Mario Superstar Baseball

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Template:Infobox Mario Superstar Baseball (known in Japan as Super Mario Stadium Miracle Baseball) is one of the many Mario series' spinoff installments featuring Mario and his friends playing sports. This game is the first installment for the baseball category of sports games featuring Mario characters. What also makes Mario Superstar Baseball different from baseball is the addition of unique Power Shots, minigames, and special abilities characters can perform on the field.

Characters

Team Captains

Balance Captains

Image	Name	Bio	Special Ball	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:MarioSelectMSB.PNG	Mario	"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."	Fireball	Wall Jump Sliding Catch	Right/Right	Bat	6/10
						Pitch	6/10
						Field	6/10
						Run	5/10
File:LuigiSelectMSB.PNG	Luigi	"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."	Green Fireball	Wall Jump Super Jump	Left/Right	Bat	5/10
						Pitch	6/10
						Field	6/10
						Run	6/10
File:DaisySelectMSB.PNG	Daisy	"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."	Flower Ball	Quick Throw Sliding Catch	Left/Right	Bat	6/10
						Pitch	7/10
						Field	5/10
						Run	4/10
File:BirdoSelectMSB.PNG	Birdo	"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."	Weird Egg	Suction Body Check	Left/Right	Bat	6/10
						Pitch	4/10
						Field	4/10
						Run	4/10

Technique Captains

Image	Name	Bio	Special Ball	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:PeachSelectMSB.PNG	Peach	"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."	Heart Ball	Quick Throw Super Catch	Right/Right	Bat	4/10
						Pitch	8/10
						Field	7/10
						Run	5/10
File:WaluigiSelectMSB.PNG	Waluigi	"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."	Liar Ball	Laser Beam Super Jump	Left/Right	Bat	4/10
						Pitch	9/10
						Field	4/10
						Run	4/10

Speed Captains

Image	Name	Bio	Special Ball	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:YoshiSelectMSB.PNG	Yoshi	"A denizen of Yoshi's Island. Mario's dependable buddy always helps him out of jams. Yoshi's use their tongues to eat anything and everything. It is said that Yoshi's can turn anything they swallow into eggs. On the diamond Yoshi's fast legs and accurate tongue make him a great fielder."	Egg Ball	Tongue Catch Clamber	Left/Right	Bat	5/10
						Pitch	4/10
						Field	6/10
						Run	9/10
File:DiddySelectMSB.PNG	Diddy Kong	"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."	Boomerang Ball	Super Catch Clamber	Left/Right	Bat	3/10
						Pitch	6/10
						Field	7/10
						Run	7/10

Power Captains

Image	Name	Bio	Special Ball	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:WarSelectMSB.PNG	Wario	"According to Wario, he's both Mario's rival and a childhood friend (this is unconfirmed). He actually runs his own video-game company and has produced many hot sellers. Garlic is Wario's favorite food. It may lead to his incredible stamina, which makes him excellent at daring plays."	Phony Ball	Sliding Catch Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	8/10
						Pitch	3/10
						Field	4/10
						Run	3/10
File:DonkeySelectMSB.PNG	Donkey Kong	"A gorilla known for raw power, DK lives a carefree jungle life... unless someone messes with his bananas, in which case he just loses it. His ancestor, Cranky Kong (the original Donkey Kong) wore no necktie. His talents lead in beating on primate foes and kart-racing. Fear his Banana Ball."	Banana Ball	Clamber Laser Beam	Left/Right	Bat	8/10
						Pitch	7/10
						Field	4/10
						Run	4/10
File:BowserSelectMSB.PNG	Bowser	"Mario's arch rival and the king of the Koopa Clan. He's challenged Mario and his friends to battles countless times, but his ambitions tend to get crushed every time. His lethal Killer Ball is powerful enough to drag anyone who catches it across the field!"	Killer Ball	Body Check Laser Beam	Left/Right	Bat	9/10
						Pitch	9/10
						Field	1/10
						Run	1/10
File:JrSelectMSB.PNG	Bowser Jr.	"Bowser's exuberant son. Bowser lied to him and convinced Jr. that Peach was his mom, resulting in a chaotic adventure for Mario and company. Bowser thinks the Koopa clan is in good hands with his son. He's not just powerful but also surprisingly skilled."	Killer Jr. Ball	Body Check Wall Jump	Right/Left	Bat	8/10
						Pitch	5/10
						Field	3/10
						Run	4/10

Team Players

Balance Characters

Image	Name	Bio	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:ToadSelectMSB.PNG	Toad	"Princess Peach's subject. Though he tries to protect the princess from the evil Bowser, she gets kidnapped with disturbing regularity. There are many Toads who look just alike, and though they are generally small and look cute, they are actually quite powerful."	Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	5/10
					Pitch	4/10
					Field	4/10
					Run	6/10
File:KoopaTroopaSelectMSB.PNG	Koopa Troopa	"A familiar face of the Mario series, this member of the Koopa clan can pull his feet inside his shell to protect himself. Long ago, he didn't even walk upright, but now he's even playing baseball! Though he can do just about everything, he's slow because...well, you know."	Sliding Catch	Left/Right	Bat	5/10
					Pitch	4/10
					Field	5/10
					Run	5/10
File:ShyGuySelectMSB.PNG	Shy Guy	"A charming, masked soldier. Shy Guys used to serve an evil king named Wart, but they nowadays make a lot of cameo appearances as friendly rivals of Mario. That said, they aren't always good... On the baseball mound, Shy Guys are consistent players with a few weaknesses."	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	5/10
					Pitch	3/10
					Field	5/10
					Run	4/10
File:GoombSelectMSB.PNG	Goomba	"Though Goombas once lived in peace in the Mushroom Kingdom, they betrayed their homeland to side with Bowser. Exactly how Goomba uses his baseball gear is a bit of a mystery. Maybe you can spot the secret technique if you watch closely as he makes plays in the field..."	Ball Dash	Right/Right	Bat	4/10
					Pitch	3/10
					Field	4/10
					Run	5/10

Technique Characters

Image	Name	Bio	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:ToadsworthSelectMSB.PNG	Toadsworth	"Princess Peach's attendant. Though he says his life gets shorter every time Princess Peach gets abducted, he is always in good health and full of energy. While he lacks in stamina, he makes up for it by making cool plays that take advantage of his long life's worth of experience."	Super Catch	Right/Right	Bat	4/10
					Pitch	4/10
					Field	6/10
					Run	4/10
File:MagikoopaSelectMSB.PNG	Magikoopa	"A resident magician of the Koopa clan. The best of the Magikoopas, Kamek, once attempted to abduct the baby Mario Brothers, but Yoshi and Baby Mario thwarted his sinister plans. The magical powers of the Magikoopa also comes in handy in the game of baseball."	Magical Catch	Left/Right	Bat	4/10
					Pitch	2/10
					Field	8/10
					Run	2/10
File:DrySelectMSB.PNG	Dry Bones	"A bony underling of Bowser. Some mysterious power binds the skeletal bodies of Dry Bones together, but they shatter to pieces when they take damage. Of course, over time, they go right back to the way they were without ill effect. Dry Bones throws cursed balls when he pitches."	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	5/10
					Pitch	4/10
					Field	3/10
					Run	4/10
File:BooSelectMSB.PNG	Boo	"Bowser's underling ghost. Behind the scary face lies a very shy soul. Look most Boos in the eyes and they'll cover their faces...but turn around and they'll attack you! Boos confuse their enemies by flickering in and out of the visible realm, appearing at inconvenient times."	Super Jump	Left/Left	Bat	3/10
					Pitch	8/10
					Field	2/10
					Run	4/10
File:ParatroopaSelectMSB.PNG	Koopa Paratroopa	"Another longtime underling of Bowser. Paratroopa flies through the sky and delivers body shecks to Mario and others, but he's vulnerable to a good stomping, which takes away his wings and turns him into a garden-variety Koopa. His wings allow him to leap up and make great catches."	Super Jump	Left/Right	Bat	3/10
					Pitch	3/10
					Field	4/10
					Run	6/10
File:DixieSelectMSB.PNG	Dixie Kong (unlockable)	"Diddy Kong's partner and girlfriend. Her trademark golden ponytail is familiar to monkey fans everywhere. Dixie Kong is just as adventurous as both Diddy Kong and Donkey Kong. Combining great techniques with fast legs, she is a very dependable player."	Clamber	Left/Right	Bat	2/10
					Pitch	5/10
					Field	6/10
					Run	6/10

Speed Characters

Image	Name	Bio	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:BabyManSelectMSB.PNG	Baby Mario	"The elder of the baby Mario brothers. After arriving in a stork-related calamity, he and Yoshi rescued his little bro. Though he's supposed to be in his youth, you can play them both at the same time for some reason. He has excellent foot speed but lacks power due to his diminutive size."	Wall Jump	Right/Right	Bat	3/10
					Pitch	5/10
					Field	3/10
					Run	7/10
File:BabyWeegeeSelectMSB.PNG	Baby Luigi (unlockable)	"The younger of the baby Mario brothers. After being abducted by Kamek, he was rescued by Yoshi and Baby Mario. If you see him and Luigi in the same game, try to ignore the temporal paradox. Baby Luigi is quick around the bases but doesn't hit for power. He is, after all, a baby."	Wall Jump	Left/Right	Bat	2/10
					Pitch	5/10
					Field	3/10
					Run	8/10
File:BlueNokiSelectMSB.PNG	Blue Noki	"A mysterious member of a clan living on the southern paradise of Delfino Island. Nokis evolved from shellfish, and their ancestors are believed to have lived in the sea. While they are skillful and fast runners, they are hampered by a lack of power."	Sliding Catch	Left/Right	Bat	3/10
					Pitch	4/10
					Field	3/10
					Run	7/10
File:ParagoombSelectMSB.PNG	Paragoomba	"A Goomba with wings. Just like Koopa Paratroopa, Paragoombas lose their wings and turn into Goobmas if they get stepped on. The Goomba family is made up of expert bunters, although no one really makes a big deal about it. Bunting, after all, isn't all that glamorous."	Super Jump	Right/Right	Bat	3/10
					Pitch	2/10
					Field	5/10
					Run	7/10
File:MontySelectMSB.PNG	Monty Mole	"A lively, sometimes surly mole who lives underground and leaps out whenever someone approaches his den. He usually keeps to himself but always gets fired up for a good baseball game. In fact, when he gets the ball, he almost gets TOO fired up."	Ball Dash	Left/Right	Bat	3/10
					Pitch	3/10
					Field	5/10
					Run	7/10
File:ToadetteSelectMSB.PNG	Toadette (unlockable)	"A cute Toad girl with plaited locks. Though her profile is relatively unknown, she is definitely a cheery, upbeat girl who's full of energy. Taking advantage of her fast legs and light weight, Toadette can make all sorts of difficult plays look completely routine."	Wall Jump Sliding Catch	Right/Right	Bat	2/10
					Pitch	3/10
					Field	4/10
					Run	9/10

Power Characters

Image	Name	Bio	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:KingBooSelectMSB.PNG	King Boo	"The king of the Boos. The golden crown is his trademark, and while he looks similar to other Boos, it's obvious that he's much larger than the others. Not only is he powerful, but he's also a fast runner that gets his speed by hovering over the base paths."	Super Jump	Right/Right	Bat	7/10
					Pitch	5/10
					Field	4/10
					Run	3/10
File:PeteSelectMSB.PNG	Petey Piranha (unlockable)	"A mutation created this boss of the Piranha Plants. Petey can fly in the air for a short while, flapping the leaves that he has developed into primitive arms. When Petey spits a ball out of his toothy mouth, it is lightning-fast."	Body Check	Left/Left	Bat	9/10
					Pitch	4/10
					Field	3/10
					Run	1/10
File:PinioBoySelectMSB.PNG	Blue Pianta	"A cheerful islander living on the southern paradise called Delfino Island. Piantas are said to be born on the mountains and they are distinguished by the palm tree growing from their heads. Their power makes them flashy, but they're clumsy and slow runners."	Laser Beam	Right/Right	Bat	6/10
					Pitch	5/10
					Field	3/10
					Run	2/10
File:HammerBroSelectMSB.PNG	Hammer Bro. (unlockable)	"One of Mario's oldest and most annoying foes. The Hammer Bro is said to be the mightiest warrior of Bowser's army. Besides the hammer-throwing variety, there are also Boomerang and Fire Bros as well. Teams fear his aggressive play and lethal bat."	Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	8/10
					Pitch	3/10
					Field	3/10
					Run	3/10

Alternate Team Players

Image	Name	Running/Fielding	Bat/Glove	Stats
File:BlueToadSelectMSB.PNG	Blue Toad	Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	4/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	4/10
				Run	8/10
File:YellowToadSelect.PNG	Yellow Toad	Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	4/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	4/10
				Run	8/10
File:GreenToadSelectMSB.PNG	Green Toad	Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	5/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	4/10
				Run	6/10
File:PurpleToadSelectMSB.PNG	Purple Toad	Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	5/10
				Pitch	5/10
				Field	4/10
				Run	5/10
File:KoopaRedSelectMSB.PNG	Red Koopa Troopa	Sliding Catch	Left/Right	Bat	6/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	5/10
				Run	4/10
File:BlueShySelectMSB.PNG	Blue Shy Guy	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	4/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	5/10
				Run	5/10
File:YellowShySelectMSB.PNG	Yellow Shy Guy	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	3/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	5/10
				Run	4/10
File:GreenShySelectMSB.PNG	Green Shy Guy	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	4/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	5/10
				Run	4/10
File:BlackShySelectMSB.PNG	Black Shy Guy	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	4/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	6/10
				Run	4/10
File:RedMagiSelectMSB.PNG	Red Magikoopa	Magical Catch	Left/Right	Bat	5/10
				Pitch	2/10
				Field	8/10
				Run	1/10
File:GreenMagiSelectMSB.PNG	Green Magikoopa	Magical Catch	Left/Right	Bat	4/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	8/10
				Run	1/10
File:YellowMagiSelectMSB.PNG	Yellow Magikoopa	Magical Catch	Left/Right	Bat	3/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	8/10
				Run	1/10
File:DryGreenSelectMSB.PNG	Green Dry Bones	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	6/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	3/10
				Run	3/10
File:DryRedSelectMSB.PNG	Red Dry Bones	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	6/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	3/10
				Run	3/10
File:DryBlueSelectMSB.PNG	Blue Dry Bones	Sliding Catch	Left/Left	Bat	5/10
				Pitch	4/10
				Field	4/10
				Run	3/10
File:GreenParaSelectMSB.PNG	Green Koopa Paratroopa	Super Jump	Left/Right	Bat	2/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	4/10
				Run	6/10
File:RedNokiSelectMSB.PNG	Red Noki	Sliding Catch	Left/Right	Bat	5/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	4/10
				Run	6/10
File:GreenNokiSelectMSB.PNG	Green Noki	Sliding Catch	Left/Right	Bat	4/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	4/10
				Run	6/10
File:PinkPinioSelectMSB.PNG	Red Pianta	Laser Beam	Right/Right	Bat	7/10
				Pitch	5/10
				Field	3/10
				Run	1/10
File:YellowJalapenoSelectMSB.PNG	Yellow Pianta	Laser Beam	Right/Right	Bat	6/10
				Pitch	5/10
				Field	3/10
				Run	2/10
File:BoomerangBroSelectMSB.PNG	Boomerang Bro. (unlockable)	Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	8/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	3/10
				Run	3/10
File:FireBroSelectMSB.PNG	Fire Bro. (unlockable)	Body Check	Right/Right	Bat	8/10
				Pitch	3/10
				Field	3/10
				Run	2/10

Chemistry

File:GoodChemistry.PNG

Baby Mario having good Chemistry with Baby Luigi.

Chemistry is a unique feature to Mario Superstar Baseball. Player chemistry emphasizes the relationships between characters. When forming a team, the relationship status between the captain and their teammates affects the number of power stars the team starts with. Additionally, in the game, good chemistry occurs with two friends. When a player throws a ball to their "buddy", the ball travels faster than a normal throw would. Additionally, a player hits better when one of their friends are on base. Examples are Mario and Luigi, Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong. Good chemistry is symbolized by a musical note.

Bad chemistry occurs conversely. When a character throws a ball to a character he or she dislikes, the ball travels more slowly and is sometimes out of line. Bad chemistry is symbolized when a small zigzag line appears next to the players. Examples of bad chemistry include Mario and Bowser, Luigi and King Boo. However, bad chemistry only occurs when the characters are fielding, and it does not happen all the time.

Star Skill

Mario, using his Fireball as a Star Skill.

A new feature in this game is the ability to use a Star Skill. Star Skills can be activated either while pitching or while batting. Anyone in this game can use a Star Skill, but a team captain's Star Skill is superior to a sub-character's Star Skill. Team Captains have mostly different Star Skills, however, captains that usually pair with each other (Mario and Luigi, Peach and Daisy) have similar Star Skills. The amount of Star Skills that can be used is represented by 5 Team Stars in a meter. The amount of starting Team Stars depend on the sub-characters' chemistry with the team captain.

Star Skills can be replenished by hitting ball park features. They can also be replenished by striking a player out or making a batter reach a base safely when the words, "Star Chance!" appear. Team captains use up one Team Star, sub-characters use up one Team Star, and captains as members use up two Team Stars.

Gameplay

Controls

File:BattingControls.PNG

Controls for batters and runners.

Menu Controls

A: Confirm
B: Cancel
Control Stick/Pad: Select menu items
L/R: Switch between positions and line-ups
L: When selecting a certain character, the player can change their color
Y: Deselect all members
X: Change hand type of a character
Z: View profile of a character selected

In-Game Controls (Batting)

A: Normal Swing (holding A causes the swing to charge)
B: Bunt
L: Reset batter to default position
Control Stick/Pad: Reset batter to default position or aim the hit
A + R: Use Star Swing

In-Game Controls (Runner)

Control Stick: Choose a base when stealing a base
Y: Steal a base/Advance a base
X: Return to base/Dash
B: The player can tap this to make the character dash

In-Game Controls (Pitching)

Control Stick/Pad: Change pitcher's position on mound/control the ball
A: Normal Pitch (holding A causes the pitch to charge)
A + R: Throw a Star Pitch
Control Stick + B: Check a runner
L: Reset pitcher to default position

In-Game Controls (Fielder)

Control Stick/Pad: Move
Control Stick + A: Choose a base and throw
Control Stick + A: The player can make a diving catch
A: Jump
A: Use unique talent (if any)
B: The player can tap this to make the character dash

Exhibition Mode

File:ExhibitionModeMSB.PNG

Selecting characters for Exhibition Mode.

Exhibition mode is a standard one or two player game of baseball. Players fill out a roster and play a game. There are six different, unique stadiums in which players can choose to play in. The player, before playing in a stadium, can adjust options such as number of innings, mercy, which player bats first, and turning Star Skills on and off. Players can also adjust field settings, running, drop spots, and batting cursors.

Note: The player must complete challenge mode once to unlock Bowser Castle.

Stadiums

Image	Stadium	Corresponding Mini-game	Description
File:Mario Stadium1.PNG	Mario Stadium	Bob-omb Derby	A stadium belonging to Mario in a sun-drenched beachside area. There are no features in this stadium, so this stadium is well suited for pure baseball.
File:Peach Garden1.PNG	Peach Garden	Wall Ball	A courtyard ball park just outside Peach's Castle. Blocks float high above the fielders in this ball park. When a fly ball hits one of these blocks the ball will bounce and fly to a random direction. Brick Blocks can be destroyed while Note Blocks can't be destroyed. Blocks also give out Star Skills when hit.
File:WarPalace.PNG	Wario Palace	Chain Chomp Sprint	A ball park owned by Wario in a middle of a desert. Chain Chomps guard the extreme right and left fields where the ball is fouled when landed upon there. Chain Chomps will attempt to bite the ball and they can hit characters if there is any contact. Sandstorm generators also float and make the balls change direction where it will land by generating whirlwinds. Star shaped dunes can be found in the sand and they will give a Star Skill when a ball rolls into it.
File:Yoshi Park.PNG	Yoshi Park	Piranha Panic	A scenic ball park owned by Yoshi. Piranha Plants grow widespread across the field and attack anyone who goes near a stray ball. Yellow Piranha Plants don't harm players and they give out a Star Skill when hit.
File:Donkey Kong Jungle1.PNG	Donkey Kong Jungle	Barrel Batter	A stadium set in a jungle, owned by Donkey Kong. Barrels get launched from a cannon and hit any player they touch. Klaptraps are also found in a stream and they will bite a player who comes too close. When hit with a ball, Klaptraps give out a Star Skill.
File:Bowser Castle2.PNG	Bowser Castle	Star Dash	A ball park inside Bowser's castle. Flying fireballs are found in chain link lava picts and they harm anyone who touches it. Thwomps also crash down to stop any would-be home run balls. Star panels give out Star Skills when they get touched in this stadium.

Challenge Mode

File:ChallengeMSB.PNG

Wario in Challenge Mode.

Challenge Mode (the main game mode of Mario Superstar Baseball) is a game mode where one player selects one of five Team Captains (Mario, Peach, Donkey Kong, Wario, and Yoshi) and plays with a pre-made team. The player wanders a map of the Mushroom Kingdom and can play mini games to earn coins and spend at a Shop, where power-ups can be bought. The player's objective is to beat the other four captains in a game of baseball, on their own course. Players from other teams can be recruited after clearing certain missions. When the player recruits the captain they are not able to recruit other characters on their team unless the player faces Bowser Jr. After beating all four opponents, the path to Bowser's Castle opens, where the player is able to challenge Bowser's team. Once Bowser's team is defeated, Challenge Mode is cleared. Additionally, Bowser Jr. wanders the map. Coming in contact with him starts a short, one inning game where the player is put in various situations. If the player has had a captain join their team, he or she can unlock characters on their team from Bowser Jr. Sometimes, they are ahead by a point and must defend their position. Other times, they are behind and must make a comeback. Challenge mode is the only way to unlock characters.

Another (optional) quest in Challenge mode is the Superstar Challenge. Each character has certain goals that they must clear. Clearing the goals earns the character stars. Earning every star makes that character a Superstar and boosts all of their abilities.

There are four difficulties to Challenge mode: Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special. Once Special mode is cleared, Bowser becomes a playable captain. In Bowser mode, Bowser must beat the other five captains, and then play a team of nine of the ten captains and sub-captains (the excluded character is random). Bowser can recruit other characters, excluding the captains and sub-captains, and in Bowser mode, Bowser Jr. does not wander the map.

Toy Field

Toy Field

Main article: Toy Field

Toy Field is a mode up to four players can participate in a special field. Players take turns hitting pitched balls into a field made up of many spaces. Players earn coins depending on where the ball has landed. The player with the most coins win. Items can be used to either help or deter a player's progress depending if the ball landed on a ? area. Players can also get coins by striking a player out or catching a fly ball.

Minigames

Minigames are extra games outside of playing regular baseball. They usually feature baseball rules, but with a tweak added to it. Unlike exhibition, up to fours players can participate and players choose single characters instead of constructing a team. All minigames correspond to a stadium, such as Bob-omb Derby to Mario Stadium. Four difficulties are involved, though only one is available in the start for all minigames from easiest to hardest: Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special. Flower and Star difficulties are simply harder than Mushroom, but Special usually has a tweak to it: players who play Special difficulty sets records if they beat the standard high score of the minigame.

When players beat Special difficulty for all minigames, they unlock Grand Prix Mode. Grand Prix mode is basically a collection of all minigames in this order, in Special difficulty: Bob-omb Derby, Wall Ball, Chain Chomp Sprint, Piranha Panic, Barrel Batter, and Star Dash. When completed, the player will earn a Grand Prix medal, which is stored in the Records mode.

Practice

This mode allows players to master and practice the basics of Mario Superstar Baseball, including batting, pitching, fielding, and base running. The player can also go here to practice against a CPU with any character they choose. Options in the Practice mode include: Batting, Pitching, Baserunning, and Fielding, where the player is given instructions on the category, playing as Mario. The last option, Free Play, is where the player can practice the four ways of playing baseball with any character they wish and as long as they want.

Records

File:MVPScreen.PNG

The records for past MVPs.

This is where all outcomes of Exhibition, Challenge, Toy Field, and Minigame Mode are stored. The player can navigate through a number of menus to see all the information stored. The following are stored: past MVPs, challenge mode tropies, Grand Prix medals, star statuses, high scores for all minigames in Special difficulty, and high scores for Toy Field

Options

The options allow the player to modify game settings. Settings include turning on and off music, setting the sound scheme (Mono, Stereo, and Surround), and turning the Controller's Rumble Feature on or off.

Items

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The shop in Challenge Mode.

These items can only be bought at the shop in Challenge Mode. Coins are obtained for purchasing items by either defeating Bowser Jr. roaming across the map or winning minigames at the stadiums.

One-Game Items

The following items last for one game of baseball.

Nice Bat - Lets the player's character get hits more easily.
Power Bat - Increases the power of the character's swings.
Super Ball - Increases the speed of the character's pitches.
Lucky Glove - Increases the Fielding ability of the characters.
Dash Spikes - Makes the characters move faster.
Buddy Emblem - Increases friendship between the team. Normally incompatible characters will become more friendly to their rivals.
Superstar - Increases all stats and boosts friendship. Not available until every other item has been purchased at least once over the course of multiple Challenge Mode playthroughs.

Permanent Items

Once these items are purchased, they never need to be bought again. All of them cost 200 coins and they all do the same thing: give a character the ability to use their special hits and pitches. The difference is that each one powers up just one captain. They become active when the compatible character is on the team.

One permanent item that does not give a character Special Moves is the Secret Map, which allows access to the Toy Field from Challenge Mode's overworld, therefore letting coins earned in Toy Field carry over to Challenge Mode. The Secret Map only appears if the player has beaten every mini-game on the Challenge Mode overworld.