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{{Short description|2005 video game}}
{{Unreferenced|date=December 2007}}
{{Infobox VG
{{Infobox video game
|title=Mario Superstar Baseball
| title = Mario Superstar Baseball
|image=[[Image:Mario Superstar Baseball.jpg|256px]]
| image = Mario Superstar Baseball.jpg
|caption=North American box art
| caption = North American box art
|developer=[[Namco]], [[Nowpro]] <ref name="Now Production">{{cite web|title=Game Developer Research Institute |url=http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Now_Production}}</ref>
| developer = {{ubl|[[Namco]]|[[Now Production]]|[[Nintendo SPD]]}}
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
| publisher = [[Nintendo]]
| director = Hideki Tomida
|released={{vgrelease|JP=July 21, 2005|NA=August 29, 2005|PAL=November 11, 2005}}
| producer = Yasushi Ono<br>Toyokazu Nonaka
|genre=[[Sports game|Sports]]
| composer = Ayako Yamaguchi<br>Masasi Sugiyama<br>Nobuhiro Ohuchi<br>Kenichi Takahara<br>Toshio Kajino
|modes=[[Single-player]], [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| series = [[List of Mario sports games#Mario Baseball games|''Mario Baseball'']]
|ratings={{vgratings|CERO=A (All Ages)|ESRB=E (Everyone)|PEGI=3+|OFLCA=G (General)|USK=Alle}}
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|July 21, 2005|NA|August 29, 2005|AU|November 3, 2005|EU|November 11, 2005}}
|platforms=[[Nintendo GameCube]]
| genre = [[Sports video game|Sports]] ([[Baseball]])
|media=1 × [[Nintendo optical discs|GameCube Optical Disc]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[GameCube]]
}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''''Mario Superstar Baseball'''''|スーパーマリオスタジアム ミラクルベースボール|Sūpā Mario Sutajiamu Mirakuru Bēsubōru|lit. Super Mario Stadium Miracle Baseball}} is a [[sports game]] that was [[video game developer|developed]] by [[Namco]] and [[Camelot Software Planning]] and [[video game publisher|published]] by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] in [[2005]]. The game was created in the vein of other ''[[Mario]]'' [[sports game]]s such as ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]'' and ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]''. This game is now a [[Player's Choice]] title. The game has a sequel [[Mario Super Sluggers]] for the [[Wii]].
'''''Mario Superstar Baseball'''''{{efn|Known in Japan as {{Nihongo|'''''Super Mario Stadium Miracle Baseball'''''|スーパーマリオスタジアム ミラクルベースボール|Sūpā Mario Sutajiamu Mirakuru Bēsubōru|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}}}} is a 2005 [[Sports video game|sports]] [[Video game|game]] developed by [[Namco]] and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[GameCube]]. The game was created in the vein of other [[List of Mario sports games|''Mario'' sports games]] such as ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]'' and ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]''. A sequel, ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]'', was released for the [[Wii]] in 2008.<ref name="ninsluggers">{{cite web|title=''Mario Super Sluggers'' at Nintendo|url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/mQUJKyuhSvoByoNYTahPTY6ln-H-_ZtE|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913082621/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/mQUJKyuhSvoByoNYTahPTY6ln-H-_ZtE|archive-date=2008-09-13|access-date=3 July 2009|website=Nintendo|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]]}}</ref>

Gameplay mainly focuses on the player assuming the role of many [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'' series]] characters to challenge any opposing teams compatible in the Challenge Mode, the final being [[Bowser]], having [[baseball]] matches to see who will win the Cup of the mode. Other playable modes include Exhibition Mode, in which players choose the leader and the other rosters in the team and challenge another team to a single baseball game, and Minigames where the player must complete a certain mission. A common power-up in the game is a charged swing, a hit by a [[baseball bat]] performed by a character that will give the ball a strong hit, causing the length of a normal hit baseball to be twice as powerful. The game received generally favorable reviews from critics.

==Game modes==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}


==Game Modes==
===Exhibition Game===
===Exhibition Game===
A single game of baseball, players choose the Team Captain and a roster of players, and play one game. Players can choose which team bats first. Players can also choose how many innings the game will last, and pick their choice out of six unique stadiums. Bowser's Castle can be unlocked after beating Challenge Mode.
A single game of baseball, players choose the team captain and a roster of players, and play one game. Players can choose which team bats first. Players can also choose how many innings the game will last, and pick their choice out of six unique [[stadium]]s. Bowser's Castle can be unlocked after beating Challenge Mode.


===Challenge===
===Challenge===
The heart of ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' is the Challenge Mode. It is a single-player mode where the player selects a pre-built team and must defeat all the other teams; at first Bowser's team is the last team to beat for the cup, and must be unlocked before the player can use him. There are six teams, each led by one of the Captains ([[Mario]], [[Princess Peach|Peach]], [[Yoshi]], [[Donkey Kong (character)|Donkey Kong]], [[Wario]] and [[Bowser (Nintendo)|Bowser]]), features a secondary captain ([[Luigi]], [[List of Mario series characters#Princess Daisy|Daisy]], [[List of Mario series characters#Birdo|Birdo]], [[Diddy Kong]], [[List of Mario series characters#Waluigi|Waluigi]] and [[List of Mario series characters#Bowser Jr.|Bowser Jr.]]), and is filled with a mix of sub characters, some of which are duplicated within a team, but do not appear on any other team. For example, aside from the aforementioned captains and sub-captains, Mario's team consists of [[List of Mario series enemies#Monty Mole|Monty Mole]], 3 [[Super Mario Sunshine#Plot and Setting|Pianta]]s and 3 [[Super Mario Sunshine#Plot and Setting|Noki]]s, Princess Peach's team consists of [[List of Mario series characters#Toadette|Toadette]], [[List of Mario series characters#Toadsworth|Toadsworth]], and 5 [[Toad (Nintendo)|Toad]]s, Wario's team consists of [[List of Mario series enemies#Boo|Boo]], [[List of Mario series characters#King Boo|King Boo]], [[List of Mario series characters#Petey Piranha|Petey Piranha]], and 4 [[List of Mario series enemies#Magikoopa|Magikoopa]]s, Yoshi's team consists of [[Mario|Baby Mario]], [[Luigi|Baby Luigi]], and 5 [[List of Mario series enemies#Shy Guy|Shy Guy]]s, Donkey Kong's team consists of [[Dixie Kong]], [[List of Mario series enemies#Goomba|Goomba]], [[List of Mario series enemies#Goomba|Paragoomba]], 2 [[List of Mario series enemies#Koopa Troopa|Koopa Troopa]]s, and 2 [[List of Mario series enemies#Paratroopa|Koopa Paratroopa]]s and Bowser's team consists of 4 [[List of Mario series enemies#Dry Bones|Dry Bones]], [[List of Mario series enemies#Hammer Bros.|Hammer Bro]], [[List of Mario series enemies#Hammer Bros.|Fire Bro]], and [[List of Mario series enemies#Hammer Bros.|Boomerang Bro]] (although Hammer Bro, Fire Bro and Boomerang Bro are separate characters (enemies) in the Mario series, in this game, it is actually just a color variation of the same character.).<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Mariobaseball1.jpeg|thumb|Mario at bat while Bowser pitches]] -->
The heart of ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' is the Challenge Mode. It is a single-player mode where the player selects a pre-built team and must defeat all the other teams; at first Bowser's team is the last team to beat for the cup, and must be unlocked before the player can use him. There are six teams, each led by one of the Captains ([[Mario]], [[Princess Peach|Peach]], [[Yoshi]], [[Donkey Kong (character)|Donkey Kong]], [[Wario]], and [[Bowser]]), features a secondary captain ([[Luigi]], [[Princess Daisy|Daisy]], [[Birdo]], [[Diddy Kong]], [[Waluigi]], and [[Bowser Jr.]]), and is filled with a mix of sub characters, some of which are duplicated within a team, but do not appear on any other team. For example, aside from the aforementioned captains and sub-captains, Mario's team consists of Monty Mole, 3 Piantas, and 3 Nokis, Princess Peach's team consists of [[Toadette]], [[Toadsworth]], and 5 [[Toad (Nintendo)|Toad]]s, Wario's team consists of Boo, King Boo, Petey Piranha, and 4 Magikoopas, Yoshi's team consists of [[Baby Mario]], [[Baby Luigi]], and 5 [[Shy Guy (Mario)|Shy Guys]], Donkey Kong's team consists of [[Dixie Kong]], [[Goomba]], Paragoomba, 2 Paratroopas, and 2 [[Koopa Troopa]]s, and Bowser's team consists of 4 [[Dry Bones (Mario)|Dry Bones]], [[Hammer Bro]], Fire Bro, and Boomerang Bro (although Hammer Bro, Fire Bro and Boomerang Bro are separate characters (enemies) in the Mario series, in this game, it is actually just a color variation of the same character.).<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Mariobaseball1.jpeg|thumb|Mario at bat while Bowser pitches]] -->
Players challenge the other teams, beating the other four opens the path to Bowser's castle. The secondary purpose of defeating other teams is to recruit other characters to improve ones team. On opposing teams, each character has a set of scouting flags. During the game players will have mission objectives like "Strike 'em out", or "Score a run", that earn flags; if one gets all the flags of a particular character and wins the game, that character will be recruited. Flags are cumulative, so if the player doesn't get all the flags in a game, or loses the game after getting all the flags, the flags earned will remain when the team is challenged again; a team can be challenged as long as the captain of the team is not recruited. Players of a different color can't be recruited and can only be played in minigames and playing with the teams they start on.
Players challenge the other teams, beating the other four opens the path to Bowser's castle. The secondary purpose of defeating other teams is to recruit other characters to improve ones team. On opposing teams, each character has a set of scouting flags. During the game players will have mission objectives like "Strike 'em out", or "Score a run", that earn flags; if one gets all the flags of a particular character and wins the game, that character will be recruited. If the player fails to complete a mission, he/she must wait for a while to complete another mission. Flags are cumulative, so if the player doesn't get all the flags in a game, or loses the game after getting all the flags, the flags earned will remain when the team is challenged again; a team can be challenged as long as the captain of the team is not recruited. Players of a different color can't be recruited and can only be played in minigames and playing with the teams they start on.


If the team captain is recruited, his or her team will disband; any characters from that team that were not recruited will join a team led by Bowser Jr. Another way to recruit characters is by a mercy win; if either team is leading by at least 10 runs at the end of an inning, the game is called out of mercy to the losing team. If the player wins a game in this fashion, all characters on the opposing team will be so impressed that they will immediately join.
If the team captain is recruited, his or her team will disband; any characters from that team that were not recruited will join a team led by Bowser Jr. Another way to recruit characters is by a mercy win; if either team is leading by at least 10 runs at the end of an inning, the game is called out of mercy to the losing team. If the player wins a game in this fashion, all characters on the opposing team will be so impressed that they will immediately join.


After every game or minigame, Bowser Jr. will wander around the map; if the player runs into him, they will be forced to play a game in the bottom of the 9th inning, with the player randomly chosen as visitor or home. If the player's team is the visiting team, then they will have the lead and must stop Bowser Jr. from mounting a comeback; otherwise, it is the player's job to mount a comeback. Beating Bowser Jr. earns the player 100 coins to use in the shop, while losing costs the player 100 of their coins. It should be noted that in the event of having an odd coin count when losing to Bowser Jr., the coins will be rounded up. Bowser Jr.'s team also has players from disbanded teams that the player can recruit; in which case the only mission objective is "Win the game.".
After every game or minigame, Bowser Jr. will wander around the map; if the player runs into him, they will be forced to play a game in the bottom of the 9th inning, with the player randomly chosen as visitor or home. If the player's team is the visiting team, then they will have the lead and must stop Bowser Jr. from mounting a comeback; otherwise, it is the player's job to mount a comeback. Beating Bowser Jr. earns the player 100 coins to use in the shop, while losing costs the player half of their coins. In the event of having an odd coin count when losing to Bowser Jr., the coins will be rounded up. Bowser Jr.'s team also has players from disbanded teams that the player can recruit; in which case the only mission objective is "Win the game."


There is a shop located on the map for purchasing power-ups, each worth a certain number of coins that the player earns from the minigames or Bowser Jr. In order for a Captain to use their special abilities, they must be purchased from the shop; these power-ups are permanent, and can be carried over into other Challenge Mode games by continuing from a previously cleared game. Other power-ups offer a temporary boost to a stat for all characters on their team, but they only last for one game, win or lose. Toad runs the shop.
There is a shop located on the map for purchasing power-ups, each worth a certain number of coins that the player earns from the minigames or Bowser Jr. In order for a Captain to use their special abilities, they must be purchased from the shop; these power-ups are permanent, and can be carried over into other Challenge Mode games by continuing from a previously cleared game. Other power-ups offer a temporary boost to a stat for all characters on their team, but they only last for one game, win or lose. A Toad runs the shop.


Another goal during Challenge Mode is the Superstar quest; each character has a set of requirement that earn stars. If a character meets all of his or her requirements, then the character upgrades to a Superstar, and gets a boost in all their abilities. Also, once a character becomes a Superstar, the Superstar version of the character can be used in other game modes. There's a simple way to figure out the number of superstar missions per player. The captain of the team has 10 missions. The 2nd captain has eight. Minor characters have six. And characters of race (excluding Monty Mole who has six) have four. Note that players like Red Koopa and Black Shy Guy can be unlocked by completing the main changing color player like Blue Pianta & Blue Noki.
Another goal during Challenge Mode is the Superstar quest; each character has a set of requirement that earn stars. If a character meets all of his or her requirements, then the character upgrades to a Superstar, and gets a boost in all their abilities. Also, once a character becomes a Superstar, the Superstar version of the character can be used in other game modes. There's a simple way to figure out the number of superstar missions per player. The captain of the team has 10 missions. The 2nd captain has eight. Minor characters have six. And characters of race (excluding Monty Mole who has six) have four. Note that players like Red Koopa and Black Shy Guy can be unlocked by completing the main changing color player like Blue Pianta & Blue Noki.


The game settings in this mode that can't be changed are as follows: Your team bats first, and the star skills and a mercy are turned on. There are four difficulty settings for challenge mode that are similar to those of ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' - Mushroom (easy), Flower (medium), Star (hard), and Special (very hard). On Mushroom, Flower, and Star difficulty settings, four other teams are challenged for three innings. After each team has been beaten at least once, Bowser is played for five innings. On Special difficulty setting, the innings change so that each team is played with two additional innings from before. Once the player clears Special difficulty, then Bowser is selectable as a team captain. When using him as a team captain, the rules slightly change: The other teams invade Bowser's castle, and Bowser must beat them in a game of baseball to win his castle back. Bowser has to beat the initial five teams, then they come together to form a team of captains lead by Mario that Bowser must defeat; Bowser can still recruit other characters, except the captains and sub-captains; and because Bowser Jr. is on his team, he does not wander the map to challenge a player, so you must play minigames to earn coins.
The game rules that cannot be changed are as follows: Your team bats first, and the Star Skills and mercy are turned on. There are four difficulty settings for challenge mode that are similar to those of ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash]]'' - Mushroom (easy), Flower (medium), Star (hard), and Special (very hard). On Mushroom, Flower, and Star difficulty setting, four other teams are challenged for three innings. After each team has been beaten at least once, Bowser is played for five innings. On Special difficulty setting, the innings change so that each team is played with two additional innings from before. Once the player clears Special difficulty, then Bowser is selectable as a team captain. When using him as a team captain, the rules slightly change: The other teams invade Bowser's castle, and Bowser must beat them in a game of baseball to win his castle back. Bowser has to beat the initial five teams, then they come together to form a team of captains led by Mario that Bowser must defeat; Bowser can still recruit other characters, except the captains and sub-captains; and because Bowser Jr. is on his team, he does not wander the map to challenge a player, so you must play minigames to earn coins.


===Toy Field===
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
Using four players and a metallic field decked with large buttons (reminiscent of the old "pitch and bat" machines), players will either gain or lose coins depending on where the ball lands. There are several types of spaces the player can land on.
| GR = 76.70%<ref name="GR">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/925314-mario-superstar-baseball/index.html |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' for GameCube |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025111505/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/925314-mario-superstar-baseball/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| MC = 76/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/mario-superstar-baseball/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' for GameCube Reviews |access-date=January 24, 2015 |website=[[Metacritic]] |archive-date=January 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115070811/http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/mario-superstar-baseball |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Edge = 6/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' |author=Edge staff |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |issue=154 |date=October 2005}}</ref>
| EGM = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' |author=EGM staff |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=196 |date=October 2005 |page=118}}</ref>
| EuroG = 6/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_mariobaseball_gc |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' |first=Jim |last=Rossignol |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=November 21, 2005 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025105926/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_mariobaseball_gc |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GI = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/AAFF4F98-4EAC-4BE9-8297-BF4245CCC335.htm |title=''Mario <nowiki>[Superstar]</nowiki> Baseball'' |first=Andrew |last=Reiner |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |issue=149 |date=September 2005 |page=104 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106153106/http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/AAFF4F98-4EAC-4BE9-8297-BF4245CCC335.htm |archive-date=January 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>
| GamePro = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/48010.shtml |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' Review for GameCube|author=The Watcher |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=August 29, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050924222312/http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/48010.shtml |archive-date=September 24, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8/10<ref name="GameSpot"/>
| GSpy = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/mario-baseball/646112p1.html |title=GameSpy: ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' |first=Raymond |last=Padilla |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |date=August 29, 2005 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025110310/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/mario-baseball/646112p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GT = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/zb3sro/mario-superstar-baseball--review |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' Review |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |date=August 31, 2005 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025114034/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/zb3sro/mario-superstar-baseball--review |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GameZone = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/mario_superstar_baseball_gc_review |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' - GC - Review |first=Anise |last=Hollingshead |publisher=GameZone |date=September 19, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224131035/http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r26774.htm |archive-date=February 24, 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.9/10<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/mario-superstar-baseball |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' |first=Matt |last=Casamassina |website=[[IGN]] |date=August 25, 2005 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025121451/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/mario-superstar-baseball |url-status=live }}</ref>
| NP = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |volume=196 |date=October 2005 |page=99}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Detroit Free Press]]''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.freep.com/entertainment/videogames/gmini4e_20050904.htm |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' |first=Ryan |last=Huschka |newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=September 4, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050917231739/http://www.freep.com/entertainment/videogames/gmini4e_20050904.htm |archive-date=September 17, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/mario-superstar-baseball/2006/01/17/1137466994594.html |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' |first=Jason |last=Hill |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=January 19, 2006 |access-date=January 24, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924200645/http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/mario-superstar-baseball/2006/01/17/1137466994594.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
The game was met with positive reception, as [[GameRankings]] gave it a score of 76.70%,<ref name="GR"/> while [[Metacritic]] gave it 76 out of 100.<ref name="MC"/>


Robert Workman of ''[[GameDaily]]'' praised the game, writing, "...I found [''Mario Superstar Baseball''] to grow on me."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/gamecube/review/?id=824&source=00001&gameid=4343 |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' Review |first=Robert |last=Workman |publisher=[[GameDaily]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051116130509/http://www.gamedaily.com/gamecube/review/?id=824&source=00001&gameid=4343 |archive-date=November 16, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'' praised the game, while noting its inconsistent production values<ref name="IGN"/> ''[[GameSpot]]'' awarded the game an 8 out of 10.<ref name="GameSpot">{{cite web |last=Colayco |first=Bob |date=August 29, 2005 |title=''Mario Superstar Baseball'' Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-superstar-baseball-review/1900-6132192/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219052223/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-superstar-baseball-review/1900-6132192/ |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=January 24, 2015 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref>
When the ball is put into play, the player that retrieves the ball before it runs out of momentum will bat next. If the batters strikes out, the pitcher bats next. If the batter is struck out, they must give the pitcher 30 coins. If a batter is directly caught out, they must give the catcher 50 coins. If the ball is not caught before it runs out of momentum or 4 ball results are pitched, the batter gets another turn. The player with the most coins at the end of the game is the winner. The player gets to choose how many turns the game will last.


===Minigames===
===Awards===
* [[G-Phoria#Winners of G-Phoria|G-Phoria]]'s Best Alternative Sports Game for 2006
All games are for 1-4 players.


{{clear}}
''Bob-omb Derby''- Hit homers with [[Bob-omb]]s using a charged swing to gain points. Anything other than a homer is worth nothing. Get enough points to win.


==Notes==
''Wall Ball''- Pitch balls to break walls. The walls with musical notes on them are worth the most points if hit last, and hitting one of the Bowser walls last causes the player to lose points. The player with the most points after three pitching rounds wins.
{{notelist}}

''Chain Chomp Sprint''- Collect as many diamonds as possible by running around the bases. If the [[Chain Chomp]] wakes up, it will steal some of the diamonds from players that were moving when it awakens. The player with the most diamonds wins.

''Piranha Panic''- Throw the colored eggs to its correctly colored Piranha Plant. Any egg can be thrown at the giant purple Piranha plant. The fire the plants spit out should be taken into consideration when a player throws an egg at the different colored Piranha Plant and another player's Bob-ombs. The player with the most points wins.

''Barrel Batter''- Hit as many barrels as possible to gain points. After a certain number of barrels are blown, a special barrel appears for one pitch only. Hitting it destroys all the barrels. Get enough points to win.

''Star Dash''- (must be unlocked) Collect as many coins as possible as they are shot out of a Coin Generator. Mushrooms sometimes come out, too. Red ones produce a speed boost, while purple ones grant the opposite effect. Stars will also sometimes appear. Anybody who touches a star becomes temporarily invincible, and can run into other characters to knock them out and steal their coins and can knock through obstacles around the generator. The player with the most coins wins.

''Grand Prix''- (must be unlocked) All minigames are randomly chosen for player to place first out of four. First place is 10 points, second place is 6 points, third place is 3 points, and last place is zero points. If playing against a computer, it is automatically on special difficulty. The winner is whoever has the most points after all minigames are played.

===Practice===
This is where players can practice the various controls for ''Mario Superstar Baseball''. This includes batting, pitching, running, and fielding.

==Characters==
{{mainarticle|Sports games in the Mario series#Mario Baseball}}

==Voice Acting==
[[Charles Martinet]]: [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Wario]], [[List of Mario series characters#Waluigi|Waluigi]], [[Mario#Baby Mario|Baby Mario]], [[Luigi#Baby Luigi|Baby Luigi]], [[List of Mario series characters#Toadsworth|Toadsworth]]<br />
[[Jen Taylor]]: [[Princess Peach]], [[List of Mario series characters#Toad|Toad]], [[List of Mario series characters#Toadette|Toadette]], [[Dixie Kong]]<br />
[[Scott Burns (voice actor)|Scott Burns]]: [[Bowser (Nintendo)|Bowser]], [[Super Mario Sunshine|Pianta]]<br />
[[Dolores Rogers]]: [[List of Mario series characters#Bowser Jr.|Bowser Jr.]]<br />
[[Deanna Mustard]]: [[List of Mario series characters#Princess Daisy|Princess Daisy]]<br />
[[Kazumi Totaka]]: [[Yoshi]]<br />
[[Isaac Marshall]]: [[List of Mario series characters#Birdo|Birdo]]<br />
[[Takashi Nagasako]]: [[Donkey Kong (character)|Donkey Kong]]

==Reception==
{{Expand-section|date=December 2008}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2008}}
{{VG Reviews
|IGN=7.9 out of 10
|GSpy={{Rating|4|5}}
|GSpot=8.0 out of 10
|EGM=7 out of 10
|GI=7 out of 10
|EuroG=6 out of 10
|GT=8.5 out of 10
|NP=9 out of 10
|XPlay={{Rating|4|5}}
|Edge=6 out of 10
|GR=77% (46 reviews)
}}
The game has had generally positive reviews.

===Awards===
*[[G-Phoria#Winners of G-Phoria 2006|G-Phoria]]'s Best Alternative Sports Game for 2006


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Video games|2000s}}
* [http://www.mariobaseball.com Official ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' website]
* {{moby game|id=/gamecube/mario-superstar-baseball}}
* {{Nintendo.com|id=e10916ac-c831-4dc2-8485-c50a02937b60|title=Mario Superstar Baseball}}
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/gamecube/data/925314.html ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' on GameFaqs]
* [http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/sports/mariobaseball/index.html ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' on Gamespot]
* [http://cube.ign.com/articles/645/645480p1.html]


{{Mario sports games}}
{{Mario sports games}}


[[Category:2005 video games]]
[[Category:2005 video games]]
[[Category:Mario baseball games]]
[[Category:Baseball video games]]
[[Category:Mario sports games]]
[[Category:GameCube-only games]]
[[Category:GameCube-only games]]
[[Category:Namco games]]
[[Category:Namco games]]
[[Category:Now Production games]]

[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[es:Mario Superstar Baseball]]
[[Category:GameCube games]]
[[fr:Mario Superstar Baseball]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[nl:Mario Superstar Baseball]]
[[ja:スーパーマリオスタジアム ミラクルベースボール]]

Latest revision as of 20:51, 21 November 2024

Mario Superstar Baseball
North American box art
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Hideki Tomida
Producer(s)Yasushi Ono
Toyokazu Nonaka
Composer(s)Ayako Yamaguchi
Masasi Sugiyama
Nobuhiro Ohuchi
Kenichi Takahara
Toshio Kajino
SeriesMario Baseball
Platform(s)GameCube
Release
  • JP: July 21, 2005
  • NA: August 29, 2005
  • AU: November 3, 2005
  • EU: November 11, 2005
Genre(s)Sports (Baseball)
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Mario Superstar Baseball[a] is a 2005 sports game developed by Namco and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. The game was created in the vein of other Mario sports games such as Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Power Tennis. A sequel, Mario Super Sluggers, was released for the Wii in 2008.[1]

Gameplay mainly focuses on the player assuming the role of many Mario series characters to challenge any opposing teams compatible in the Challenge Mode, the final being Bowser, having baseball matches to see who will win the Cup of the mode. Other playable modes include Exhibition Mode, in which players choose the leader and the other rosters in the team and challenge another team to a single baseball game, and Minigames where the player must complete a certain mission. A common power-up in the game is a charged swing, a hit by a baseball bat performed by a character that will give the ball a strong hit, causing the length of a normal hit baseball to be twice as powerful. The game received generally favorable reviews from critics.

Game modes

[edit]

Exhibition Game

[edit]

A single game of baseball, players choose the team captain and a roster of players, and play one game. Players can choose which team bats first. Players can also choose how many innings the game will last, and pick their choice out of six unique stadiums. Bowser's Castle can be unlocked after beating Challenge Mode.

Challenge

[edit]

The heart of Mario Superstar Baseball is the Challenge Mode. It is a single-player mode where the player selects a pre-built team and must defeat all the other teams; at first Bowser's team is the last team to beat for the cup, and must be unlocked before the player can use him. There are six teams, each led by one of the Captains (Mario, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, and Bowser), features a secondary captain (Luigi, Daisy, Birdo, Diddy Kong, Waluigi, and Bowser Jr.), and is filled with a mix of sub characters, some of which are duplicated within a team, but do not appear on any other team. For example, aside from the aforementioned captains and sub-captains, Mario's team consists of Monty Mole, 3 Piantas, and 3 Nokis, Princess Peach's team consists of Toadette, Toadsworth, and 5 Toads, Wario's team consists of Boo, King Boo, Petey Piranha, and 4 Magikoopas, Yoshi's team consists of Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, and 5 Shy Guys, Donkey Kong's team consists of Dixie Kong, Goomba, Paragoomba, 2 Paratroopas, and 2 Koopa Troopas, and Bowser's team consists of 4 Dry Bones, Hammer Bro, Fire Bro, and Boomerang Bro (although Hammer Bro, Fire Bro and Boomerang Bro are separate characters (enemies) in the Mario series, in this game, it is actually just a color variation of the same character.). Players challenge the other teams, beating the other four opens the path to Bowser's castle. The secondary purpose of defeating other teams is to recruit other characters to improve ones team. On opposing teams, each character has a set of scouting flags. During the game players will have mission objectives like "Strike 'em out", or "Score a run", that earn flags; if one gets all the flags of a particular character and wins the game, that character will be recruited. If the player fails to complete a mission, he/she must wait for a while to complete another mission. Flags are cumulative, so if the player doesn't get all the flags in a game, or loses the game after getting all the flags, the flags earned will remain when the team is challenged again; a team can be challenged as long as the captain of the team is not recruited. Players of a different color can't be recruited and can only be played in minigames and playing with the teams they start on.

If the team captain is recruited, his or her team will disband; any characters from that team that were not recruited will join a team led by Bowser Jr. Another way to recruit characters is by a mercy win; if either team is leading by at least 10 runs at the end of an inning, the game is called out of mercy to the losing team. If the player wins a game in this fashion, all characters on the opposing team will be so impressed that they will immediately join.

After every game or minigame, Bowser Jr. will wander around the map; if the player runs into him, they will be forced to play a game in the bottom of the 9th inning, with the player randomly chosen as visitor or home. If the player's team is the visiting team, then they will have the lead and must stop Bowser Jr. from mounting a comeback; otherwise, it is the player's job to mount a comeback. Beating Bowser Jr. earns the player 100 coins to use in the shop, while losing costs the player half of their coins. In the event of having an odd coin count when losing to Bowser Jr., the coins will be rounded up. Bowser Jr.'s team also has players from disbanded teams that the player can recruit; in which case the only mission objective is "Win the game."

There is a shop located on the map for purchasing power-ups, each worth a certain number of coins that the player earns from the minigames or Bowser Jr. In order for a Captain to use their special abilities, they must be purchased from the shop; these power-ups are permanent, and can be carried over into other Challenge Mode games by continuing from a previously cleared game. Other power-ups offer a temporary boost to a stat for all characters on their team, but they only last for one game, win or lose. A Toad runs the shop.

Another goal during Challenge Mode is the Superstar quest; each character has a set of requirement that earn stars. If a character meets all of his or her requirements, then the character upgrades to a Superstar, and gets a boost in all their abilities. Also, once a character becomes a Superstar, the Superstar version of the character can be used in other game modes. There's a simple way to figure out the number of superstar missions per player. The captain of the team has 10 missions. The 2nd captain has eight. Minor characters have six. And characters of race (excluding Monty Mole who has six) have four. Note that players like Red Koopa and Black Shy Guy can be unlocked by completing the main changing color player like Blue Pianta & Blue Noki.

The game rules that cannot be changed are as follows: Your team bats first, and the Star Skills and mercy are turned on. There are four difficulty settings for challenge mode that are similar to those of Mario Kart: Double Dash - Mushroom (easy), Flower (medium), Star (hard), and Special (very hard). On Mushroom, Flower, and Star difficulty setting, four other teams are challenged for three innings. After each team has been beaten at least once, Bowser is played for five innings. On Special difficulty setting, the innings change so that each team is played with two additional innings from before. Once the player clears Special difficulty, then Bowser is selectable as a team captain. When using him as a team captain, the rules slightly change: The other teams invade Bowser's castle, and Bowser must beat them in a game of baseball to win his castle back. Bowser has to beat the initial five teams, then they come together to form a team of captains led by Mario that Bowser must defeat; Bowser can still recruit other characters, except the captains and sub-captains; and because Bowser Jr. is on his team, he does not wander the map to challenge a player, so you must play minigames to earn coins.

Reception

[edit]

The game was met with positive reception, as GameRankings gave it a score of 76.70%,[2] while Metacritic gave it 76 out of 100.[3]

Robert Workman of GameDaily praised the game, writing, "...I found [Mario Superstar Baseball] to grow on me."[17] IGN praised the game, while noting its inconsistent production values[13] GameSpot awarded the game an 8 out of 10.[9]

Awards

[edit]
  • G-Phoria's Best Alternative Sports Game for 2006

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Known in Japan as Super Mario Stadium Miracle Baseball (Japanese: スーパーマリオスタジアム ミラクルベースボール, Hepburn: Sūpā Mario Sutajiamu Mirakuru Bēsubōru)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mario Super Sluggers at Nintendo". Nintendo. Nintendo of America. Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Mario Superstar Baseball for GameCube". GameRankings. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Mario Superstar Baseball for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  4. ^ Edge staff (October 2005). "Mario Superstar Baseball". Edge. No. 154.
  5. ^ EGM staff (October 2005). "Mario Superstar Baseball". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 196. p. 118.
  6. ^ Rossignol, Jim (November 21, 2005). "Mario Superstar Baseball". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  7. ^ Reiner, Andrew (September 2005). "Mario [Superstar] Baseball". Game Informer. No. 149. p. 104. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  8. ^ The Watcher (August 29, 2005). "Mario Superstar Baseball Review for GameCube". GamePro. Archived from the original on September 24, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Colayco, Bob (August 29, 2005). "Mario Superstar Baseball Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  10. ^ Padilla, Raymond (August 29, 2005). "GameSpy: Mario Superstar Baseball". GameSpy. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  11. ^ "Mario Superstar Baseball Review". GameTrailers. August 31, 2005. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  12. ^ Hollingshead, Anise (September 19, 2005). "Mario Superstar Baseball - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Casamassina, Matt (August 25, 2005). "Mario Superstar Baseball". IGN. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "Mario Superstar Baseball". Nintendo Power. Vol. 196. October 2005. p. 99.
  15. ^ Huschka, Ryan (September 4, 2005). "Mario Superstar Baseball". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 17, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  16. ^ Hill, Jason (January 19, 2006). "Mario Superstar Baseball". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  17. ^ Workman, Robert. "Mario Superstar Baseball Review". GameDaily. Archived from the original on November 16, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
[edit]
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