The highly anticipated third entry in Mario's soccer side-sereis, Mario Strikers: Battle League will be released on June 10. However, for those who can't wait, Nintendo has released a short demo where players can learn the game's controls and skills. Fans with Nintendo Switch Online membership will also have the chance to join some online trial matches at set times across the weekend before its launch.
Fans of the previous games, which released on the Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo Wii in 2005 and 2007 respectively, will be excited by the new additions Nintendo is bringing to the franchise. However, the demo shows that these updates have made the game surprisingly complex, with long-term fans struggling to get to grips straight away. This added challenge and new layer to the gameplay certainly provide an exciting prospect, but they also highlight the importance of one key accessibility feature: button remapping.
Mario Strikers: Battle League is packed with new features that make the gameplay far more complex than its predecessors. For example, the game introduces new moves such as "team tackle." Skills like this require concise control of several characters, which can be tricky to master. Additionally, Battle League introduces "perfect" moves that can enhance a pass or shot when timed right. Again, in the heat of a chaotic Strikers match, there is little room for error when executing these techniques. Shots and passes can also be aimed with precision, giving the player more control over their character's skills and actions.
Although these additions are exciting, they also highlight the importance of having a button remapping option to give players control while learning to master these moves. Some inputs feel a bit odd and overly complex for players used to previous Strikers titles and similar sports games like FIFA or NHL. For example, the pass and shoot buttons are uncomfortably inverted from the standard, so that A is shoot and B is pass. Aiming shots is also done with the left analog stick, pulling it left to aim higher, and pushing it right to aim lower. This control scheme feels counterintuitive when trying to use the same stick to dribble the ball.
These controls make the game awkward to control, which means mastering the complex new moves feels unnecessarily punishing. This simple frustration shouldn't get in the way of the huge potential for fun that this game has. Therefore, it's clear that button remapping options are essential. Allowing players to shoot more naturally with B and pass with A, for example, would go a long way to addressing these issues. The game would still be a challenge, as mastering every new skill quickly enough to succeed in a Strikers match is impressive enough as it is. However, awkward controls make it nearly impossible.
Sadly, the demo doesn't provide the option to adapt the button layout. It only has options for using different controller types, such as a single Joy-Con or Switch Pro controller. However, it would be surprising if the full game didn't include such an option, given its become fairly standard across the industry as a basic accessibility feature.
Nintendo will want to ensure that Mario Strikers: Battle League can be enjoyed by as many gamers as possible. To this end, the control scheme must be accessible to all, whether that be veteran players who have grown accustomed to other control schemes or disabled gamers who physically can't use specific controls. Button remapping options would go a long way in addressing this issue, ensuring that Battle League's exciting new features are a source of fun rather than frustration.