Cancelled Mario Volleyball/Wrestling Wii Title Comes to Light

gotta love the work of unseen64

I'm disappointed that this was cancelled it would have been awesome especially since I love the Strikers series

"The game went against the company's code of honor"

Id buy the hell out of it.

The animations were funny, Yoshi bodyslamming Yoshi, HA!

Well, I can see why Nintendo would reject their pitch. The wrestling elements were perhaps too much for them.

I have no clue how to combine wrestling with volleyball, but those brawling Yoshis!

Would had been a great Super Smash Bros. costume!!

Ehh, the wrestling/volleyball concept isnt that interesting to me. I could understand why they'd scrap this, especially when seeing the wrestling moves.

I hope this still makes way for more Nintendo-themed sports titles though, we need more Looney Tunes B-Ball style games on the eShop. Now is the time for them to experiment with smaller digital releases, especially when seeing Project Guard and Giant Robot show up briefly at E3.

It's really too bad this never got off the ground, and a bit surprising that it was rejected. Pro wrestling has had a cultural foothold in Japan for decades, so it would seem a natural fit. Maybe it would have stood a better chance if Mario's face weren't plastered on it.

Thanks for posting my video/article I'm the guy who wrote the Unseen64 piece and will be here if anyone has any questions. Hope you all enjoyed it.

Man, I always wanted to play Mario Wrestling. Make this for Wii U.

@BertoFlyingFox A Nintendo basketball game would have been the most awesome thing I could possibly imagine!!

@Punished_Boss Same thoughts here, can't see what went against their honor. Has it changed somehow recently with the games they've been publishing? I mean, were the wresting moves too intense for Mario? Even after Brawl?

@LiamR I'll bite. So how did it break their code of honor, or is that it broke it all you know?

@Jaz007 Well, you can see more of the quotes from my exchanges with the source on Unseen64 if you want a little more detail, but basically, the way I interpreted it was that Nintendo viewed parts of its gameplay premise as unsportsmanly and dishonourable. You could sort of 'punish' the other players, like you see Waluigi do to Mario in the wrestling clip. It's slightly sadistic for a Mario game, as you can see. They didn't agree with the wrestling aspect in that way.

@bluemage1989 Then you may want to instant-buy Mario Hoops 3 on 3 for DS.

It would've been nice to play Super Mario Spikers (only for the wrestling), but no loss otherwise.

This is one of the weirdest things I've seen all day! I love it!

Mario Sports Mix - which has volleyball as 1 of it's 5 sports - came out in Japan in Nov 2010, so maybe they were already working on Sports Mix at the time and just didn't want 2 volleyball games coming out on Wii?

I don't know if I'll miss this game, but it has seemed to me like Wii U has been missing games like this and it's one of the reasons that game releases have been so few and far between. I know Wii U looks fine now (well it will after we get a couple more dates any minute now) but the Wii had several more games of this nature that we haven't even heard about yet on the Wii U. Besides Sports Mix there was Mario Super Sluggers and Mario Strikers Charged. Wii also had Super Paper Mario near launch and no mention at all of Paper Mario U or a Mario RPG. Though they're releasing amiibo so an RPG like game should naturally follow.

Not saying any of this has affected the Wii U's fortunes, but my kids and I enjoy all those Mario spin-offs and they are lacking on Wii U. Dodge ball is a better mix w/ wresting than volleyball though -)

I wouldn't mind a Mario Pro Wrestling game on Wii U in the same style as the great THQ N64 efforts.

@Porky haha I should have been clearer I meant to say a Mario basketball game for Wii U I think with the lack of EA sports games on WiiU Nintendo could make some good money from sports games

This violates Nintendo's code of honor, but Smash Bros doesn't?

BTW, was that solid confirmation at the end of the video that Next Level Games worked on a 3DS prototype of Metroid? WhAt!?

I am simultaneously disappointed and glad that this never took off. On the one hand, the idea of mixing the elements of two sports really intrigues me! On the other hand, seeing Yoshi souplex another Yoshi was kinda disturbing.

@sketchturner, I can definitely see how this is even more violent than Smash Bros. Some of these wrestling moves slam the opponent's head onto the ground, which is way harder to watch than a simple punch/slash and a fall-back with some smokey action effects.

Metroid 3ds???!!

I guess they didnt want Mario and Friends to be using wrestling moves on one another. Pity they couldnt choose another IP or make it an all new IP altogether.

I'm still waiting for my Super Mario 128 game.

EEEGH! That Mario design...

@Nicolai:
I guess this title stands apart from Smash Brothers in regard to its context. While SSM is a braweler, wrecking someone during a contact free sport seems to be somewhat more brutal.

Thinking this through I'm growing more and more fond on the whole idea.
Imagine a volleyball game with an open field, where both teams can stand whereever they want - on both sides. This brings 2-3 tasks: whatch that the ball doenst touch the ground, disturb the other team by attacking them and defending yourself on your own side against attackers.

@Nicolai It doesn't explain why they're publishing Devil's Third or Bayonetta Duo does it?

@Punished_Boss, Aren't we talking about how Nintendo uses the Mario franchise?

@Nicolai Yes but if this goes against their code why are they publishing Devils Third and Bayonetta duo. That doesn't make any sense.

@sgotsch I think you would still have to have sides, so you could determine who gets the point, but players could cross the net if they wanted. There would be defense and offense strategies, like in basketball, but the score area has to be defended, and sending too many teammates over to pummel the other team leaves your own area defenseless.

I really hope we get some amiibo related sports games. I dislike the hyper-realistic sports games we have now (as well as EA...) and would enjoy making an amiibo sports team. Peach, Zelda, Rosalina, Samus and Daisy would make a great basketball team with their mastery of the fundamentals. No dunking, sadly.

@Punished_Boss, I'm sure their code, whatever it may be, either applies to the Mario franchise and other child-impressionable IP, or it applies to unsportsmanlike behavior. Either that, or the code is outdated and now they're trying to appeal to hardcore audiences in a way they weren't doing during the Wii generation.

We need Mario Dodgeball, with the artstyle of Strikers!

This would have worked a lot better if it was a Wario themed game.

I can't see the point of the two sports combined, though I imagine it would be a more hilarious version of Super Spike V-Ball or even inspired by another Kunio-Kun game Super Dodge Ball. Separately, hell yeah I would've loved to have Seen a Super Mario Spikers and Super Mario Wrestling.

The "code of honor" line seems more like speculation on the part of the developers to me. It could have been something as simple as this game crossing the line of what's permissible in a Mario game. And, well, some of the moves in that video are definitely more brutal and graphic than anything in Smash Brothers.

I never cared much for Strikers so I can't say that I'm disappointed to not see a similar game.

Why is there no Mario Baseball being planned. Baseball is popular in both NA & Japan and there isn't many baseball games on the market. I know Rusty's exist on the 3DS but I would categorize that as a party/mini game with a baseball theme. I'm talking about an arcade or simulation of baseball....or if they wanted to mix it up, how about kickball?

Next Level had some awesome games last gen on Wii, Striker and Punchout come to mind. I'm sure this would have been awesome, but just make another strikers again and I'll be happy. That was one of my fav game on Wii, and got some of the most co-op play of any I had last gen.

@dkxcalibur There was one for the Wii (and a different one for the Gamecube). Super Sluggers if I remember right.

If there is a Mario Baseball in development for the Wii U we probably wouldn't hear about it until later since Nintendo is very often tight lipped in regards to their game projects (unless they're close to releasing).

@Ernest_The_Crab

You're right about those games, I forgot them. How about a well developed baseball game?

Nice concept. Would have been nice to see.

I would like to see another Mario Strikers game on the Wii U. Could work pretty well.

@sketchturner Yes, I have spoken to a former Next Level employee who told me they developed a prototype for the 3DS based on Metroid.

@GeminiSaint That came from someone who was very closely involved with Spikers. They were very confident in what they told me. 'Code of honour' was paraphrased from what they actually said, but that was the general gist of it. There is more info in the full article on the website.

@Punished_Boss In terms of the Mario brand, do not forget. Certain aspects of the Spikers' wrestling were actually somewhat sadistic, as you can see in the Waluigi clip. 'Code of honour' is paraphrased from my conversation with the developer, but it is entirely accurate, I assure you.

WHY WOULD YOU CANCEL THIS? Agaisnt code of honor? UUUUGGGHHHH!

We(or at least I) knew about this years ago but now is when footage surfaces?

@Nicolai Yeah... IMO it's the way the characters' skin bounces like a rubber ball when hit that makes this look more violent than Smash. It's cartoony, but at the same time you can "feel" the hit more than in Smash where the skin is unmoved.

Not a fan of sports games, but this one actually sounded interesting. Too bad it was cancelled. That move Waluigi hit Mario with, though... Ouch. I could feel it just watching.

Metroid 3DS Prototype???
Company code of honor???
Volleyball/Wrestling???

Code of Honor? They do know they published games like Eternal Darkness and now Bayonetta 2 right?

I just remembered something. Attacking an opponent that's down and defenseless is a big no-no in Japan. It's deemed very dishonourable. Maybe that has something to do with this (just look at what Waluigi does to Mario).

But those don't involve Mario or star Mario. Mario is more of a kid friendly character. I'm sure they didn't want to make a T rated Mario game. That's probably what they meant by that phrase code of honour.

I miss mario strikers! They need to make a 3rd one!

That reminds me. Where's my Sports Mix 3D and WiiU sequels?

How ridiculous is it that Pro Wrestling has never:

*been included in a compilation, Animal Crossing minigame, etc
*been released on any Virtual Console
*been given a sequel despite its enduring quality, legendary status ("A Winner Is You"), and being Nintendo property
*had any of its memorable fighters appear in anything; no Smash trophies, no Captain Rainbow, nothing.

It's time, Nintendo.

@LiamR Right.

Interesting stuff.

@Nicolai
Thats how I understand it, too. Would make up some interesting strategies and teamplay to balance out the players, attackers and defenders while reacting to the other team.

They need to make a Mario Strikers for Wii U with online ranked play.

Mario Strikers for Wii was one of the best games, hands down.

Can't believe this never happened! Would have so loved this game.

So they ditched this but released that basketball game on the NDS no one cared about? Nintendo, what's wrong with you?

I would looove a full featured Mario wrestling game!

They could even use Rawk Hawk as a character!
http://www.mariowiki.com/Rawk_Hawk

They need to make another Mario Strikers, s'all I'm sayin'

As someone has already mentioned, Mario Sports Mix already has Volleyball as one of it's sports. Don't need two volleyball games.

I can see why Nintendo didn't approve the game, the wrestling parts seem a bit too 'direct contact' violent for a Nintendo game.

Does anyone here actually know what the "code of honour" is or are you just guessing?

It actually looks kind of cool. One one hand, I can see why it might go against Nintendo's "Code of Honour" because some of those moves did look pretty crazy (But fun!). But then it made me think, what about Smash Bros.?

a mario wrestling title?

I just wish they'd make a Strikers title for WiiU, 11v11, online, mii players, larger pitch, options to play with or without special moves, that would be grrreat!

The game had Waluigi in it and it was cancelled. Sounds good to me

But in all seriousness, it looks odd, as if Next Level could not decide what they wanted to do and just mixed the two sports. I am still eager to see what their next project is.

I understand why this was cancelled, the wrestling moves seemed very out-of-character for the mario universe

Mario volleyball was on Mario Sports Mix Wii released in the EU. Also had dodgeball and basketball. Game got an 8/10 on this site if you look it up, i believe. Was 7/10 standard i'd say

@JJtheTexan Thanks so much! I appreciate that. We have lots of other cool unseen projects like this coming up on the site in the near future.