Mario Super Sluggers
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Wii
Rating: E — Everyone
Game type: Sports
Rating: **** (out of five)

What’s the premise?
Step up to the plate as everyone’s favourite red-capped Italian plumber and over 25 of his friends (and as yourself as a Mii) and swing for the fences using your Wii-mote as bat and ball in this gimmick-filled hardball action title.

This game is most similar to…?
Mario Superstar Baseball, Wii Sports Baseball.

Is it suitable for younger gamers?
With its very east-to-learn controls (very familiar for fans of Wii Sports Baseball) MSS has proven a nice little father-son bonding affair with my five-year-old son. I just wish I knew where he learned how to talk so much smack after taking one of his daddy’s fastballs downtown.

One player or more?
This is a first-party Wii game, right? The more the merrier.

The (not-so) secret to success is…?
Be a star. Making plays, getting hits and strikes all build up a star meter that, when charged, gives your pitcher a virtually unhittable pitch or your batter a monster belt.

What’s missing?
The campaign mode where you lead Mario’s team through various levels is a tad sparse, but then most people will only want the pick-up-and-play mode of this one anyway.

And in the end?
Offering a little more depth and some snazzy new wrinkles to what worked well with Wii Sports Baseball, Mario Super Sluggers is a sure-fire hit.