"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!"

Or "Goal" in English. This is what you would typically hear on Spanish TV and this is what makes soccer so exciting. Super Mario Strikers does no less, emulating that excitement in the game.

Featuring the Super Mario characters, players play a not-so-typical soccer match that's fun, exciting, and of course, using all the items we've come to love in Super Mario games such as hitting players with shells.

Getting used to the controls was simple, but took getting used to because I don't usually play sports games. (For those that don't as well, depending on whether you're playing defense or offense, you use the same buttons, but the buttons have different actions.) Nevertheless, I did get used to the buttons, learning how to pass the ball, and even make those fancy shots! Defense-wise you're able to steal the ball, and of course slide tackle. Then of course, you can use the items that's most useful when you're opponent is about to shoot a goal and you can't reach them in time.

After playing the game a couple of times, it got repetitive, so I decided to just have fun - which is when I discovered pushing. Just for fun, I decided to see how many times I can push a player. Pushing the players down on the ground, pushing them against the fence and getting them electrocuted, guarding the ball (but not having possession) and pushing any opponent that would try and steal the ball. Lo and behold, after one of the matches, I received a Bronze Paramedic Trophy for hitting players so many times.

Last but not least, there's stages and variety of trophies to be unlocked, so the game offers a lot more as you play and beat the stages. Plus, you can always play with your friends or against them, which will always make things more interesting.