Ok, the first thing to mention before I go in depth with this preview and such is that this game is online. Did you hear me? Online. Yes sir, we’ll be playing Wii across the globe when this game lands on the 25th May in Europe. And aside from all the online stuff – this game looks freaking fun.

I was one of those that never played (and still have never played) Super Mario Strikers on the GameCube. In fact, I really should pick that one up. Regardless, Charged Football takes all the elements that were good from the GameCube title and expands on them for the Wii.

Based upon the worlds favourite sport (accept it American readers) Charged Football puts you in teams of 5 featuring the most famous of Nintendo characters. Plus, because it’s on Wii there are a whole load of immersive control mechanisms to keep this game as entertaining and original as possible.

When selecting a team, the emphasis will be on the team’s captain, each team having a captain with special and unique abilities. For example, if Mario is your captain you will be able to make him grow to giant proportions and trample on other players (a la New Super Mario Bros.). On the other hand – Princess Peach is able to take a photo and therefore freeze all the opposing players to the spot. The selection of your captain and side kicks creates for a tactical element to the game ensuring you pick a team with the right mix of abilities to break down your opponents defences.

The main difference between Charged Football on Wii and Super Mario Strikers on the GameCube are the inclusion of Wii based controls. While the majority of the action takes place by the use of analogue stick and Wii remote buttons, instinctive flicks of the remote are required for you to for example steal the ball off an opponent or to make saves.

Like Mario Kart fair play is pretty much ignored in this game, as the game relies on you using special abilities to beat your opponent. If one of your players is fouled you will be given a chance to avenge that foul – whether it be with a red shell which destroys everything in its path or a Chain Chomp which chases opposing players around the pitch.

Of course – the key factor to Mario Strikers: Charged Football has just been announced by Nintendo – as it is to be the first European online Wii title. While little is known at the moment, it has been confirmed that there will be an unranked and ranked mode. In unranked mode you will be able to simply play against your friends across Nintendo Wi-Fi, whereby ranked will see you taking on anyone from across the globe, battling your way up the leader board.

Graphically, from what we’ve seen at present the game isn’t really doing much spectacular. It all looks very Nintendo-like, with bright colours and nicely animated character models. There are 17 different stadiums to play in – each closely linked to the Mario world. The stadiums are well designed with nice textures and a range of different obstacles to distract the player from the main action.

All in all most will probably buy Mario Strikers: Charged Football for the online play. If Nintendo wanted to get their online service off to a great start though, I don’t think there is a more accessible and generally fun looking title they could have picked.

Let’s hope there are no hick-ups at kick off eh?