Nintendo fans have been able to hit the fairway for the first time in years with Mario Golf: Super Rush, and so far the experience has been a big return to form for the Mario sports series. The Switch overall has seen the gradual return of strong Mario sports games, and it's become an encouraging sign for fans that remember the stellar titles of the GameCube and Wii era. There are some gamers that are already looking forward to what sports are going to come to the Switch next, and there are some candidates that shine brighter than others.
Mario's mascot status has had him play almost every major sport known to man, from baseball to Olympic sprinting, but one of the stand-out sports ventures from the Italian plumber has come from the world of soccer. The Mario Strikers series hasn't had many entries, but the popularity of the soccer games has lasted to this day. There are many Nintendo fans that have been asking specifically for a new Mario Strikers game, and Mario Golf: Super Rush may have provided the perfect template for the series' return.
The Return Of Mario Sports
One of the biggest ways that Mario Golf: Super Rush offers up a great opportunity for a new Mario Strikers is how it brings back some legitimacy to the Mario sports series. Before the Switch pulled Nintendo back from the Wii-U's lack of success, Mario sports games were also in a rather unfavorable place with fans. There weren't many during the Wii U era, and the one major game that did come out, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, received very mixed reviews. Ever since the Switch has come out though, Nintendo has been mounting a Mario sports comeback.
The first major sports game on the Switch, Mario Tennis Aces, received much better reviews than Ultra Smash, and now Mario Golf: Super Rush is maintaining the Mario sports games' high level of quality. If Mario Strikers is going to come back, it would be best to do it now while Nintendo has a firm focus on its sports titles. Super Rush has set a good precedent, and a new Mario Strikers would just need to follow up on it.
The Wild Side Of Mario Sports
Mario sports games will usually fall into one of two categories: faithful recreations of the sport they are representing or zany interpretations of the sport that provide a new twist on a classic game. Mario Golf: Super Rush succeeds in delivering a mix of both approaches, by giving players the option of a traditional golf experience with some Mario antics spread throughout. Between the simulation-style modes and the frantic energy of Speed Golf, Mario Golf: Super Rush manages to be a successful single-player sports game and a capable party game for the whole family.
This blend of simulation and sensational action in Mario Golf would be a perfect fit for a new Mario Strikers. The series is already known for its arcade-like elements, with flashy power moves and soccer balls that are hit so hard they catch fire, and a new game could take a lot of pages from Mario Golf: Super Rush.
A mode inspired by Speed Golf, in particular, would be excellent for a new Mario Strikers game, as it could see players attempt to make as many goals as possible while using crazy special moves to tackle players or send the ball flying at ludicrous speeds. It would have the potential to give players more of what they've come to expect from the Mario Strikers series, while also evolving it towards what Nintendo has been doing with its sports games lately.
The Potential Of Adventure Mode in Mario Strikers
In addition to the template Mario Golf: Super Rush has offered with modes like Speed Golf, the game's Golf Adventure mode provides some excellent opportunities for a new Mario Strikers. It harkens back to similar adventure modes from previous Mario Golf titles, while giving players some interesting new RPG mechanics and gameplay moments that are unique to it. It might not have the longest story in the world, but it still does some interesting things with the Mario sports formula, while also giving players another reason to use their Miis in a game.
A new Mario Strikers could build on this kind of adventure mode in a plethora of different ways. The RPG elements have already set a good foundation, and they could easily be translated to the soccer world with upgrades to things like speed and kicking strength. As far as a story is concerned, a new Mario Strikers could have players go through an extensive soccer tournament similar to past games, but with some new features reminiscent of what Mario Golf: Super Rush has. The template is all there already, so a new Mario Strikers game would just need to replicate it while learning from Mario Golf: Super Rush's mistakes.
It might be some time before Nintendo fans get another Mario sports game, but Mario Strikers still seems like the fan-favorite for whenever Nintendo dives into the sports world again. The series has certainly become a cult classic, especially for those that played the first game on GameCube, so hopefully, Nintendo will give fans something they've been patiently waiting for. If the time ever does come, Mario Golf: Super Rush has already given a new Mario Strikers a great template to work off of.
Mario Golf: Super Rush is available now on the Nintendo Switch.