__ __ _ ___ ___ ___ ___ _____ ___ ___ _ _____ ___ ___ | \/ | /_\ | _ \_ _/ _ \ / __|_ _| _ \_ _| |/ / __| _ \/ __| | |\/| |/ _ \| /| | (_) | \__ \ | | | /| || ' <| _|| /\__ \ |_| |_/_/ \_\_|_\___\___/ |___/ |_| |_|_\___|_|\_\___|_|_\|___/ ________ _____ ____ ________________ / ____/ / / / | / __ \/ ____/ ____/ __ \ / / / /_/ / /| | / /_/ / / __/ __/ / / / / / /___/ __ / ___ |/ _, _/ /_/ / /___/ /_/ / \____/_/ /_/_/ |_/_/ |_|\____/_____/_____/ ************************************************ * bowser194's Tenth FAQ * * Mario Strikers Charged FAQ * * Version 0.70 * * FAQ Created: August 21, 2007 * * Latest Update: August 23, 2007 * * E-Mail: bowser194(at)gmail(dot)com * ************************************************ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ******************************** * Section 1 - The Introduction * ******************************** Section 1A - Table Of Contents ================================ Section 1 - The Introduction ---------------------------- Section 1A - Table Of Contents Section 1B - Version History Section 1C - Introduction Section 2 - Various Information ------------------------------- Section 2A - Controls Section 2B - Player Types Section 2C - Characters Section 2D - Items Section 2E - Stadiums Section 2F - Gameplay Section 3 - Gameplay Modes -------------------------- Section 3A - The Cups Section 3B - Striker Challenges* Section 3C - Strikers 101* Section 3D - Online Play* Section 4 - Tactics & Unlockables --------------------------------- Section 4A - Tips & Tactics* Section 4B - Unlockables Section 4C - Frequently Asked Questions** Section 5 - Conclusion ---------------------- Section 5A - Closing Section 5B - Credits Section 5C - Contacting Me Section 5D - Copyright *Indicates this section has not yet been completed. **Indicates this section will be frequently updated. -------------------------------------------- Section 1B - Version History ============================== Version 0.55 - FAQ Size: 36KB - Date: August 21, 2007 First version of the FAQ. There is a huge gap of missing information in Section #3, which will be filled in with future updates. Version 0.70 - FAQ Size: 49KB - Date: August 22, 2007 Section #2 is now fully completed. Section 3A has also been fully written and completed. Section 4B has been opened to some of the basic questions regarding the game, and more will be added as they are recieved. Major sections still requiring work should at least be partially completed by the next update. -------------------------------------------- Section 1C - Introduction =========================== Mario Strikers Charged is the sequel to the original, and fairly popular, Super Mario Strikers for GameCube. It joins the collection of Mario sports games, which include Mario Tennis, Baseball, Golf, and several others. This newest edition of Mario Strikers includes several updates to the gameplay engine, such as varying character abilities, megastrikes, sidekick powershots, and more. Alongside this, online play has been introduced, complete with rankings and friend lists. All this make Mario Strikers Charged even more wacky and insane than before, an enjoyable experience for all ages. This FAQ is designed to provide various bits of information on the game and gameplay modes, as well as help you through the sometimes impossible cups/challenges with strategies and tactics for winning. So, let's begin. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= *********************************** * Section 2 - Various Information * *********************************** Section 2A - Controls ======================= One of the greatest things about Mario Strikers is the simplicity of the controls, allowing a newcomer to pick up and play with ease. There are few advanced moves or button combinations to remember. This section has been split into offensive, defensive, and goalkeeping moves. ------------------ Offensive Controls ------------------ Control Stick - Control character. Control Pad - Deke. A Button - Regular pass. B Button - Shoot. Hold it down to charge the shot or perform a Megastrike. C Button - Use an item. Z Button - Chips the ball ahead, and the character will chase it down. Nunchuk - Shake to switch the item order. Z + A - Lob pass. Z + B - Lob shot. 1 - Pause. ------------------ Defensive Controls ------------------ Control Stick - Control character. Control Pad - Slide tackle. Wii Remote - Shake to perform a big hit. A Button - Switch players. B Button - Clear the ball when in your own half. C Button - Use an item. Nunchuk - Shake to switch the item order. 1 - Pause. ------------------- Goalkeeper Controls ------------------- Control Stick - Control goalkeeper. Wii Remote - Point at the screen when saving Megastrikes. A Button - Throw the ball to a teammate. Also used to stop Megastrikes. B Button - Kick the ball high and far upfield. -------------------------------------------- Section 2B - Player Types =========================== Before getting into each character, it's important to know what kinds of character types exist. Explanations for each type can be found below. -------- Balanced -------- Shooting - 6/10 Passing - 6/10 Speed - 6/10 Defense - 6/10 The balanced player is perfectly capable in all aspects of the game. They are able to shoot, pass, run, and tackle with moderate ability. These types of players are great choices for newcomers to adapt to the game, as well as for players of the original Mario Strikers. --------- Playmaker --------- Shooting - 3/10 Passing - 10/10 Speed - 10/10 Defense - 3/10 The playmaker is a crucial element of every team, with great speed and ability to set up other players with quick and accurate passes. Sidekick playmakers tend to be best used alongside offensive or power captains, as their shooting and tackling is lackluster. --------- Offensive --------- Shooting - 10/10 Passing - 10/10 Speed - 3/10 Defense - 3/10 If you favor the pass-pass-pass-shoot style of play, an offensive captain is probably right for you. While they lack defensive capabilities and speed, their passing and shooting abilities are flawless and many shots they take are likely to go in. --------- Defensive --------- Shooting - 3/10 Passing - 3/10 Speed - 10/10 Defense - 10/10 The most popular of all defensive characters is Dry Bones, and you will find him on just about every team you encounter online. Defensive characters are fast and able to take the ball off opponents with ease; obviously, this means that their shooting and passing abilities are quite weak. ----- Power ----- Shooting - 10/10 Passing - 3/10 Speed - 3/10 Defense - 10/10 The power player is an odd but effective combination of offense and defense, with great shooting ability, but also exceptional tackling. The only problem is that their speed means they probably won't be your first choice when it comes to getting the ball from an opponent. -------------------------------------------- Section 2C - Characters ========================= This section is divided into two categories, one for captains and another for Sidekicks. Their special abilities are also listed, as well as what type of player they are, all in alphabetical order for your convenience. ------------------- The Twelve Captains ------------------- Name - Bowser Type - Power Description - For years, Bowser's has captured the Princess and forced Mario out to save her, and just in general created havoc in various Mario games. Occasionally, he has also been a playable character. Spc Ability - 'Fire Storm', in which Bowser breathes fire directly in front of him. Unfortunately, these flames don't get much distance, meaning it isn't too hard to strip the ball away. Name - Bowser Jr Type - Offensive Description - Different variations of Bowser Jr and Baby Bowser have existed as different publishers have developed different games, but despite the choice of name, they both refer to Bowser's son. Spc Ability - 'Sonic Roar' allows Bowser Jr to knock over an opponent for several seconds, as well as shrink them for about the next 20. Best used during gameplay, and not to attempt a megastrike. Name - Daisy Type - Defensive Description - Daisy is the Princess of the 'other kingdom', and pops up in various party games from time to time. The only game she was ever featured in was Super Mario Brothers for the original Game Boy. Spc Ability - 'Crystal Smash' creates a ring of diamonds around Daisy, knocking out anybody, including the goalie, who is around her. This ability to disable the goalie should be frequently exploited. Name - Diddy Kong Type - Playmaker Description - He's back again. Donkey Kong's little buddy from the original series has rarely made appearances in party games, but in this case his playability in Mario Strikers Charged is invaluable. Spc Ability - 'Red Card', possibly the best special ability in the game, creates a beam of light near Diddy Kong, and all players who enter it are sucked out of the stadium. It can be almost flawlessly used for megastrikes. Name - Donkey Kong Type - Power Description - The first game he was featured in was 'Donkey Kong' in the arcade, and since then he has evolved into a popular and commonly seen character in party-style Mario games. Spc Ability - 'Thunder Wham', which is similar to Daisy's special ability, knocks down everyone within a small range, giving DK all the time in the world to score a megastrike. Name - Luigi Type - Balanced Description - Since the beginning, Luigi has always played second fiddle to his older brother, but over the years he's had his chances in games like Mario is Missing and Luigi's Mansion. Spc Ability - 'Super Luigi', which makes him giant, allows him to trample opponents and take fully powered shots without charging. However, the ball can easily be taken with a slide tackle. Name - Mario Type - Balanced Description - Since the 1980's, Mario has starred in a wide variety of games, Everything from 'Mario Golf' to 'Mario Tennis'. In this game, he is yet again, the star of the show. Spc Ability - 'Super Mario', which makes him giant, allows him to trample opponents and take fully powered shots without charging. However, the ball can easily be taken with a slide tackle. Name - Peach Type - Playmaker Description - Usually the reason Mario is always out on a trek is because of Peach, but you'd think after all these years she'd have learned to defend herself! Spc Ability - 'Freeze Frame' will do precisely as described, freeze all characters within a small radius and prevent them from moving for several seconds; this can also affect her own teammates. Name - Petey Piranha Type - Power Description - From attacking Mario on his quests by coming out of pipes, to becoming a most unlikely candidate to be in such a game, Petey is playable in Mario Strikers Charged. Spc Ability - 'Mud Sling' has Petey lashing out some kind of substance which slows down anybody that walks into it, apart from Petey. Even items are slowed down, too. Name - Waluigi Type - Defensive Description - Very similar to Daisy in the sense that he's never had a game featuring him, but he always seems to pop up in party games, including this one. Spc Ability - 'Wall-uigi' can be used to create a wall anywhere on the field, most optimally used to cover himself while attempting a megastrike in a corner. However, it is somewhat difficult to use. Name - Wario Type - Offensive Description - Mario's arch-rival, Wario, appears in most party games and is also Waluigi's sidekick. He has a couple of his own games himself and has quite the ego in most of them. Spc Ability - 'Gas Mask', which is essentially Wario farting, leaves behind a trail of gas which, if the opponent enters, will mess up their controls by reversing them, which is fairly weak. Name - Yoshi Type - Balanced Description - Every now and then, Yoshi will pop in a random game to play the common role as Mario's sidekick. But the cute little dinosaur you know is not as happy in this game. Spc Ability - 'Egg Roll' is Yoshi's speciality, in which he'll suddenly pop into an egg and the user will be able to roll around crushing everything they run into, and then pop out and shoot. ------------------- The Eight Sidekicks ------------------- Name - Birdo Type - Power Description - Birdo made his first appearance in Super Mario Bros 2, and was at the end of every level. Yes, HIS first appearance, Nintendo has confirmed this. Skillshot - The ball is transformed into an egg of some sort, which, if fired directly at the net with no obstruction, is an automatic goal. However, the odds of it working all the time are extremely low. Name - Boo Type - Playmaker Description - Since the original Super Mario Brothers, Boo has chased Mario when his back was turned and been the death of numerous players. Now his tricky tactics are found in Mario Strikers Charged. Skillshot - Boo's skillshot requires him to be fairly close to the edge of the penalty box to score - Boo will launch himself forwards, invisibly, and then shoot the ball into the net if done right. Name - Dry Bones Type - Defensive Description - The enemy that would just never go away, Dry Bones could never actually be killed, and could be extremely irritating when there were several of them. Skillshot - A very useful skillshot, Dry Bones fires an electrified ball at the goalie, which will disable him and then allow for an easy lob shot or pass-shoot goal, if Dry Bones isn't hit. Name - Hammer Bros Type - Offensive Description - Yes, this is the Hammer Bros from Super Mario Brothers, where in those games he would attempt to hit Mario by throwing hammers as he ran by. This is only the third time he has ever been playable. Skillshot - One of the most favored skillshots in the game. When in proper range, Hammer Bros rises up into the air and fires three hammers at the goalie that render him useless while Hammer Bros scores. Name - Koopa Type - Balanced Description - If you know who Hammer Bros is, then you know who Koopa is - the second most frequent enemy in the original games. Skillshot - Koopa's skillshot is extremely useful when used correctly. A shell is fired at the goalie, disabling him for several seconds while the ball bounces away for a rebound you can put in the net. Name - Monty Mole Type - Power Description - Monty Mole has somehow managed to change his size from huge to small and back to huge again from game to game. This time, he's extremely big... and powerful. Skillshot - When used within the correct range of the goalie, Monty Mole will dig underneath the ground, shoot forward a small distance, then pop back out and fire the ball in the net. Name - Shy Guy Type - Balanced Description - Varying in personality, Shy Guy has popped up randomly in various Mario games, and has taken on the role of both bad and good guy. He also used to be an enemy in Super Mario Brothers 2. Skillshot - When used, Shy Guy jumps onto a Bullet Bill which launches toward and crashes into the goalie. This creates an explosion which may or may not result in your getting the ball returned right back to you for an easy goal. Name - Toad Type - Playmaker Description - The servant to Princess Peach in all Mario games. Toad rarely has much of a role in any game, but does pop up as a playable character from time to time. Skillshot - Toad's skillshot is literally a rocket fired at the goalie, which rarely goes in, however it weakens the goalie by putting him in flames for a period of around 10 seconds. -------------------------------------------- Section 2D - Items ==================== Items are a huge part of what makes Super Mario Strikers so insane and chaotic. When timed right, items can also save you from letting a goal in or get you out on a breakaway, or also set you up for a megastrike. Note the goalies are immune to all items. Also note that you get three or even five of an item. When you're playing, you can gain items by having someone take a cheap shot on you (use a Big Hit when you don't have the ball), by taking a good shot, or by scoring. You can hold a maximum of two items at once. The items below are listed in alphabetical order for your convenience. Name - Banana Frequency - Common Multiplies - Yes Description - Simply put, you can drop bananas anywhere on the field to slip up your opponent, or even yourself if you accidentally run into them. Usually, the best place for these is a couple of feet to the left or right of your own goal, which is the most frequent place for shooting - however, they can also be effectively used when backed against a wall to defend yourself against tackles as you attempt a megastrike. Note that these also come in giant size, too. Name - Blue Shell Frequency - Uncommon Multiplies - Yes Description - Blue Shells have an entirely different function in this game. They do not target your opponents, but instead they'll actually freeze your opponent in their position for about three seconds. When using this item, be cautious, as they can also freeze your own teammates, too. Name - Bob-Omb Frequency - Common Multiplies - Yes Description - When you get one of these and use it, they will drop over the playing field to somewhere near the location of the ball (they do have a limited distance, though). When they land, they explode with such powerful force that they'll send anybody who was in the landing path flying into the air. Extremely useful to block opponents from reaching you and to stop potential breakaways. Note that these also come in giant size, too. Name - Chain Chomp Frequency - Rare Description - The most powerful item in the game, but it's also one of the most unlikely to be found, and can be countered by an experienced player. When used, Chain Chomp will drop down on one of your opponents characters and crush them, then proceed to go after the other three characters until it has crushed them, too. After they're hit they'll sit dazed for a second or two before getting back up again. This puts you in a great position for a breakaway or megastrike. However, Chain Chomp can be countered by moving your players towards the opposition so they are crushed as well while it chases you down. Name - Giant Shells Frequency - Common Multiplies - No Description - These shells come in any of the aforementioned colors or types, are triple the size, and extremely useful. They can hit three to four people at a time, or even more, if you're lucky. However, these are also extremely unpredictable because they can also hit one of your teammates, and they continue to bounce around even after they've hit people. Name - Green Shell Frequency - Common Multiplies - Yes Description - The Green Shell is one of the most common items you'll come across in this game. When you throw them, they'll aimlessly bounce around the stadium until they hit somebody or randomly explode. Therefore, they're best used when you're directly behind or in front of the opponent that you want to hit. Name - Invincibility Star Frequency - Rare Description - As you might imagine, when you use this, your character becomes invincible, so anybody that touches you is knocked aside, and you also gain a bit of speed. It only lasts for a few seconds, but a few seconds is all you need to get your captain to attempt a Megastrike of three or four goals. You can also try for five or six, but odds are you won't get it before losing invincibility and getting hit. Name - Mushroom Frequency - Common Description - The Mushroom may at first seem unhelpful, but it really serves many purposes, one of those being the ability to slide 3-4 times faster when combined with a slide tackle. Or when you're able to use it on a breakaway, to speed ahead of the defenders trailing behind you. Otherwise, the effect disappears quickly after only a few seconds, or if you switch characters, making it an item you'll have to use with precise timing. Name - Red Shell Frequency - Common Multiplies - Yes Description - While they're more uncommon than Green Shells, Red Shells are also much more useful than Green Shells because they actually go after your opponents. These can be used very effectively when you're surrounded with the ball, allowing you to break free and pass/shoot. Occasionally, they might miss hitting their intended target and go after somebody else or even your own teammate, instead. Name - Spiked Shell Frequency - Uncommon Multiplies - Yes Description - These shells are the exact same as Green Shells, except when they hit somebody, they continue to bounce around the field until they randomly explode. This can be quite useful for hitting one opponent after another, but also backfire if it bounces off an object of some sort and hits you instead. -------------------------------------------- Section 2E - Stadiums ======================= There are 17 different stadiums in Mario Strikers Charged, a huge upgrade from the original, which only featured seven. The newer stadiums also have various environmental effects that can change the gameplay in a instant. This section is split up into Classic and Charged stadiums. ---------------- Charged Stadiums ---------------- Name - The Vice Description - This is your standard arena with absolutely no quirks to it. A nice tint of green with several dirt cracks cutting through to mark the penalty box and halfway line/circle, and that's about all you'll find here. Name - Thunder Island Description - One of the most dangerous stages in the game, you can be knocked off as a result of being too close to the edge alone. There are various objects that blow across the stage from time to time, including a Cheep-Cheep, a cow, and even a tractor. If they hit you, these items will send you spiraling off the stage. On top of all this, there is a constant wind blowing, which has a powerful effect on ball movement. The wind tends to favor the player behind on the scoreboard. When you're knocked off the stage, your character will only return after about 10-15 seconds. Name - The Sand Tomb Description - On this stage, you essentially have two choices; run at top speed in the middle of the arena where Thwomps crush players frequently, or run slowly on the sides of the arena, where the Thwomps can't reach you. If you're crushed, you'll stay crushed for several seconds until finally your character rejoins the play. Name - The Classroom Description - The exact same as The Vice, apart from the fact that there's no audience watching the game, and that it looks different. A fan favorite due to the calmness of the arena, which allows you to focus on playing the game. This is where all Strikers 101 matches are played, as is reflected by the name. Name - The Lava Pit Description - Here we have what is considered to be the most havoc-wreaking arena in the game. Random pits of fire pop out of nowhere in random spots throughout the stage, spurting out fireballs that can obstruct your view. If you run into the lava pit, you'll bounce around in pain until you reach solid ground. The ball also bounces off these fire pits as well. Alongside this, you also need to keep an eye out for the frequent flares that slice through the crevices in the arena floor - they'll burn you and you'll lose the ball immediately. Name - The Wastelands Description - This is quite a frustrating arena to play in. The floor is slippery, making it a pain to try and manuever your character to a stationary or slowly moving ball. If you can get over this, you still have to worry about the lightning that will frequently strike the ball and knock out everything around it. You have a small warning - the lightning will flash twice before actually striking, which gives you a chance to quickly shoot or get the ball away from you. On the third time, the lightning will hit and stop the ball dead. You need to be extremely cautious here. Name - Crystal Canyon Description - This stadium has a very unique twist to it - upon beginning the match, you'll notice that you'll lose one or two players right from the beginning, as they're zapped and simply run away. This also happens between each goal that is scored. This means that you'll require a bit of luck to win here - you'll need to hope to have the right combination of players remaining to suit you. Name - The Dump Description - This stadium lives up to its name, as the floor is composed of some sewage-like substance that drains into the center of the field. This means that here, the ball will come to a dead stop much quicker than it would on a regular playing surface, and you may notice your players slowed down just a bit. Name - Stormship Stadium Description - The camera angles used on this stage definately need some work, as you'll find when the stage tilts from side to side during the match. Based on the scoreline, the tilting of the stadium will favor the losing player, meaning most matches on this stage are bound to be tight. When the stadium is tilted in your favor, you'll be able to run (downhill) much faster than normally, as well as the ball will constantly roll towards your opponent's goal. Be sure to take advantage when the stadium is tilted for you, and when it isn't, try to have at least one teammate back on defense, as it can be a long way up for some of the slower characters. Name - Galactic Stadium Description - The hardest stadium to unlock has absolutely no quirks to it. How logical. As implied by the name, the arena is found in the middle of space, displayed through an impressive intro at the beginning of matches played here. ---------------- Classic Stadiums ---------------- Name - The Palace Description - This is your standard grassy field with a couple of weak spots here and there in places that the ball is seen frequently. Name - Pipeline Central Description - This stage is made up of a rough, rocky terrain that crumbles easily as things tend to explode often. The posts and crossbars of the nets are extremely thin pipes that somehow manage to withstand the power of the shots. Name - The Underground Description - Metal flooring? Doesn't look like it. The Underground is a simple stadium that gives you the feeling of street soccer and really doesn't offer much else. Name - Konga Coliseum Description - Uncomfortable, wooden terrain and average-sized nets. This is fairly similar to The Palace in terms of how it's laid out. Name - Crater Field Description - This is the greenest and cleanest of all seven fields - there appears to be no weak spots. The posts of the net are made of a dark substance and they're fairly thick, while the crossbar is thin. Name - The Battle Dome Description - The nets on this field are the widest and the shortest out of all the classic fields. This makes it easy to score when curving the ball from a distance. As with Pipeline Central, the concrete is constantly crumbling under the force of items. Name - Bowser Stadium Description - This field doesn't really give off the sense that it's Bowser's Stadium, without any form of lava or fiery substance. -------------------------------------------- Section 2F - Gameplay ======================= Being an arcade style soccer game, Super Mario Strikers is extremely easy to just pick up and play. In this section, I'll review how the game works and what options you have. When you first start up the game, you'll find a simplistic menu with the following options available. --------------- Domination Mode --------------- You may be confused at first, but very simply, this is your basic exhibition match. Choose your captain, then adjust your sidekicks lineup, choose a stadium, and you're ready to go. ------------ Hall Of Fame ------------ The Hall Of Fame menu is where the trophies you've won are displayed, as well as player cards obtained by completing the Striker Challenges.. -------------- Nintendo Wi-Fi -------------- It's finally here - a great game that utilizes Nintendo's online Wi-Fi connection so that you can play friends and random people online. Complete with a ranking system and a nearly lag-free environment, this is currently the best online game available for Wii right now. Refer to Section 3D for more information regarding online play. ------- Options ------- In the Options menu, you can tinker with your audio and visual settings. ------------ Strikers 101 ------------ If you're a new player to the game or just a veteran looking to freshen up on some old material, Strikers 101 offers 10 different challenges that allow you to learn the game by playing it. Refer to Section 3C for more information on thee ten tutorial challenges. ------------------ Striker Challenges ------------------ Here you have one of the new modes introduced in Mario Strikers Charged, in which you are set up with a challenge, and opponent, your character and team, and even the stadium, and you must complete the objective described to you at the beginning of the match. -------- The Cups -------- Refer to Section 3A for information. ======= ------------ In-Game Play ------------ ________________________ During the game, you have a simple screen layout |DK II 3 2:38 2 II DK| shown to the right. The two characters names are | | on the left and right of the screen. Next to their | | name, you have the items in their possession. | The Game | The item closest to the time is the next one in | | line to be used. On the other side of their name, | | you have their score. In between the two names, | The two II's next to | you have the time remaining in the game. The rest | the name are items. | of the screen is simply used for the main gameplay. |________________________| =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ****************************** * Section 3 - Gameplay Modes * ****************************** Section 3A - The Cups ======================= The Cup Battles are where you will unlock much of the important material that there is to unlock, by participating in a league, which then progresses into a knockout round. It also where you'll have one of the most frustrating experiences, particularly in the Striker Cup. There are awards given for winning the tournament, giving up the fewest goals, and scoring the most goals. Refer to Section 4B for more information on what you can unlock. There are three cups that you must complete, those being the Fire Cup, the Crystal Cup, and the Striker Cup. They range from ridiculously easy to nearly impossible, and to make things worse, you cannot change teams between Cups, unless you don't mind going through the ones you've beaten again. This section will walk you through what you should expect to face and how to get through it. -------- Fire Cup -------- This is the easiest of all three cups. You should be able to blaze through all six league matches with little to no trouble. The only advice I have for you is that you score only as much as you're required to win the Golden Foot award - there's no point wasting your time on this one. Once you're done, you'll progress to the Crystal Cup. ----------- Crystal Cup ----------- While you've (hopefully) been relaxing while completing the previous cup, it is here that you'll need to start paying attention. The AI takes a huge leap and actually becomes fairly intelligent, preventing you from taking megastrikes and forcing you to actually work for the goals. You should still be able to win the league and the Golden Foot/Brick Wall awards without too much trouble, possibly dropping a game or two here and there. The knockout round is where things will become difficult. You'll probably be able to manage getting through the semifinal and even final rounds, but defeating and unlocking the champion, Diddy Kong, can be very frustrating. The match takes place in Crystal Canyon, which means that you will lose one or two players right from the beginning, and between each goal that is scored. It is important to have at least one fast character in order to stop your speedy opponent from running lose, therefore you'll need a bit of luck here. Diddy Kong will frequently be awarded with his Red Card special ability, meaning you must be extremely careful not to give away items unless it is entirely necessary. He also uses his megastrike in constant combination with this special ability, hiding in the beam that is created, which sucks away all players before they can tackle him. His sidekicks aren't usually the source of the goals, so if Diddy Kong is one of the players that gets zapped away, make sure to take advantage of the situation. You'll need a bit of luck to get through Diddy Kong because of the stadium the match is played in, but once you've won, you'll advance to the Striker Cup. ----------- Striker Cup ----------- Here you have the most challenging and frustrating of the thrree cups. It is clearly evident at this point that the AI cheats, or in other words, is given several unfair advantages that you are not. These include the ability to power up to a white ball within three passes, purple or even red ball going in for goals, your goalie making constant mistakes that he generally wouldn't make, and so on. It is here that you'll want to throw your controller in frustration, so make sure to wear the wriststrap as a precaution. If you're struggling to get through the league stage, try attempting the Cup with several friends. One of the key methods of scoring in this cup is with the megastrike, as you're almost always guaranteed a goal as long as you hit the green or orange section. However, it isn't very easy to get into an open position when you're playing because of the intelligent AI. This is where your friends come in. With several humans, you can guard the captain while they attempt a megastrike, and it is generally very successful, with the only problem being that the computer has items, and uses them. If you manage to get through the league stage and hopefully secure the two awards, you'll be presented with an even tougher challenge in the knockout round. If you can somehow get through this stage, you'll progress to the match with the champions, Petey Piranha. Unlike the Crystal Cup, this entire team in able to score almost at will. Your best bet is to get the first goal of the game, and then proceed to camp out in front of your goalie. If you are tackled, the ball should roll right back into the goalie's hands and you can repeat this process. This is, however, where the luck factor comes in - if the goalie fails to pass the ball off properly, you may lose it and surrender an immediate goal. For those players wishing to attempt to 'fairly' (whatever that means) defeat the champion, then the best advice there that can be given is to not over- commit on offense. It'll help when you score a goal, but it helps even more to have an agile player back on defense that is capable of catching up to and stopping any opponent character. Also be sure to charge up the ball as far away from the defenders as possible, and then either lob or bring the ball up to someone else on your team who can score. If you manage to beat Petey Piranha and win the Striker Cup, congratulations - you have achieved what many have simply given up on attempting to do. -------------------------------------------- Section 3B - Striker Challenges ================================= - Coming Soon! - -------------------------------------------- Section 3C - Strikers 101 =========================== - Coming Soon! - -------------------------------------------- Section 3D - Online Play ========================== - Coming Soon! - =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= *************************************** * Section 4 - Tactics and Unlockables * *************************************** Section 4A - Tips & Tactics ============================= - Coming Soon! - -------------------------------------------- Section 4B - Unlockables ========================== There is a lot to unlock in Super Mario Strikers, and while most of it is done by winning Battle Cups, some of it involves the Milestone Trophies. This section is split into multiple categories so you can find what you need, and data within the categories is listed in alphabetical order. ---------------------------- In-Game Cheats/Modifications ---------------------------- Always Sidekick Skillshot - Beat Striker Challenge #11 Always White Ball - Beat Striker Challenge #10 Classic Mode - Beat Striker Challenge #1 Custom/Infinite Powerups - Beat Striker Challenge #12 Devastating Hits - Beat Striker Challenge #5 Field Tilt - Beat Striker Challenge #9 High Voltage - Beat Striker Challenge #4 No Power-Ups - Beat Striker Challenge #6 Power Shortage - Beat Striker Challenge #8 Safe Megastrike - Beat Striker Challenge #2 Secure Stadiums - Beat Striker Challenge #7 Super Captains - Beat Striker Challenge #3 ------------------- Unlockable Stadiums ------------------- Crystal Canyon - Win the Crystal Cup. Galactic Stadium - Win the Brick Wall and Golden Foot awards in Striker Cup. Stormship Stadium - Win the Striker Cup. The Dump - Win the Brick Wall and Golden Foot awards in Crystal Cup. The Lava Pit - Win the Fire Cup. The Wastelands - Win the Brick Wall and the Golden Foot awards in Fire Cup. --------------------- Unlockable Characters --------------------- Bowser Jr. - Win the Fire Cup. Diddy Kong - Win the Crystal Cup. Petey Piranha - Win the Striker Cup. -------------------------- Unlockable Character Cards -------------------------- Bowser Card - Beat Striker Challenge #9 Bowser Jr. Card - Beat Striker Challenge #11 Daisy Card - Beat Striker Challenge #5 Diddy Kong Card - Beat Striker Challenge #12 Donkey Kong Card - Beat Striker Challenge #3 Luigi Card - Beat Striker Challenge #2 Mario Card - Beat Striker Challenge #1 Peach Card - Beat Striker Challenge #4 Petey Piranha Card - Beat Striker Challenge #10 Waluigi Card - Beat Striker Challenge #7 Wario Card - Beat Striker Challenge #6 Yoshi Card - Beat Striker Challenge #8 ------------------- Unlockable Trophies ------------------- Brickwall Trophy - Have the least amount of goals against in any tournament. Crystal Trophy - Win the Crystal Cup. Fire Trophy - Win the Fire Cup. Golden Foot Trophy - Score the most goals in any tournament. Striker Trophy - Win the Striker Cup. -------------------------------------------- Section 4C - Frequently Asked Questions ========================================= **Note this section will be frequently updated as new questions are added.** Q: Is Bowser a playable character in this game? A: Yes, Bowser is finally a playable character, unlike in the previous Mario Strikers game, where he only existed as a distraction. Q: How many items can be held at a time? A: Two is the maximium. Q: What do I need to play online? A: Either a Nintendo Wi-Fi adapter or a wireless router, an internet connection, and of course, a copy of the game. Q: How much does online play cost? A: Nintendo Wi-Fi connection is completely and entirely free. There are no charges of any sort. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ************************** * Section 5 - Conclusion * ************************** Section 5A - Closing ====================== That's about it. You've reached the end of my Mario Strikers Charged FAQ. Hopefully you enjoyed reading this, and that it was in some way useful to you. I also hope you appreciate this work - it came from hours upon hours of typing, playing, and staring at a computer screen to compile this FAQ. -------------------------------------------- Section 5B - Credits ====================== **http://www.network-science.de/ascii/input.html** The link itself says it all, my ASCII art for the first page came from here. It doesn't just come in one font, either - there are many other types as well, I just chose to use a rather simple one. **GameFAQs Codes & Cheats** A good reference for many of the unlockables I was unsure about. **Jeff 'CJayC' Veasey** Without him, this FAQ wouldn't exist in the first place. He has the best video game reference site I've ever found in GameFAQs, and I have nothing but well- wishes for him in the future. **You** Why you? Because as the reader, you provide me with a reason to write. What use would this guide be without people to read it? Thank you. -------------------------------------------- Section 5C - Contacting Me ============================ Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Corrections? If you have anything to say, you can email me at bowser194(at)gmail(dot)com. You can also find me on the boards, but that isn't the best form of communication. I'm generous enough to give you the privilege of contacting me, so don't abuse it. When emailing me, please put Mario Strikers Charged somewhere in the title, just so I have an idea of what the email has to do with, and so I don't think it's spam. I'll also be quite blunt in terms of friend requests - I have no interest in playing you online. The odds are that you will receive a response if you followed the above guidelines. Do not email me asking for permission to host this guide. If you're not on the list found in the copyright section, your request will be turned down. Simple, I hope. -------------------------------------------- Section 5D - Copyright ======================== This FAQ is not to be reproduced, altered, or changed in any way. You cannot do anything with this FAQ that will be profitable in any way. It is not to be used for promotion or commercial purposes of any kind. It is not to be used in published text of any kind. It is not to be used in electronic text of any kind. It is not to be distributed in any way. Please comply to all of these rules/restrictions. The only sites allowed to host this FAQ are the following: GameFAQs - http://www.gamefaqs.com Super Cheats - http://www.supercheats.com IGN FAQs - http://faqs.ign.com Gamer Help - http://www.gamerhelp.com/ If you're not on this list, you are not allowed to host this guide. Don't email me asking for permission, as your request will be turned down. This FAQ can be saved to hard drive. It also can be printed, but for personal use ONLY. Once it is printed or any part of it is printed, do not do any of the aforementioned things with it. Remember, plagiarism is not only illegal, but also stupid, and I'll be able to tell if you've stolen my work from me, so don't try it. If this FAQ is found anywhere other than the sites listed above, please notify me. This FAQ is written by and owned by me, bowser194. Copyright (C) 2007 bowser194