Mario Sports Mix

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Template:Infobox Mario Sports Mix is a Mario sports game for the Wii, featuring Mario and company competing in four sports: Hockey, Basketball, Dodgeball, and Volleyball, along with the Final Fantasy characters who have appeared in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 as well. Slime, a Dragon Quest mascot, makes an appearance in this game, too. This game is developed by Square Enix, who also developed Mario Hoops 3-on-3.

Gameplay

There is cooperative play, as well as versus. Cooperative play is for up to three players, while competitive is for up to four players. The Wii Remote and Nunchuk control style are used as the control scheme for the game. However, the player can also use the Wii Remote in the horizontal position. Players are able to perform actions through moving the Wii Remote, such as jumping or hitting a volleyball.

Basketball

Basketball plays the same way as in Mario Hoops 3-on-3, but with a few changes.

Basketball is played in a similar way as in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. The coins that the players gather along the way are added to their score. Also in this sport, there is a shot clock on the bottom-left hand corner of the screen so the characters can shoot within the time limit, just like in a professional NBA game. Each shot inside the 2-point line is worth two points, while shots outside the line and special shots give the team three points. Collected coins also add one point for each coin to the total score (for example, if a special shot is made and there are seven coins, then the team receives ten points). Players are also able to defend, block, and make dunks in this game in a similar way as the real game. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, then sudden death commences. With this extra period in this sport, no game ends in a draw.

Volleyball

Mario about to serve in Volleyball.

As in Mario Hoops 3-on-3, there are ? Panels in the floor, which give items to the players who step on them. The coin system is also the same and it increases the team's total score (based on the amount of coins the players gather). Volleyball is the only sport in the game that doesn't have a time limit. Players can serve and spike the ball in similar ways to the real game. Unlike most of the games, many of the stages often relay obstacles that may deflect the players' serves and hits.

Hockey

The opening face-off in Hockey.

Like all of the other sports, hockey also has the ? Panels on the floor that gives the players items or extra coins that increases their total score. Additionally, the puck itself is a Coin. A hockey game always begins with a face-off that is done by a Lakitu to determine which team gets the puck. Scoring a goal or a special shot results in another face-off. The goalkeepers in this sport are Shy Guys. Their color depends on which team they're in (for example, the red Shy Guy represents the red team while the blue one represents the blue team). On courts without ice, the game involves the characters wearing roller blades as opposed to skates. In order to steal the puck, players must tackle each other, which can be achieved by the motion of shaking the Wii Remote or simply by making a character go next to the opponent with the puck. Sometimes, a struggle ensues and players must shake their Wii Remote the fastest they can in order to win the puck over and knock the opponents away.

Dodgeball

A match of Dodgeball.

Dodgeball is mostly played by throwing a ball. There are two teams of two or three characters and a colored Yoshi (red and blue, according to which team the characters are on) on the players' teams. Players have a Health Meter and lose a portion when they get hit, except for the colored Yoshi. The colored Yoshi can never be "knocked out," but cannot leave the box at the back of the court. Players can not control the Yoshis unless they encounter the ball. If players lose all their HP, they are out and they are sent with Yoshi of their team into the box. However, unlike the Yoshis in the box, they can leave if they hit someone with the ball. Players that do this also get a small amount of their HP regained. Also, if both teams have at least one player remaining at the end of the game, sudden death follows. With this term, no game ends in a draw. Items can be used to hinder the opposing team and can be thrown onto the court or used with the ball. Sometimes players encounter coins. If this happens, higher levels of stamina be lost if opponents get hit.

Characters

Playable Characters

There are nineteen playable characters in Mario Sports Mix. All of them are categorized by five groups: green, orange, crimson, blue, and hotpink.

• green - All-Rounders have normal Power, Speed, and Technique. All-Rounders generally aren't weak at any stats, but they aren't strong in any either.
• orange - Technical characters have more Technique, but less Speed and Power. These characters can better aim their shots. They can also give them a curve.
• crimson - Powerful characters have more Power, but less Speed and Technique. These characters have stronger and faster attacks and shots.
• blue - Speedy characters have more Speed, but less Power and Technique. These characters can move faster over the ground.
• hotpink - Tricky characters have one stronger stat, but the others are usually very low. However, they do have some useful, but tricky moves.

Like Mario Hoops 3-on-3, this game is shown to make use of character specific abilities. Prior to using these abilities, there is a meter that needs to be filled (shown on the bottom left and right corners of the gameplay screen). These abilities in question can allow the characters to unleash a powerful move in the variety of sports in the game that can help the player win a game. Each special ability is unique to each character and these moves tend to vary from the sport that players are playing.

Finally, the playable characters have their own stat values, which depict their strengths and weaknesses. For the respective charts shown below on this article, the stat values for each playable character are out of 5.

Default Characters

All-rounder Characters

Character	Special Ability	Stats
	Mario blasts a goal or a character with a fiery shot. The shot can be prevented by force, but can slip into the goal if the character fails to hold it off. In dodgeball, the blast has a radius that can hit nearby opponents.	Power	3/5
		Speed	3/5
		Technique	3/5
	Luigi first attempts to suck characters towards him while he is using his Poltergust 3000. After he draws them in, he makes a shot on a character or the goal.	Power	2/5
		Speed	3/5
		Technique	4/5
	Yoshi throws the ball in a single, bouncy rainbow line. The rainbow line quickly changes where it is going to land, possibly confusing players. In basketball and dodgeball, it is rather two bouncy balls heading towards their goal.	Power	3/5
		Speed	4/5
		Technique	2/5
	The Mii builds up energy as it aims to make its goal. When the ball hits in the ground in dodgeball, it sends out a blast radius than can hit anyone inside the blast radius. Characters can stop the shot in other sports a similar way as how Mario makes a shot.	Power	3/5
		Speed	3/5
		Technique	3/5

Technical Characters

Character	Special Ability	Stats
	Before sending the ball/puck, Peach sends hearts out. Any character that gets hit by a heart gets stunned for a few seconds. Peach then sends the ball/puck into its respective place.	Power	1/5
		Speed	3/5
		Technique	5/5
	Daisy makes a small garden appear where her aim is. The garden limits movement of other characters. After she is finished building up energy, Daisy throws the item into her goal.	Power	2/5
		Speed	2/5
		Technique	5/5
	Waluigi soars in the air and brings out a machine. The machine has 4 arms that sends out electricity to stop any would-be attackers. After Waluigi has fired his third shot, he shoots for his goal. In dodgeball, if any of his shots hit any character, they are counted. In basketball, each successful shot is worth "1" point, instead of "3" (like with all the other characters).	Power	2/5
		Speed	2/5
		Technique	5/5

Powerful Characters

Character	Special Ability	Stats
	Wario throws his trademark bomb similar to that of the WarioWare series. The bomb then explodes, which can knock any character in the explosion away. After the bomb has detonated, it fills up the court with gas, obscuring the view where Wario is going to shoot; that can make it hard for players (including Wario) to tell where the ball is going to be thrown to. Wario then shoots at his destination.	Power	5/5
		Speed	2/5
		Technique	2/5
	Bowser spits a fireball at an area near his goal, where it makes a large blast. Any character that gets caught in the blast radius ends up knocked away and burnt. With brute force, Bowser then sends the object to his goal.	Power	5/5
		Speed	1/5
		Technique	2/5
	Donkey Kong bangs the ground with his simian strength that causes all characters in the opponent's side to be dazed. After this attack, Donkey Kong tosses the object into his goal.	Power	5/5
		Speed	1/5
		Technique	3/5

Speedy Characters

Character	Special Ability	Stats
	Bowser Jr. takes out his trademark paintbrush and paints the ground with it. The painted ground makes characters easily lose their traction and slip, which makes it trickier to stop Bowser Jr. from scoring. Bowser Jr. then takes a shot to his goal.	Power	3/5
		Speed	5/5
		Technique	1/5
	Diddy Kong throws a banana boomerang that has an exponential curve. The boomerang stuns any defender it hits and after the hiatus, Diddy Kong then makes a shot.	Power	1/5
		Speed	5/5
		Technique	3/5
	Toad makes mushrooms appear that can hinder other players from preventing him to make a point or a shot. The mushrooms move automatically to make it even trickier to prevent the shot.	Power	2/5
		Speed	5/5
		Technique	2/5

Unlockable Characters

Template:Spoiler The Final Fantasy characters from Mario Hoops 3-on-3 make a return in this game. Additionally, the Dragon Quest character Slime makes an appearance, previously having appeared in Itadaki Street DS. These characters are all unlockable and also the only unlockable characters of the game.

Unlocked characters can only be used in the sports that they're unlocked in. However, characters who are unlocked by clearing Star Road can be used for all sports.

It should be noted that for the characters that are unlocked by playing a certain number of matches, the player isn't required to win every match. Also, Wi-Fi matches do count as well.

All-rounder Character

Character	Special Ability	How to Unlock	Stats
	Ninja makes two copies of himself and go for the goal. The two copies are simply illusions and do not count for a point, but if the actual Ninja scores, he and his team gets a point. In dodgeball, if his copies hits opponents, they lose a section of their HP despite the copies being illusions.	Clear Star Road once.	Power	3/5
			Speed	4/5
			Technique	3/5

Technical Character

Character	Special Ability	How To Unlock	Stats
	White Mage aims her goal using a different aiming circle than any other character in the game. The aim is then proceeded by a shot, which is a blast of light. Any character that gets hit by the blast flies out of the way and loses a section of HP if played in dodgeball. In volleyball, the player can't choose the location of where the ball will land.	Clear Star Road twice. Clear a certain Mushroom Cup mission.	Power	2/5
			Speed	3/5
			Technique	5/5

Tricky Characters

Character	Special Ability	How to Unlock	Stats
	Black Mage waves his wand and makes his nearby opponents tiny, as if they consumed a Mini Mushroom. He then sends the ball into the location of his aim.	Clear Star Road three times. Clear a certain Mushroom Cup mission.	Power	2/5
			Speed	2/5
			Technique	5/5
	Slime sends copies of itself into the court. The Slime copies stun any character they touch and they appear to follow the characters. Slime then tosses the ball into its point of aim.	Play 28 matches.	Power	5/5
			Speed	2/5
			Technique	1/5
	When Moogle throws the ball, the ball disappears briefly, and then reappears at a different spot. The move could throw off opponents.	Clear the Mushroom Cup.	Power	1/5
			Speed	2/5
			Technique	5/5
	Cactuar fires needles that can hinder the players' movements (players are briefly immobilized at times). Afterward, Cactuar throws the ball at its target.	Play 60 matches. Clear a certain Star Cup mission.	Power	1/5
			Speed	red
			Technique	1/5

Alternate Outfits

Blue Toad has been won in Dodgeball.

Certain characters have alternate outfits that can be unlocked by performing certain objectives. Alternate outfits can only be used in the sports that they are unlocked in, but outfits unlocked by clearing Star Road can be used for all sports.

The player should note that the players don't actually have to win the matches to be counted, and the minimum requirement for unlocking is at least having the characters in the players' team. Matches also get counted by the action of playing Wi-Fi. To select another outfit, the player has to press the button on the Wii Remote, regardless of the control scheme used.

Character	Alternate Outfit	Usage Unlock Method	Mission Unlock Method	Star Road Unlock Method
Yoshi	Light Blue Yoshi	Play 15 matches as Yoshi.	Complete a certain mission at the Flower Cup.
	Yellow Yoshi	Play 20 matches as Yoshi.	Complete a certain mission at the Flower Cup.
	Pink Yoshi	Play 25 matches as Yoshi.	Complete a certain mission at the Flower Cup.
Peach	Tennis-wear	Play 20 matches as Peach.	Complete a certain mission at the Mushroom Cup.
Daisy	Tennis-wear	Play 20 matches as Daisy.	Complete a certain mission at the Flower Cup.
Toad	Blue Toad	Play 15 matches as Toad.	Complete a certain mission at the Mushroom Cup.
	Yellow Toad	Play 20 matches as Toad.	Complete a certain mission at the Mushroom Cup.
	Green Toad	Play 25 matches as Toad.	Complete a certain mission at the Star Cup.
Ninja	Shadow White	Play 20 matches as Ninja.	Complete a certain mission at the Flower Cup.	Clear Star Road up to 4 times.
White Mage	Pure White	Play 20 matches as White Mage.	Complete a certain mission at the Flower Cup.	Clear Star Road up to 5 times.
Black Mage	Magic Red	Play 20 matches as Black Mage.	Complete a certain mission at the Star Cup.	Clear Star Road up to 6 times.
Slime	She-Slime	Play 20 matches as Slime.	Complete a certain mission at the Star Cup.
	Metal Slime	Play 40 matches as Slime.	Complete a certain mission at the Star Cup.

Non-Playable Characters

• Behemoth
• Behemoth King
• Birdo (species)
• Blue Yoshi
• Boo
• Dry Bones
• Koopa Troopa
• Lakitu
• Monty Mole
• Penguin
• Pianta
• Red Yoshi
• Shy Guy

Courts

There are ten new courts in Mario Sports Mix, including four returning courts from the previous follow-up, Mario Hoops 3-on-3 for a grand total of fourteen playable courts. Each tournament holds three courts that can be played depending on the sport.

Courts and compatible sports
Court	Dodgeball	Volleyball	Basketball	Hockey
Template:Color-link-piped	Mushroom Cup	Mushroom Cup	Mushroom Cup	Mushroom Cup
Template:Color-link-piped	Mushroom Cup	Mushroom Cup	Mushroom Cup	Extra
Template:Color-link-piped	Mushroom Cup	Mushroom Cup	Extra	Mushroom Cup
000	Flower Cup	Flower Cup	Mushroom Cup	Template:No
000	Flower Cup	Template:No	Template:No	Mushroom Cup
Template:Color-link-piped	Template:No	Flower Cup	Flower Cup	Template:No
000	Extra	Flower Cup	Flower Cup	Flower Cup
000	Flower Cup	Template:No	Flower Cup	Flower Cup
000	Star Cup	Extra	Extra	Flower Cup
000	Template:No	Star Cup	Star Cup	Star Cup
Template:Color-link-piped	Star Cup	Star Cup	Star Cup	Extra
Template:Color-link-piped	Extra	Extra	Template:No	Star Cup
Template:Color-link-piped	Star Cup	Star Cup	Star Cup	Star Cup
000	Extra	Extra	Extra	Extra

Items

As in most Mario games, there are items available during the gameplay of Mario Sports Mix. These items are available by touching the various ? Panels on the court.

• Green Shell
• Red Shell
• Banana Peel
• Mini Mushroom
• Super Star
• Bob-omb
• Coin

Modes of Play

Mario Sports Mix has two game modes for each one of the four sports: Exhibition and Tournament. Each sport also has a tutorial video so players can learn on how to play these sports.

Exhibition

Players can select which court to play during a dodgeball match in Exhibition mode.

Before a match starts, a VS screen will be shown to let players know which two teams are involved.

Exhibition mode allows players to play any one of the four sports and customize the rules of the match from the court selection screen before the match begins. From there, players can select any two or three of the nineteen playable characters and one of the fourteen compatible courts.

Players may unlock characters or courts by playing games in this mode. Character skins can be unlocked by playing with a particular character certain times. This also counts for Tournament mode. However, what players unlock can only be used in that sport. So if players unlock Slime for Dodgeball, Slime can only be used in that sport.

Tournament

The Volleyball Mushroom Cup Tournament.

In Tournament mode, players can compete for the trophy in the same manner as in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. There are three rounds in the tournament. When players win a game, they move on to the next round of the tournament. Each time players win a cup, they can earn one of the three crystals that corresponds to the sport's color. If all three cups are cleared for that corresponding sport, then it becomes a big crystal that can be placed on the Star Ship.

After winning the Star Cup of a sport, players unlock a Hard mode for that sport. Opponents are more difficult than in Normal mode. Also, if players clear the Star Cup at all sports and then defeat Behemoth, Sports Mix mode is unlocked. Clearing the Star Cup in Hard mode for a specific sport give that sporting object a golden coloring.

Sports Mix only has one skill level, which is Expert, and it is a tournament that involves all of the sports. Also, clearing the Star Cup in Sports Mix mode makes players face off against the Behemoth King.

Alternate Routes

Mario on an alternate route; Green Toad can be seen.

Players can also replay tournaments to find alternate routes. Players can find alternate routes by performing some actions in a tournament match, for example scoring a point with a Special Shot.

In the alternate routes, players do not play normal matches, but missions instead. If players lose a mission, they get sent back to the normal tournament. If players win a mission, they may continue on, but the road often splits. Players may choose which way they want to go. These roads lead players to different missions, different events, or sometimes even back to the normal tournament. Once players come back to the normal tournament, they cannot re-enter the alternate routes until they start over the tournament.

Taking right choices or guesses, players may reach Secret Final. The Secret Final is the last mission of the tournament. If players lose this mission, they do not get sent back to the normal tournament, but they can retry the mission instead. If players win this mission, they earn the tournament cup, just like players do in the normal run. The Secret Final involves completing a task that is usually more difficult than the others, for example, winning a match without allowing the opponent to score even once.

Players may unlock hidden characters, courts, or character skins by winning missions. However what they unlock depends on the mission, the sport, and even the routes they take before reaching the mission. Unlocked items are only accessible in the sport players win the mission in.

Template:Spoiler Alternate routes in the Star Cup are a little different compared to the Mushroom and Flower Cups. If players win some missions in the route, they travel to the Star Road. The Star Road is a series of difficult missions. If players manage to reach the end of the Star Road, they get a message Star Road Complete! and they travel back to the normal tournament by jumping on the Star.

There is no Secret Final for the Star Cup, but after clearing the Star Road, players immediately goes up against the Final Fantasy team. Unlike with the normal tournament, however, crystals do pop up during the match; the crystals act like coins, which adds extra points for Basketball, Volleyball, and Hockey, while strengthening attacks in Dodgeball.

If players beat the team (and Behemoth if all of the sports are cleared), they unlock a Final Fantasy character for every sport.

Graphical changes

When completing sports in Tournament mode, some items in menus of the game changes. Once a sport is completed in Normal mode, a crystal marks the sport in the record menu. When the sport is completed in Hard mode, the ball (or in case of Hockey, the stick and the coin) turns gold in the main menu. If Sports Mix mode is cleared, the usual blue background of the main menu, turns into a gold-red colored background. Template:Endspoiler

Party Games

One of the four party games, Feed Petey.

In addition to the tournament and the exhibition modes, Mario Sports Mix has four party games, one for each sport. They can be played for up to four players.

• Feed Petey - Basketball
• Harmony Hustle - Volleyball
• Bob-omb Dodge - Dodgeball
• Smash Skate - Hockey

Record Book

The Record Book menu.

The game does keep track of the player's records for each sport. The records basically go as follows:

• Page 1
  • Number of matches played
  • Number of tournament wins
  • Win percentage
  • Average coin collected
  • Direct hits with items
• Page 2
  • Success Rates
    • Basketball
      • Dunk
      • Layup
      • Jump Shot
      • 3-Point Shot
      • Block
    • Hockey
      • Shot
      • Super Shot
      • Direct Shot
      • Block
      • Face Off
    • Volleyball
      • Ace Serves
      • Spike
      • Fake Out
      • Block
      • Receive Save
    • Dodgeball
      • Attack
      • Catch
      • Diving Catch
      • Dodge Roll
      • Pass Steal
• Page 3
  • Character Picks
• Page 4
  • Stage Picks

Reception

Nintendo Power's Chris Slate rated Mario Sports Mix a 8.0 out of 10. "It's highly likely that Mario Sports Mix will be the definitive Mario sports experience for the Wii.", Nintendo Power raved. IGN rated the game a 6.5 out of 10."It's shiny and humorous, and for little kids or a single evening it could make a fun party game, but this is a pretty weak offering, especially compared to all the fun sports games Mario has starred in.", said IGN's Jack DeVries. Gameinformer rated the game a 4.5 out of 10. "There are plenty of $5 or $10 downloadable games that features more complex gameplay than this full-prized release", said Gameinformer's Dan Ryckert.

Beta Elements

Main article: Mario Sports Mix/Beta Elements

References to Other Games

• Super Mario Bros.: The underwater theme is one of the tunes available in Harmony Hustle.
• Super Mario Bros. 3: In the underwater theme in Harmony Hustle, part of this game's underwater melody can be heard.
• Super Mario World: The athletic theme is one of the tunes available in Harmony Hustle.
• Mario Tennis: Peach and Daisy's alternate costumes, called "Tennis-Wear", is based off this series. More specifically, the design overall is based on the outfit that Peach wears for Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Power Tennis.
• Mario Hoops 3-on-3: Much of the gameplay mechanics come from this game, especially in basketball. Most stages are also based off this game. The theme of Bloocheep Sea makes a return as one of the songs in Harmony Hustle.
• New Super Mario Bros.: The design and function of the Mini Mushroom is based off this game.
• Luigi's Mansion: A court takes place in a mansion based off this game.
• Super Smash Bros. Melee: Luigi's combo attack in Hockey is a reference to two of his attacks in this game: the Green Missile and his dashing attack.
• Mario Kart: Double Dash!!: Toad Park court is somewhat similar to the Baby Park racetrack.
• Mario Kart DS: The concept of Waluigi owning a pinball-themed course returns.
• Mario Kart Wii: In Toad Park, Toads can be seen driving Mario Kart Wii-styled karts. Some item images are also borrowed from this game, such as the Green Shells.

External Links

• Official Japanese website
• Official Australian website
• Official European website
• Official American website