Mario Sports Superstars Preview
Launch Trailer
Updated 3/24/17
5 Sports In 1 Trailer
Updated 3/13/17
[Updated 2/24/17 – Tennis Trailer]:
[Updated 2/17/17 – Horse Racing Trailer]:
[Updated 2/14/17 – Trailer]:
[Updated 2/10/17 – Golf Trailer]:
[Updated 2/3/17 – Soccer Trailer]:
Mario Sports Superstars is releasing in North America on March 24, 2017. Nintendo UK has updated with a new trailer showcasing the soccer game:
[Updated 1/26/17 – Baseball Trailer]:
Here’s some official prose from Nintendo UK regarding the upcoming game. Keep in mind the release date is different:
Join Mario and friends as they demonstrate their athletic prowess across football, tennis, golf, baseball and horse racing in Mario Sports Superstars, coming to Nintendo 3DS family systems in Europe on 10th March. Players can compete solo in a range of single-player tournaments across each sport, and can play against friends using local and online* multiplayer modes. Releasing on the same date is a series of 90 Mario Sports Superstars amiibo cards (sold separately or as part of a software bundle), which will be available in packs of five and can be used in-game to power up characters’ skills. Fans who purchase a first print-run version** of the game at retail will receive a randomly-selected amiibo card bundled with the software.
With five fully-fledged sports games included, Mario Sports Superstars offers something for everyone. Football fans will compete in full-on 11-a-side matches, and will need to master both team tactics and individual skills in order to be victorious. Fans of the Mario Golf and Mario Tennis series will be familiar with the classic gameplay on offer in the golf and tennis games here, developed by Camelot Software Planning. Baseball fans will need to work on their batting and pitching techniques, as heavy-hitters such as Bowser are lining up to knock it out of the park in the first Mario-themed baseball title to be released in Europe in over 10 years. In Horse Racing, aspiring jockeys must saddle up, jump over obstacles and gallop to the finish line first to be crowned as champion. Collecting carrots along the way will replenish your stamina, while collecting stars will enable you to use the special Star Dash technique, greatly improving your chances of victory. Players can also show their caring side by visiting their favourite horses in the Stable. By petting, feeding and grooming a horse, players can build a special bond with it which will work to their advantage on the racing track.
Each of the five sports on offer in Mario Sports Superstars can be enjoyed in single-player, local multiplayer and online multiplayer modes. In single-player mode, players can take part in tutorials and challenges to hone their skills before entering a number of tournaments suited to all skill levels. Multiplayer mode allows sports fans to compete with their family and friends, either locally or online. There’s also the option to challenge players of similar skill levels from around the world.
Whether you prefer power or precision, there are 18 characters to choose from in Mario Sports Superstars – 16 are available from the outset, while two more can be unlocked by completing specific tournaments and challenges. The Mario Sports Superstars series of 90 amiibo cards (five for each character) builds upon this extensive roster by allowing players to unlock more powerful versions of each character in each sport. By tapping a Mario Sports Superstars series amiibo card, players can unlock the Star version of the corresponding character in the corresponding sport. A Star character has stronger stats than its regular counterpart, giving that character an edge in that particular sport.
And by tapping up to three amiibo cards, players can participate in the Road to Superstar mode. Completing this mode will bestow Superstar status on their characters, giving an even greater boost to their stats. For those keen to get ahead on the journey to sporting superstardom, the first print-run version of the game is the ideal place to begin, as it includes Mario Sports Superstars and one randomly chosen amiibo card, so players can get their collections off to a flying start.
With five fully-fledged sports to enjoy, a huge cast of 18 characters to play as and 90 amiibo cards to power up the experience, Mario Sports Superstars will offer endless sporting fun for everyone when it arrives on Nintendo 3DS family systems on 10th March.
[Updated 1/24/17 – Release Date Announced]:
Mario Sports Superstars comes out on March 24, and so does a new line of amiibo cards that works with the game.
- Mario Sports Superstars: The action-packed game launches on March 24 and offers five full-featured sports like Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Baseball and, for the first time in a Mario sports game, Horse Racing. Each sport stars Mario and his friends (and enemies!) from the Mushroom Kingdom and can be played in local or online multiplayer modes. (Players must own the game and a Nintendo 3DS system to compete in multiplayer mode.)
- New Mario Sports Superstars amiibo cards: By tapping one of these new amiibo character cards while playing Mario Sports Superstars, players will get a variety of fun bonuses. The Mario Sports Superstars amiibo cards can be purchased in blind packs of five at a suggested retail price of $4.99 each, starting on March 24. For a limited time, the Mario Sports Superstars game will include one amiibo card packed in.
[Original Preview]:
Sports aren’t anything new for Mario and company. He’s been active in almost every sport imaginable over the years. This time around, Nintendo has combined five separate sports into one cartridge for the 3DS. You’ll have a wide variety to choose from. These games are: baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, and horse racing.
The soccer game features full 11-on-11 teams and according to Nintendo each of the five outings are full-fledged experiences. There’s more to them than you may expect. Each sport includes single player tournament mode as well as local and online multiplayer modes. The game will hit retailers next spring.
Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.
