Mario Superstar Baseball: Difference between revisions

|developer=[[Namco Bandai Holdings|Namco]]<br> [[Nintendo SPD Group No.4]]

|modes=1-4 Players

|genre=[[Mario Baseball (series)|Baseball]]

'''''Mario Superstar Baseball''''' is a ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' [[Genre#Sports|sports]] title for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] and is the first installment of the ''[[Mario Baseball (series)|Mario Baseball]]'' series, being the first dedicated baseball game with ''Mario'' characters. Like most games of the ''Mario Sports'' series, ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' is based on the traditional rules of the sport, in this case, but is differentiated with various ''Mario''-themed gimmicks and other mechanics. These include characters using [[Star Skill]] abilities to cause the ball to behave differently; team captains have unique Star Skill abilities that cause a wide variety of special effects, such as attacking outfielders if batting or causing the pitched ball to behave erratically. Characters also have field abilities to differentiate themselves from other teammates. [[Chemistry]] is a feature unique to the ''Mario Baseball'' games whereby characters perform differently depending on whether they like, dislike, or are neutral to another character they are cooperating with. Additionally, most fields in the game include hazards that can affect outfielders, such as the [[Piranha Plant]]s serving as obstacles in [[Yoshi Park]].  

In addition to the main Exhibition mode, in which baseball can be played freely with up to two players, the game features a single-player oriented Challenge mode that has the player controlling a designated team captain and their preset team, recruiting other captains and team players to face off against [[Bowser]]. The game also features the [[Toy Field]] mode, in which individual characters play on an interactive baseball field and get [[coin]]s based on where the ball lands. Finally, the game includes several ''Mario''-themed [[minigame]]s with baseball mechanics, such as hitting [[Bob-omb]]s to create fireworks or collecting gems in a baseball diamond while avoiding a [[Chain Chomp]]. Toy Field and Minigames are the only modes that can support up to four players.

With two outs and the game on the line, Mario is up to bat; as he faces down Wario, he points his bat at the stands in an homage to {{wp|Babe Ruth's called shot}}. Wario then lets loose a pitch that Mario manages to hit as everyone watches in awe&mdash;the ball sails directly into the stands where Mario pointed, scoring a home run for him and his team (despite the fact that Mario's team was already up by one run and therefore the game should have ended before his turn to bat). Peach, Luigi and the others celebrate their victory with Mario as he reaches home base; as they do, Bowser is shown in the audience, chuckling to himself.

The game's ending plays when Bowser's team is defeated in Challenge Mode on Special difficulty. It begins with Mario tethering through the tall grass at night and entering the Field of Dreams as the lights turn on. Luigi, Peach, Red Toad, and Diddy Kong witness Mario's arrival. Then, Bowser confidently arrives for a rematch, with characters such as Wario and Waluigi as his teammates. After everyone gets to their positions, all prepared for the re-match, Mario makes the pitch. As the ball is thrown, the camera zooms in the ball, revealing the hidden words on it, "WE LOVE BASEBALL!", then the credits roll.

[[File:BattingControls.png|200px|thumb|Controls for batters and runners.]]

*{{button|gcn|L}}/{{button|gcn|R}}: Switch between positions and line-ups

*{{button|gcn|Stick}}/{{button|gcn|Pad}}: Reset batter to default position or aim the hit

====In-game controls (runner)====

*{{button|gcn|Stick}}: Choose a base when stealing a base

*{{button|gcn|Y}}: Steal a base/Advance a base

*{{button|gcn|X}}: Return to base/Dash

*{{button|gcn|Stick}} + {{button|gcn|B}}: Check a runner

*{{button|gcn|Stick}}/{{button|gcn|Pad}}: Move

*{{button|gcn|Stick}} + {{button|gcn|A}}: Choose a base and throw

*{{button|gcn|A}}: Jump

*{{button|gcn|A}}: Use unique talent (if any)

{| align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=6 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial"

! rowspan=4 |[[File:MarioSelectMSB.png]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Mario]]

| rowspan=4 |"''Everyone's favorite hero. When Peach is in trouble, he always saves the day! A kart racer, tennis player, golf enthusiast, doctor...the list goes on and on, showing that he's a jack-of-all-trades. His trademark fireball will help him in his first foray into baseball.''"  

| Bat || 6/10

| Pitch || 6/10

| Field || 6/10

| Run || 5/10

! rowspan=4 |[[File:LuigiSelectMSB.png]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Luigi]]

| rowspan=4 |"''The younger Mario bro. He's a better jumper than Mario but lacks good traction. Always in Mario's shadow, Luigi tends to be low-key but is always a dark horse in athletic contests. Despite perpetually finishing second, his excellent form and green Fireball make him a force.''"  

| Pitch || 6/10

| Field || 6/10

| Run || 6/10

! rowspan=4 |[[File:DaisySelectMSB.png]]

| rowspan=4 |"''Sarasara Land's princess. Mario rescued Daisy from the nasty villain Tatanga. While often compared to Peach, Daisy is both stronger and more tomboyish than her blonde counterpart. She uses a Flower Ball that scatters confusing petals.''"

! rowspan=4 |[[Peach Monarchs]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Flower Ball]]

| rowspan=4 |Left/Right

| Pitch || 7/10

| Field || 5/10  

| Run || 4/10

! rowspan=4 |[[File:BirdoSelectMSB.png]]

| rowspan=4 |"''A dinosaur that spits eggs from her huge mouth. Birdo is very particular when it comes to fashion, though her reliance on the color pink is a bit limiting. Her bow and ring are her pride and joy. Birdo's mouth has massive suction that can even catch a ball by sucking it in.''"

! rowspan=4 |[[Yoshi Islanders]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Weird Ball]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Suction]]<br>[[Body Check]]

| Bat || 6/10

| Pitch || 4/10

| Field || 4/10

| Run || 4/10

====Technique captains====

{| align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=6 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial"

|-style="background:palegoldenrod;"

! width=120px |Image

! |Team

! |Running/Fielding

! |Bats/Throws

! colspan=2 |Stats

! rowspan=4 |[[File:PeachSelectMSB.png]]

| rowspan=4 |"''The Mushroom Kingdom's princess. Mario has come to her rescue every time she's been kidnapped...which has happened no less than 10 times! Some speculate that an all-Toad security force may be the problem... She joins the game with a Heart Ball as her weapon.''"

! rowspan=4 |[[Peach Monarchs]]

| Pitch || 8/10

| Field || 7/10

| Run || 5/10

! rowspan=4 |[[File:WaluigiSelectMSB.png]]

| rowspan=4 |"''Luigi's eccentric rival. Waluigi is a hardworking player who has been training night and day to gain enough power to best Luigi. The eggplant that his Liar Ball delivers is said to have the power to make those who touch it lose their lunches.''"

! rowspan=4 |[[Wario Greats]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Laser Beam]]<br>[[Super Jump (Mario Baseball series)|Super Jump]]

| Pitch || 9/10

| Field || 4/10

| Run || 4/10

! rowspan=4 |[[File:YoshiSelectMSB.png|100px]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Yoshi]]

| rowspan=4 |"''A denizen of Yoshi's Island. Mario's dependable buddy always helps him out of jams. Yoshis use their tongues to eat anything and everything. It is said that Yoshis can turn anything they swallow into eggs. On the diamond Yoshi's fast legs and accurate tongue make him a great fielder.''"

! rowspan=4 |[[Yoshi Islanders]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Egg Ball]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Tongue Catch]]<br>[[Clamber]]

| rowspan=4 |Left/Right

| Pitch || 4/10

| Field || 6/10

| Run || 9/10

! rowspan=4 |[[File:DiddySelectMSB.png]]

! rowspan=4 |[[Diddy Kong]]

| rowspan=4 |"''DK's partner and buddy. Diddy's trademark is his red baseball hat. While Donkey Kong boasts incredible power, Diddy's forte is his nimbleness. Using his prehensile tail to great effect, Diddy Kong is a natural fielder who won't ever boot routine balls.''"

| Pitch || 6/10

| Field || 7/10

| Run || 7/10

====Power captains====

{| align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=6 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial"

|-style="background:lightcoral;"

! width=120px |Image

! |Name

! |Bio

! |Team

! |Special Ball

! |Running/Fielding

! |Bats/Throws

! colspan=2 |Stats