Bowser Jr. And Birdo Star In Mario Strikers: Battle League's Third Free Update

This and golf really proved this model is broken and doesn’t work. The updates are never very big and they are too far apart. It really feels like you are buying an unfinished game and then waiting for patches versus a finished game with extra content as a bonus.

IMHO I would keep quiet that this site mistakenly awarded this game a 9/10.

That came out of nowhere.

The Urban Rooftop might dethrone Lava Castle as my favorite stadium. Though still no Hammer Bro.? He's usually one of the first things, if not the first, that comes to my mind when I think of Mario Strikers.

Another franchise killed, luckily the wii and gamecube games are still a lot of fun. The new one could be so awesome, but nintendo doesnt care, or the fans.

@sixrings Agreed. Iwata's Nintendo was very different. Also where are Birdo, Diddy & Kamek in MK8?

Nintendo ruined Mario Strikers

@Kayvoo "Iwata's Nintendo" made youtubers that use Nintendo game footage pay 30% of their earnings to them.
Also, MK8 was also made during "Iwata's Nintendo" era.

@jowe_gw What's wrong with Mario Kart 8?

Nice additions that should have been on day 1. What makes them think this free update model works? Missing the days we had everything at day 1

Ignoring the fact that the game is still lacking in content even with these additions, Birdo and Bowser Jr look amazing and I'm happy that they're in the game now. Well deserved of course.

@sixrings how was it a mistake? Both sports and this game sold good and showed decent legs which implies the kneejerk reactions at launch regarding “no content!” was heavily overblown.

Worst case scenario you get some people complain on internet like here with the common old gripe of “everything should have been in day one!” as if the game industry hasn’t moved away from that standard years ago because “complete” games with ZERO patches after release is rarely a thing.

If anything this is actual ABOVE the industry standard because these characters/stages would have been charged money if it was like other modern games.

@LXP8 I was replying another comment that complained about MK8 roster.

Too late for me! Traded in after 1 week and enjoying XC3 instead still.

Really wanted to like this game, but the demo never really did it for me and I'm pretty sure there isn't much different from the full game to change my mind.

I get that it's an arcade-style game so it isn't fair to compare to full simulators, but in that case Nintendo should just price this as such.

The only update that would get me to play more of this game is more single player content.

I knew it! I knew Bowser Jr. and Birdo would be the next playable characters.

@Snowball-BK Not "killed".

far too late and too little content. worst case on content drought they have on a game yet

@mr-duster No you're right, just ruinend to just the right amount that if you complain = you don't want to have fun, and if you like it = you support Nintendo's horrible policies.

I played this at a friend's house recently, and I still think that the one for the Wii is so much better.

BL is actually decent in a vacuum, but when it comes after Charged it isn't much of a contest. The game just feels like it's missing impact. I want to fling a ball at Mario at Mach 1 as Petey and watch him paint the field with his face.

But to stay on topic, Bowser Jr and Birdo were two characters I did like using quite often so that's nice. If they add Petey I might be tempted to buy.

@Snowball-BK No. That's not what I meant. Even if I did like it, I wouldn't support any "horrible policies".

Why are people complaining about a free update? Game development has changed drastically since the “good ol days” games take years to be finished and a little something called covid threw a wrench in most companies clogs, just give them a break and stop with the negativity! I swear people here think game developers dont have lives outside their jobs

@Arawn93

Tennis series sales
2000 N64 2.32M
2004 GCN 1.16M
2015 Wii U 0.54M
2018 Switch 3.66M

Golf series sales
1999 64 1.47 M
2003 GCN 1.27 M
2001 Switch 2.35M

Strikers series sales
2005 GCN 1.60M
2007 Wii 2.60M
2022 Switch 1.91M

Source VG Games

It sure looks like the strategy worked for tennis. Was cool by golf. And hasn't worked for Soccer... But what do I know.

BTW Switch games typically sell well because of their hybrid nature. It is why many series on switch have had their largest sales including slow sellers like Metroid.

@Moonlessky If the game felt complete people would welcome a free update... But the game felt empty. So it feels like filling in what should have been there to begin with.

With how quickly the game's sales fell off I'm surprised they even bothered.

... Really wish they had thrown some DLC at Mario Party Superstars at some point.

@Moonlessky So...Are you defending an incomplete full-price game? .-.

For me, this game’s core gameplay is very fun, and supports up to 8 players on the couch, I believe. It doesn’t have the depth of prior entries (and no I’m not just referring to stadiums or roster) and the playfields are only skins.

But taken as an arcade experience, it’s really fun. Worth $30 IMO. Currently $34.99 on amazon w/free shipping. So we’re almost there.

@Lizuka I second Mario Party Superstars DLC. More boards feel like it should be essential.

I really liked the demo, and while I haven't picked this up, I feel like part of the reason Nintendo does this is so more people can be like "Oh yeah, I wanted to pick that game up." I know I'm one of them. However, I do agree that full price is insane for some of these. All three sports games should have been $40 AT MOST. It made Mario Tennis a lot easier of a sell, and I really enjoyed my time with it.

@sixrings I wouldn't put Golf and this on the same level. Golf's 3 updates came in like 4 months and a half, and each of them added way more than Striker's one. The first a character, a course (that is more than a soccer stadium) and ranked online. The second 2 characters, 2 courses and more difficilty options for CPUs and the third one other 2 characters, 2 courses and 2 new modes. On top of that, while still a little bit barebones, Golf had more single player content on lunch.

I lost interest in game why release a game with half finished and wait months for updates theres reason I didn't rush buy mario party superstars as well you take too long to release the updates by time its coming people have lost interest.

There's a reason why smash bros ultimate is playable still it didn't half released thats same with Sonic Frontier.

@IceClimbersMain I agree with this. There's some fun and quality to be had here, but they never reach the levels of Super, let alone Charged (which I believe set the bar a little too high for how gritty and aggressive the series can get).

I admit I got the game because it was on sale for 1000 Mexican pesos, a price that I can bite and that makes a difference compared to the 1400 Switch games usually go for here in Mexico.

I'd say the free update model works for games like Splatoon or Animal Crossing that people want to play regularly anyway. Not a sports spinoff that launches with less content than its Gamecube version

I keep saying this system doesn't work. I won't buy this game, unfortunately, it's too late for it.
I hope now FINALLY Nintendo learn from their mistakes, after Mario Tennis, Golf and Strikers...

@sixrings so would people rather have paid $40 for this at launch and then the “free” updates would’ve been a $20 season pass ?

They keep giving us characters but won't give us what we really want: the ability to play as a full team in a lobby. Adding more characters doesn't make the core issues any better lol

This game kind of reminds me of Street Fighter 5 when it came out. The core gameplay was fun and creative, but there wasn't much to do if you don't want to play random matches online or have friends to come over. As time went on, SFV added single player content. This game could really benefit from the same treatment. Maybe a season mode or challenges or something besides just the really short cups and exhibition modes.

Bring back the kremlings

@sixrings I guess the question is does it have more content than the two previous games yet.

I really liked strikers on the Wii. So if it's as good as that now, if might be time for me to open ze wallet.

The free updates are cool and all but it really doesn’t bring me back to play the game. I kinda lost interest and I’m really satisfied with just playing Easy Come Easy Golf for my sports fix on Switch. Easy Come Easy Golf just has so much content on there. I spent over 100 hours on that game and I haven’t unlocked all the characters on there yet.

I see all these complaints, but I'd wager these people aren't playing the game at all or never have. I play this daily with my kids and this is GREAT news! What a bunch of sourpuss losers in here.

@fenlix I guess, it’s easy enough for people to vote with their wallets instead of complaining about free content updates and post negativity all the time. it’s very tiresome

Most disappointing game of 2022, for me.

@Randomarcadedude Adding a Cup series would be very cool for single player. I think they should have added in some kind of easy management sim mode or an RPG story mode. I still love the game without those, but they would be cool.

As expected the comments are filled with people who don't play the game. It's a good game and Nintendo will probably release an updated cartridge in the future like Tennis Aces.

The lack of modes, characters, stadiums that are not only facelifts make this game the worst in the series unfortunately. Getting "free updates" that should had been there from the start doesn't help either. And rarely I can find a match online. Charged is still king for me. Which is too bad because I waited 15 years for a follow-up.

Wow, this, they way they are coming out with content, is, er, not good, not good at all what the heck?

@sixrings You hit the nail on the head with some very important things that I want to highlight:

1) Small updates with very little in them
2) They're too far apart.
Adding to number 2, we never know when or if a certain game like this will or won't get any updates.

The exception seems to be games like Xenoblade where the content is quite obviously not worth the price, and most feels carved from the main game to sell in pieces.

@Moonlessky I’ll speak for myself. Yes. I would gladly have paid less and then evaluated if I wanted to buy a season pass. The idea that almost all Nintendo games have to be priced the same is insane.

@Arawn93 I’ll just take the current 44 likes on my comment to the 9 likes on your comment and I’ll assume the community has spoken. Something like 80% agree with me while somewhere near 20% agree with your take.

Borrowed this game off a friend to play for a bit. From what I've played, It's fine enough as an entry point, but I'm just not feeling it as a follow up to Charged or even the GC one for that matter.

That's cool I guess.

I liked the demo for what it was, I'll probably get around to picking up Mario Strikers early next year.

Too little and way too late... a franchise ruined along with the other Mario sports. Glad I sold mine on day 3.

Re-releasing the Gamecube era versions would put shovelware like this to shame.

@RubyCarbuncle you can click the dislike button instead of being passive aggressive... i'm sorry your emotions are dictated by others opinions. Must be tough to survive out there.

Apparently this is going to be the final free update to this game.So they never even fixed the most glaring issue of this game.

That sucks so hard.

The 9/10 showed just how out of touch Nlife are, I think. I was interested in this game because we're missing a great football game on Switch, but £50 fir such little content is an insult. Honestly, Nintendo have gone off the rails with regard to pricing some of their games in the Switch era.

Might pick up if it drops to $40

I already know Bowser JR cheats.

@jowe_gw I have enjoyed feature complete Nintendo releases since Yamauchi's reign. I couldn't care less about YouTube, I miss Miiverse

@Kayvoo What are you saying? What is your point here? My point is that saying that "Iwata's Nintendo" wouldn't do this is weird seeing how "that Nintendo" also did their weird stuff. Including the update model which also started with Iwata (Splatoon was developed with Iwata in charge).
Your point is now about Miiverse for some reason?

@John_Deacon
@Aurumonado “I don't play it anymore because it's got very little to offer. But I paid full price for it, so they made me a hater ahhahahahahahahha” this is my story as well. I’m done buying Nintendo games until I give them a solid test run. Thankfully the library has these games. But golf and soccer made me a bitter day one buyer.

@jowe_gw I was simply agreeing with someone that I feel short changed nowadays. Direct comparison of this game and Strikers on Wii shows the lack of content, also Toadstool Tour, Power Tennis, etc. Splatoon released as a budget title due to lack of content & mostly online gameplay. New stages were added much more frequently.

@Kayvoo Splatoon was full priced.

Lmao jeez this game is such a dud

@Kayvoo lol no this not correct. Splatoon is a full priced AAA game.

It’s nice to get some more characters, and usually I like the model of releasing new content over time to keep the player base coming back, but this game is so tremendously barebones. There are almost no modes to play, and once you blow through the limited tournaments, there’s essentially nothing to do offline whatsoever. I would’ve gladly taken new modes over characters and stadiums.

@Crockin No it wasn't, Splatoon 3 is tho which proves our point

@jowe_gw In the UK it was £30 at launch, also at a time when online was free