCube version, with slightly improved visuals (16x9 support) and decent audio.
Read Full Review
58
GameShark
As long as you remember that Super Mario Sluggers is more casual entertainment than an actual baseball simulation game, you should find it enjoyable, if a bit simple, playing with friends and family.
Read Full Review
57
Gamer 2.0
Mario Super Sluggers is an ambitious title that had a lot going for it, but unfortunately the developers hardly did anything to improve the mediocre experience its predecessor had on the GameCube.
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55
Game Informer
Multiplayer is amusing in that hanging out with your friends is fun anyway, but the single-player content is truly terrible. A series of boring one-off challenges punctuated by simplistic exploration and the occasional full game makes up Mario’s quest to foil Bowser Jr. via baseball. Yes, it’s as insipid as it sounds.
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50
Zentendo
Mario Super Sluggers attempts to bring the over-the-top fun of Mario Kart to the game of baseball, but instead brings chaos and confusion. The control schemes are broken and the roster is mostly lame. In the end, Mario Super Sluggers does more to damage the reputation of the Wii Remote then promote its functionality.
Read Full Review
40
Giant Bomb
As a Mario game, Mario Super Sluggers feels kind of cheap; as a baseball game, it fails to capture the finer points that make the sport interesting in the first place. Its accessibility is probably Mario Super Sluggers' most well-realized characteristic, but what you're getting access to simply isn't much fun.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.1 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Syrin D. gave it a2:
AWFUL, compared to Mario Baseball for the GC. Way too easy, no player development, simplistic gameplay, and short short game. Buy MLB Power Pros 2008 instead.

Phillip D. gave it a10:
I haven't had it long enough to talk about the longevity or difficulty at higher levels but so far this game is everything I was looking for out of a Mario Baseball game. I'll look elsewhere for my simulation fix but when I want to shoot shells at the opposing team while they're trying to field the ball or do crazy super jumps to prevent a home run this is the game.

Gray Z gave it an8:
Great fun. Control scheme took a while to get used to, but once I did it was a blast! Could've used a better single player mode in the vein of the original Mario baseball, but gameplay is better than ever.

John J. gave it a7:
It's a decent baseball game with good AI and gameplay. The player looking for a more serious baseball game or a perfect Wii Sports replica should look elsewhere. However, it is an enjoyable game ^^

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