As a result, Strikers - like Soccer Slam before it - proves to be a fun and enjoyable multiplayer title, but kicks a little short of the goal where the single-player mode is concerned. They unfortunately also share most of the same technical shortcomings. And the two games even share a similar visual presentation. It's what we like to call 'arcadey,' which means that it plays fast and friendly, but lacks on options and depth. It's designed so that it's immediately accessible. Strikers in many ways feels like Soccer Slam. That was a solid effort with a lot of good ideas, but it was also an incredible bomb - according to data, approximately three people bought it. Diehard GameCube owners might recognize the developer as the same studio that brought us Soccer Slam a few years ago. The latest game to take advantage of this formula is Super Mario Strikers from Next Level Games. As much as we're loath to admit it, we oftentimes find ourselves increasingly drawn to these sports entries after we learn that Nintendo's trademark characters will star in them. It's a dirty strategy, but it's also one that works. Hence, we've seen Mario, Luigi and Peach cameo in everything from the SSX to NBA Street franchises. Big N fans may not line up to play a GameCube baseball title, but they might spend their money on a baseball effort with characters from the Mushroom Kingdom. So really, what is Nintendo to do? The answer, it seems, is to slap Mario and friends on the covers of these sports games. Easily and without question the biggest gap lies with GameCube numbers, which are always disappointing by comparison. But surprisingly, Xbox figures aren't too far off. The title sells best on PlayStation 2, which has the biggest installed base so it makes sense. Take, for example, the relative performance of EA's Madden NFL franchise across the three platforms. Then, on offense, you have to constantly be ready with a quick-reflex dodge or be on the lookout for an open pass to avoid losing the ball to a similar pummeling.There's a simple truth: sports games don't sell as well on GameCube as they do on PlayStation 2 or Xbox. You'll find yourself constantly charging at nearby opponents to knock them down and get the ball or prevent a pass, without a yellow or red card in sight.

While the game is ostensibly a four-on-four game of soccer (without the possibility of the ball going out of bounds), it more closely resembles a knock-down, drag-out brawler most of the time. If you played the original Super Mario Strikers on the GameCube or its 2007 sequel on the Wii, you know the basics here. And while the game has some balancing issues (especially in single-player mode), as a whole, it's a frenetic and fun take on the sport that could easily sustain a strong online multiplayer community. Much like its predecessors, Mario Strikers: Battle League fulfills this video game sports fantasy quite nicely, offering what is essentially the Super Mario Kart version of simplified soccer. In a virtual version, I want to see the sport enhanced with features that would be impossible on a real field of play.

If I want a game that captures every detail of a real sport accurately and authentically, I'll just go outside and play that sport myself, or maybe watch some professionals do the same. When it comes to sports video games, I'm of the opinion that the wackier they are, the better.

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