Mario Sports Superstars - Nintendo 3DS

I have not tried any multiplayer or soccer in Mario Sports Superstars yet as of this writing nor have I really used amiibo cards, so this is more like general impressions of the game. I, however, have played nearly all past installments of the various sports subseries, including Golf's Toadstool Tour (GameCube) and Advance Tour (Game Boy Advance), Mario Super Sluggers (baseball on Wii) and Mario Sports Mix (Wii). So I have much experience with these kinds of games and can speak with an expert opinion. I also think the amiibo functionality is a rip-off. The game's biggest selling point is also its biggest flaw. There are 5 sports, so there is variety. Unfortunately, none of them are really fleshed out. A good comparison to make for side-by-side value might be Wii Sports though there's more to MSS in terms of content. Those looking for the variety in modes per sport will only get some generic challenges and limited stadium or course variety. Only 36 holes in golf from 4 different courses, plus 4 extremely similar and dull themes for 12 horse racing tracks, none of which feel at home in terms of the Mario Universe. No special items like shells or fire flower either. And the unlockable characters, OH GOD! You won't bring back Neil and Ella from Advance Tour or have some random inclusions like Petey Pirahna, King Boo, or anyone from WarioWare, Nintendo? But you will include Metal Mario and PINK GOLD PEACH!?! So, why isn't this game awful and just average to me? Well, that's just it. It's not Super Mario standard, but the gameplay is solid. I especially like the pitching mechanics in baseball and taking care of horses in your stable. If anything, I think horse racing would make a great standalone title if they had interactions between Mario characters and the horse and expanded on everything else in the mode, including item variety, track themes, and customization. It just feels like Mario Sports Superstars should have been the start of a new franchise or even just a new subseries in the Mario universe with either forgotten or entirely brand new characters and just some Mario classics like Luigi, Daisy, Waluigi, etc. being unlockable bonuses. At least then, despite still being of average quality, it could than be looked at in an standalone context and then improved upon for an Nintendo Switch sequel. Instead, because of the Mario Sports stigma attached to it and lack of creativity to help back it, it ends up alongside more recent Mario and Sonic Olympic titles and general Nintendo spinoffs as a fun diversion for fans and newcomers. But one that will probably be forgotten and forsaken by said players who will probably replay older, much larger standout Mario sports titles instead.

I am not a gamer as I'm a noob. I bought this game because I love soccer and I only wanted to play soccer on my 3DS. It does what it supposed to--play real soccer in "Super Mario Land" and yes it isn't anything like Super Mario Striker from GameCube like customize uniforms, soccer balls, or to deploy items to beat the other teams but STILL it does what it supposed to do--play soccer and have fun. I can't comment on other games but I imagine it is simple too. Overall, it is good as B but I really don't think it a good purchase for $30 or more. $25 or less at best. Last note: do not get this game if you ONLY want to play Mario golf. You're better off getting the actual Mario gold 3DS it self, according to Most Youtuber and this is what I definitely agree on.

Perhaps it was expecting too much, but each one of the five sports in this package is pretty simple. They feel more like minigames than full games, such as how baseball handles fielding automatically. If you're just interested in one or two sports, the other Mario sports titles that focus on just one sport have much more to offer than this game. The horse racing is the most fun game in here, partly because there hasn't been a Mario horse racing game before, but it also seems to have the most depth of the bunch.

I would have enjoyed this game a bit more if the material was more original. Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, AND Mario Soccer already exists, so if you own these games, then you're essentially owning another copy. The horse racing is brand new and I LOVE it. I'm fairly confident there was a Mario baseball game, but I am not 100% confident with that. With that being said, $40 is a bit steep for this game, especially knowing you could get Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games for like $20 and they have a significant amount of games, including these sports.

I really got into Mario Tennis and Golf, but felt they were too short to justify their own continued titles (well, Tennis, at least). This game does a fantastic job of addressing that by putting them all in one, but not changing what they are. Each game feels like it's own, separate, title, and they're as polished as you would expect any Mario game to be. For me, this was a must for Tennis and Golf alone, and now I love Mario Soccer, Baseball, and Horse Racing, too, so I feel as though it was worth every penny.

All five sports included in Mario Sports Superstars are enjoyable for the most part (baseball, tennis, golf, horse riding, and soccer are included), but things like tennis and golf feeling like watered down, vanilla versions of what's offered in other 3DS games like Mario Tennis Open and the incredible Mario Golf: World Tour are disappointing. In addition to that, the content that is unlocked through regular play isn't too appetizing, and the AI can be quite frustrating to play against in later difficulties.

Mario Sports Superstars combines five sports: Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Baseball, and Horseback Riding. My personal favorite is Tennis, followed by Baseball, Golf, Soccer, and Horseback Riding, in that order. If you own Mario Tennis, Mario Baseball, or Mario Golf, then it's basically the same game, so you can look at Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games for a bunch of OTHER sports you can play for almost the same price.

I've been in the hospital for some time and received this game as a gift. It is very fun and passes the time. I especially like the baseball and golf and would have bought them as stand alone games. Baseball has simple controls and has a very old school feel to it that I like and I loved Mario Golf on the N64 and this game does not disappoint. The other games are fun as well. Very glad to own this game.