It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: There's some Mario is Missing! information that also needs to be added.
- This article is about the object appearing in several Super Mario games. For the ghost from Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, see Creeper Launcher § Soccer Ball.
Soccer Balls, also called Footballs, appear in several Super Mario-related games as interactive objects. They are used across the Mario Strikers series in much the same way as in the real life sport of association football (itself also known as soccer), as players are tasked with dribbling a ball across a playing field and bringing it into the opposing team's goal. In other games, Soccer Balls appear as items or even obstacles.
History
Mario Strikers series
The Soccer Ball is an object in the games Super Mario Strikers, Mario Strikers Charged, and Mario Strikers: Battle League. In these games, players have to gain control of the Soccer Ball and kick it into the goal, something done with either normal kicks, charge shots, Super Strikes (Super Mario Strikers), Mega Strikes and Skillshots (Mario Strikers Charged), or Hyper Strikes (Mario Strikers: Battle League). A normal kick, a charged shot, and a Skillshot result in one point; a Super Strike and a Hyper Strike will score a player two, while a Mega Strike can offer up to six for a team.
In Mario Strikers Charged, the Soccer Ball is made out of metal, which emits a light that indicates the power of the ball. The ball tends to emit a purple light when unused. In this case, shooting the ball is often blocked by the goalie. However, charging the ball by passing or charging the shot, players can turn the light into red, yellow and white, the last indicating the ball is charged enough to make an accurate goal. Apparently, if pressed hard enough, the ball may explode. This is seen in one of Wario's losing cut-scenes, in which he angrily squeezes the ball until it suddenly explodes.
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Soccer Ball appears as an item, appearing with its design from Super Mario Strikers. This item cannot be grabbed, however. To use it, it must be attacked, which sends it flying across the stage, catching on fire. The Soccer Ball does not follow an arc when it is attacked. Rather, it shoots in a straight line before suddenly losing all momentum and dropping to the ground, or off the stage. If it hits opponents mid-air, they are flung away. It is also a trophy that can be randomly unlocked.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Soccer Ball returns as an item, functioning the same as in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, except it always returns to the stage after being knocked off of it until it finally disappears. Wii Fit Trainer also uses the Soccer Ball from Wii Fit in their Header attack and its variations.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Soccer Balls return in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, behaving exactly the same as they do in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Super Mario 3D World
While normal Soccer Balls do not appear in Super Mario 3D World, bombs designed after them are introduced.
Mario Kart series
Mario Kart Tour
In Mario Kart Tour, Soccer Balls appear inside the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on the Madrid Drive course and its variants, where they are passed around by Goombas in shoes. The Goombas always kick Soccer Balls straight ahead of them. After a kick, a Soccer Ball bounces several times, then rolls on the ground slowly; if the ball does not encounter another shoe Goomba a while afterwards, it shrinks down and disappears, respawning in front of the Goomba that originally kicked it into motion. Drivers can take out Soccer Balls by running into them or hitting them with an item, getting bonus points in the process.
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Soccer Balls return in Tour Madrid Drive in the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. They function identically to their Mario Kart Tour appearance, the main difference between this version and Tour's version is that causes racers to spin-out when they get hit by one.
Unused appearances
Super Mario Sunshine
Soccer Balls, although unused in the final product, exist in Super Mario Sunshine within the game's data, with an instance appearing in the test level. Behaviorally, they are identical to Durians.[1][2]
Mario Kart 7
An unused Soccer Ball model exists in Mario Kart 7's data.[3]
Profiles
Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy
| Name | Image | Game | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soccer Ball | 
|
NES Soccer GCN Super Mario Strikers |
An attack item that flies when struck and explodes as it bounces, causing damage to whomever it hits. As it's a football, you'd think hitting it with your hands would be against the rules, but that's not the case. Unleash your fiercest attacks on it. Really, it's OK. The ball's design seems old fashioned, but it sure does bring back lots of soccer memories, doesn't it? |
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy
| Name | Image | Appears in | American English description | British English description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soccer Ball Football |
|
NES Soccer (03/1987) Wii Mario Strikers Charged (07/2007) |
A strong attack on a soccer ball will set it on fire, and any enemies hit will go flying from the impact. Depending on how you hit it, the ball will fly in different directions. Luckily, no one has to retrieve it if you sent it off the stage–this ball will return to the battlefield for some time. | Attack a football to ignite it and send it blazing through the air into any hapless foe in its path. The direction it goes in depends on how you attack the ball, so put some thought into it to cause some devastating effects. The ball comes back if you miss, so try as many times as you need to! |
Blue indicates exclusive to the Wii U version.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | サッカーボール[?] Sakkā bōru |
Soccer Ball | |
| Chinese | 足球[?] Zúqiú |
Soccer Ball | |
| Dutch | Voetbal[?] | Soccer Ball | |
| French (NOA) | Ballon de soccer[?] | Soccer Ball | |
| French (NOE) | Ballon de foot[?] | Soccer Ball | |
| German | Fußball[?] | Football | |
| Italian | Pallone da calcio Pallone[4] |
Soccer Ball Ball |
|
| Korean | 축구공[4] Chuggu Gong |
Soccer Ball | |
| Portuguese (NOA) | Bola de futebol[4] | Soccer Ball | |
| Portuguese (NOE) | Bola de Futebol[?] | Soccer Ball | |
| Russian | Футбольный мяч[?] Futbol'nyi myach |
Soccer Ball | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Balón Pelota de fútbol[4] |
Ball Soccer Ball |
|
| Spanish (NOE) | Balón Balón de fútbol[4] |
Ball Soccer Ball |
References
- ^ okwardguy96 (August 2, 2007). super mario sunshine hidden test level. YouTube. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ Unseen64: an Archive for Beta & Cancelled Games (July 14, 2006). Mario Sunshine Beta (Space World 2001 Trailer). YouTube. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ Mario Kart 7/Unused Graphics § Soccer Ball. The Cutting Room Floor. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Mario Kart Tour in-game name
| Super Mario Strikers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Players | Team captains | Daisy • Donkey Kong • Luigi • Mario • Peach • Super Team • Waluigi • Wario • Yoshi |
| Sidekicks | Birdo • Hammer Bro • Koopa • Toad | |
| Goalies | Kritter • Robo-Kritter | |
| Fields | Bowser Stadium • Crater Field • Konga Coliseum • The Battle Dome • The Palace • The Underground • Pipeline Central | |
| Cups | Bowser Cup • Flower Cup • Mushroom Cup • Star Cup • Super Bowser Cup • Super Flower Cup • Super Mushroom Cup • Super Star Cup | |
| Items | Banana • Blue Shell • Bob-omb • Chain Chomp • Giant Blue Shell • Giant Green Shell • Giant Red Shell • Giant Spiny Shell • Green Shell • Mega Bob-omb • Mushroom • Red Shell • Spiny Shell • Star | |
| Miscellaneous | Heads-Up • Pre-release and unused content • Staff • Strike • Super Mario Strikers (Flash game) | |
