Pros: Fun Multiplayer, New Characters & Stadiums
Cons: Single Player Too Easy
The bottom line: I recommend this game to anyone. Especially anyone who loved the first one.
Be careful. Once you pick up your Wii remote and start to play this game, hours will fly before you realize it. That is, if you are playing with someone else.
The multiplayer on this game is incredibly addictive which makes the game hard to put down, but the single player mode is way too easy and you will be bored after a few short matches of completely blowing out your opponents. If you played the original Gamecube version of this game you will remember being able to score a “Super Strike” goal worth two points. Well, in this Wii version of the game you can score a ‘Mega Strike” goal worth up to six points. In the single player mode, your opponent seems to have a tough time defending Mega Strikes resulting in scores like 26 to two. It hardly seems likes a soccer score at all. However, the multiplayer scores are usually more balanced and the games more exciting.
Just like the last Mario Strikers, you choose a captain and then choose your sidekicks, but in this game, a little bit more strategy goes into choosing them. Each character is different and has special abilities so you can build your team how you like it. You can choose a group of fast characters or you can get together a bunch of good shooters. There are characters that are great at defense and others, like Mario, that are well rounded. You mix and match your team until you find the perfect combination for yourself.
My favorite thing about this game is the new stadiums. The game has all the old stadiums from the Gamecube version plus more. In one of the stadiums the field is placed atop a cliff that is surrounded by water. In the middle of trying to play a game of soccer different things such as cows and tractors are blown from the strong winds up onto the playing field. You can be on a fast break ready to score when a flying cow comes from out of nowhere and smashes into your character knocking him off the cliff and preventing the goal.
If you enjoyed the original version of this game, you will love the sequel. It is action packed and full of surprises.