Mario Sports Mix

Mario Sports Mix is a Mario sports game for the Wii, featuring Mario and company competing in four sports: Hockey, Basketball, Dodgeball, and Volleyball, along with the Final Fantasy characters who have appeared in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 as well. Slime, a Dragon Quest mascot, makes an appearance in this game, too. This game is developed by Square Enix, who also developed Mario Hoops 3-on-3.

The game supports the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection feature, which enables players to play with other players in their region. To save any game data, three blocks of memory has to be used on the Wii system. However, the game data is copy protected, which means it can't be transferred onto other Wii systems.

Story
One day in the Mushroom Kingdom, Toad is gardening flowers when suddenly, the sky turned dark and a strange object fell from the sky and crashed. Toad is worried about the situation, so he, along with some other Toads, rushed to the crashed object to check it out. The Toads found four colored crystals: a red crystal with a basketball in it, a green crystal with a volleyball in it, a yellow crystal with a dodgeball in it, and a blue crystal with a coin in it. While observing the mysterious crystals, the Toads suddenly came up with an idea of introducing new sports - being Basketball, Volleyball, Dodgeball, and Hockey - to the Mushroom Kingdom. The Toads also organize tournaments for the four sports. The best players of the tournament earn a prize: one of the four crystals that fell from the sky. Mario and his friends and foes are ready to play sports and enter the tournaments to find out who are the best players of the Mushroom Kingdom.

When the players' team win the Mushroom and Flower Cups and get to the end of Star Cup, everything seems to be normal, but in the final round, a Star Ship appears and the players' opponent turns out to be Ninja in disguise. Ninja steals the trophy and jumps onto the Star Ship. The players follow Ninja to get the trophy back. They end up playing against the Final Fantasy team, while the Star Ship flies through space. When the players win against the Final Fantasy team, they receive one of the crystals that fell from the sky. The leader of the team uses it to power the Star Ship and take the team back home.

After players receive all the four crystals, the crystals merge together and turn into a dark, glowing crystal. The dark crystal takes the players to another area. In this area players encounter the Behemoth, a creature from the Final Fantasy series. The players must defeat the monster before it defeats them. When the players defeat Behemoth, the dark energy from the dark crystal disappears and turns into a rainbow-colored crystal. The players use the crystal again to power the Star Ship to take them back home.

Sports Mix mode's story is highly identical, except the players' team defeat the Final Fantasy team, the three Sports Mix trophies that they receive ends up merging into a dark crystal. That crystal also leads them to an alternate dimension, where the Behemoth King is found. Similarly with Behemoth, players have to defeat the Behemoth King before it takes them out. When the Behemoth King is defeated, the crystal's dark energy disappears, and it turns back into a rainbow crystal. The players use that crystal to power the Star Ship to take them back home.

Gameplay
Mario Sports Mix features four playable sports, all unique from each other. Players can play either alone with CPU allies, cooperatively with others up to three players, or against one another. Four players can participate; however, they can only participate in Vs. mode, 2 vs. 2. The Wii Remote and Nunchuk control style is used as the primary control scheme for the game. However, the players can also use the Wii Remote in the horizontal position. Players are able to perform actions through shaking the Wii Remote and/or inputting buttons as shown in horizontal Wii Remote scheme. All sports are played in periods, where, except for dodgeball, there is a certain time limit to each period. When the time limit is reached, players move to the next period and change sides. Excluding dodgeball, points acquired in past periods also add up to the current game's score. In dodgeball, another period commences when all team players get knocked out.

? Panels return from Mario Hoops 3-on-3, where they serve the same purpose: to provide players with either coins or an item. Unlike Mario Hoops 3-on-3, items are held in reserve rather than players holding them. The more coins players have, the more points they can get when they achieve a scoring. Players lose coins when they get hit by an opposing item, which makes the coins scatter on the floor. However, in dodgeball, coins increase the attack power of attacks, and players can't lose coins from items.

There are also special options that can be adjusted for each sport in exhibition mode, such as turning on and off ? Panels, setting the number of periods and the time limit, and other options which can be specific for each sport. Once the options are set, they do not reset whenever a players turns off the game.

On a side note, there's an option which enables the players to receive commands. However, this option is only available when the CPU level is set to "Easy".

Basketball
Basketball is played in a similar fashion as in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. Players must score points into their hoop in order to win the game. Whichever team has the most points wins the game. Two points are acquired when the ball makes it in the hoop; three points are acquired when the ball gets shot from the three pointer and beyond or when a special shot is performed. The coins that the players gather along the way are added to their score. Also in this sport, there is a shot clock on the bottom-left hand corner of the screen so the characters can shoot within the time limit, just like in a professional NBA game. If they don't shoot before the limit expires, the other team gets possession. Players are also able to defend, block, and make dunks in this game in a similar way to the actual sport. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, then sudden death commences. With this extra period in this sport, no game ends in a draw.

Volleyball
Volleyball is played by hitting a ball without making it touch the ground. Players first start matches by serving the ball, either by ground or by air. The match then proceeds, while the players try to smack the volleyball so it touches a ground. If that occurs, the team that does that gets a point. When a point limit is reached (the default is fifteen points), the set is won. Players can spike the ball, deflect a spike, and use many other moves that bear resemblance to the actual game. Volleyball also has an out zone, much like tennis: any player who hits the ball into this zone forfeits a point to the opposing team. Volleyball, with dodgeball, is the only sport in the game that doesn't have a time limit.

Dodgeball
A Dodgeball game always begins with a jump-ball that is done by a Lakitu to determine which team gets to attack first. Dodgeball is mostly played by throwing a ball to the opposing team. There are two teams of two or three characters and a colored Yoshi on the players' teams. Players can prevent a hit by catching the ball. Players who fail to catch the ball or dodge it lose their vitality. They can prevent this if they catch the ball before it lands if the ball flies upwards on some occasions. Players cannot catch the ball if they are facing away from them, nor can they catch it if an item is in effect. Players have a Health Meter and lose a portion when they get hit, except for the colored Yoshi, who can never be "knocked out," but cannot leave the box at the back of the court. Players cannot control the Yoshis unless they encounter the ball. If players lose all their HP, they are out, and they are sent into their box. However, unlike the Yoshis in the box, they can leave if they hit their target with the ball. Players that do this also get a small amount of their HP regained. Also, if both teams have at least one player remaining at the end of the time limit, sudden death follows. With this term, no set ends in a draw. In sudden death, the first team to take damage loses the set. The first team to knock out the opposing team before the time limit reaches zero, wins the set.

Hockey
A hockey game always begins with a face-off that is done by a Lakitu to determine which team gets the puck. Scoring a goal or a special shot results in another face-off. The goalkeepers in this sport are Shy Guys, and their color depends on which team they are in. In order to steal the puck, players must tackle each other, which can be achieved by the motion of shaking the Wii Remote ( in sideways mode) or simply by making a character go next to the opponent with the puck. Sometimes, a struggle ensues and players must shake their Wii Remote the fastest they can in order to win the puck over and knock the opponents away. The team with the most points wins and, very much like basketball, this game is played in time limits and transitional periods.

Sports Mix
Sports Mix is a tournament-only game mode, which utilizes all of the sports. To unlock it, players must complete all four Star Cups and defeat Behemoth. In this game mode, the sport that is played is chosen randomly for each round. Computer controlled characters are set on the Expert difficulty level, the hardest difficulty level in the game. When the player beats the Star Cup, the player will fight the Behemoth King, instead of a normal Behemoth. The Behemoth King has more health than Behemoth and is harder to beat.

The player can only select characters or costumes who are unlocked in all the four sports. So, if the player unlocked Cactuar in Basketball, Hockey and Volleyball, but not in Dodgeball, it cannot be selected in Sports Mix mode. If the player unlocks Cactuar in Dodgeball as well, it can be selected in Sports Mix mode.

Controls
Each sport utilizes various controls, depending on the control scheme that the players uses.

Playable Characters
There are nineteen playable characters in Mario Sports Mix. All of them are categorized by five groups:


 * green - All-Rounders have average Power, Speed, and Technique. They generally aren't weak at any stats, but they aren't strong in any either.
 * orange - Technical characters have more Technique, but less Speed and Power. These characters can better aim their shots.
 * red - Powerful characters have more Power, but less Speed and Technique. These characters have stronger and faster attacks and shots.
 * blue - Speedy characters have more Speed, but less Power and Technique. These characters can move faster over the ground.
 * hotpink - Tricky characters have one stronger stat, but the others are usually very low. However, they do have some useful, but tricky moves.

Like Mario Hoops 3-on-3, this game is shown to make use of character specific abilities. Prior to using these abilities, there is a meter that needs to be filled (shown on the bottom left and right corners of the gameplay screen). These abilities in question can allow the characters to unleash a powerful move in the variety of sports in the game that can help the players win a game. Each special ability is unique to each character and these moves tend to vary from the sport that players are playing.

Finally, the playable characters have their own stat values, which depict their strengths and weaknesses. For the respective charts shown below on this article, the stat values for each playable character are out of 5.

Unlockable Characters
The Final Fantasy characters from Mario Hoops 3-on-3 make a return in this game. Additionally, the Dragon Quest character Slime makes an appearance, previously having appeared in Itadaki Street DS. These characters are all unlockable and also the only unlockable characters of the game.

Characters who are unlocked by playing a certain number of matches or by clearing secret missions in Tournament mode, can only be used in the sports that they're unlocked in. However, characters who are unlocked by clearing Star Road can be used for all sports.

It should be noted that for the characters that are unlocked by playing a certain number of matches, the players isn't required to win every match. Also, Wi-Fi matches do count as well. Also, when the players cleared the Star Road, but already has unlocked the character for all sports in a different way, the players gets the next character instead. For example, if players have already unlocked White Mage for every sport, and then clears the Star Road for the 2nd time, they'll unlock Black Mage for every sport instead.

Alternate Outfits
Certain characters have alternate outfits that can be unlocked by performing certain objectives. Alternate outfits can only be used in the sports that they are unlocked in, but outfits unlocked by clearing Star Road can be used for all sports.

The players should note that they do not actually have to win the matches to be counted, and the minimum requirement for unlocking is at least having the characters in the players' team. Matches also get counted by playing Wi-Fi. To select another outfit, the players have to press the button on the Wii Remote, regardless of the control scheme used.

Non-Playable Characters

 * Birdo (species)
 * Blue Yoshi
 * Boo
 * Dry Bones
 * Gold Ghost
 * Koopa Troopa
 * Lakitu
 * Monty Mole
 * Penguin
 * Petey Piranha
 * Pianta
 * Purple Puncher
 * Red Yoshi
 * Shy Guy


 * Behemoth
 * Behemoth King

Courts
There are fourteen playable courts in Mario Sports Mix. Courts in this game are often based on the courts from Mario Hoops 3-on-3, some of them even directly return with a slight redesign.

Each cup holds three courts that can be played depending on the sport. There are also three extra courts. These courts do not appear in any tournament. They can be unlocked by playing many games or completing missions in Tournament mode.

Unlockable courts
Some courts must be unlocked before the players can play on them. The way to unlock these courts differs per sport.

It's also possible to unlock courts by playing many matches in Tournament or Exhibition mode. The player doesn't necessarily need to win the matches.

Items
As in most Mario games, there are items available during the gameplay of Mario Sports Mix. These items are available by touching the available and various ? Panels on the court. Most of these items cause struck players to lose coins, and all items also affect teammates as well.

In the Behemoth battle, players can also collect Meteorites from ? Panels. Meteorites can be used in different ways; they can be thrown at Behemoth to damage it (like in Dodgeball). Players can also dunk it at Behemoth (like in Basketball). They can also pass the Meteorite at another teammate. Players must receive it and pass it to another player (Volleyball). By doing this, the SP Bar fills marginally, and the meteorite gains power. Coins can also be collected from ? Panels to give it more power. When the SP Bar is full, and all the players of the team are still in the game, the players can use a Special Shot, but only when the meteorite is at full power. This can give Behemoth significant damage. When the meteorite falls on the ground, it and its power disappear; players must collect a new meteorite and recharge it.

Modes of Play
Mario Sports Mix  has two game modes for each one of the four sports: Exhibition and Tournament. Each sport also has a tutorial video so players can learn on how to play these sports.

Exhibition
Exhibition mode allows players to play any one of the four sports and customize the rules of the match from the court selection screen at anytime before the match begins (see Gameplay for more info). From there, players can select any two or three of the nineteen playable characters and one of the fourteen compatible courts.

Players may unlock characters or courts by playing games in this mode. Character skins can be unlocked by playing with a particular character certain times. This also counts for Tournament mode. However, what players unlock can only be used in that sport. So if players unlock Slime for Dodgeball, Slime can only be used in that sport.

Tournament
In Tournament mode, players can compete for the trophy in the same manner as in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. There are three rounds in the tournament. When players win a game, they move on to the next round of the tournament. Each time players win a cup, they can earn one of the three small crystals that corresponds to the sport's color and the players moves on to the next tournament. If all three cups are cleared for that corresponding sport, then it becomes a large crystal that is placed on the Star Ship.

After winning the Star Cup of a sport, players unlock a Hard mode for that sport. Opponents are more difficult than in Normal mode. Also, if players clear the Star Cup at all sports, they receive all four large crystals to power the starship. After colleting all four large crystals, they battle Behemoth and defeat Behemoth. Sports Mix mode is unlocked when this is cleared. Sports Mix only has one skill level, which is Expert, and it is a tournament in which each match is a randomly generated sport. Also, clearing the Star Cup in Sports Mix mode makes players face off against the Behemoth King.

Alternate Routes
Players can also replay tournaments to find alternate routes. Players can find alternate routes by performing some actions in a tournament match, for example scoring a point with a Special Shot.

In the alternate routes, players do not play normal matches, but missions instead. If players lose a mission, they get sent back to the normal tournament. If players win a mission, they may continue on, but the road often splits. Players may choose which way they want to go. These roads lead players to different missions, different events, or sometimes even back to the normal tournament. Once players come back to the normal tournament, they cannot re-enter the alternate routes until they start over the tournament.

Taking right choices or guesses, players may reach the Hidden Final. The Hidden Final is the last mission of the tournament. If players lose this mission, they do not get sent back to the normal tournament, but they can retry the mission instead. If players win this mission, they earn the tournament cup, just like players do in the normal run. The Hidden Final involves completing a task that is usually more difficult than the others, for example, winning a match without allowing the opponent to score even once.

Players may unlock hidden characters, courts, or character skins by winning missions. However what they unlock depends on the mission, the sport, and even the routes they take before reaching the mission. Unlocked items are only accessible in the sport players win the mission in.

Alternate routes in the Star Cup are slightly different compared to the Mushroom and Flower Cups. If players win some missions in the route, they can travel to the Star Road. If players manage to reach the end of the Star Road, they get a message Star Road Complete!, and travel back to the normal tournament by jumping on the Star.

There is no Hidden Final for the Star Cup, but after clearing the Star Road, players immediately go up against the Final Fantasy team. Unlike with the normal tournament, however, crystals do pop up during the match; the crystals act like coins, which add extra points for Basketball, Volleyball, and Hockey, while strengthening attacks in Dodgeball.

If players beat the team (and Behemoth if all the sports are cleared), they unlock a Final Fantasy character for every sport.

Graphical changes
When completing sports in Tournament mode, some items in menus of the game change. Once a sport is completed in Normal mode, a crystal marks the sport in the record menu. When the sport is completed in Hard mode, the ball (or in case of Hockey, the stick since the coin is already gold) turns gold in the main menu. If Sports Mix mode is cleared, the usual blue background of the main menu, turns into a gold-red colored background.

Party Games
In addition to the tournament and the exhibition modes, Mario Sports Mix has four party games, one for each sport. They can be played for up to four players.
 * Feed Petey - Basketball
 * Harmony Hustle - Volleyball
 * Bob-omb Dodge - Dodgeball
 * Smash Skate - Hockey

Record Book
The game does keep track of the player's records for each sport. The records basically go as follows:

Trivia

 * The Hockey sport in this game is presented as Ice Hockey, however on most of the courts, Mario and his friends play Roller Hockey.
 * In most countries, the name Hockey is generally used for Field Hockey, however this variant of Hockey is not playable in Mario Sports Mix.
 * None of the unlockable characters are Mario characters, but only Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest characters.
 * Skins of Mario Characters can be unlocked, however.
 * There are no Tricky characters available from the start, which means there are no Tricky Mario characters in this game.
 * The English translation of the Australian and European version of the game is slightly different from the North American version.
 * The All-rounder type is renamed to All-around for the North American version of the game.
 * The function of the button in the Select Character screen is called Variation in the Australian and European version.  However, it's called Change Color in the North American version.
 * When players get to the Select Court screen, the Australian and European version says Select Court. In the North American version, it's called Select Stage.
 * Because of the difference between British English and American English, some words are spelled differently.
 * This is the first Mario sport game (except for the Mario Kart series) since Mario Tennis to feature Toad as a playable character.
 * Multiple Toads are playable in the Mario Baseball series and Mario Football series, but it is not clear if Toad is one of them.

References to Other Games

 * Super Mario Bros.: The underwater theme is one of the tunes available in Harmony Hustle.
 * Super Mario Bros. 2: The animation used for Toad whenever he throws an item appears to be influenced by how he threw vegetables and other items in this game.
 * Super Mario Bros. 3: In the underwater theme in Harmony Hustle, part of this game's underwater melody can be heard.
 * Super Mario World: The athletic theme is one of the tunes available in Harmony Hustle.
 * Mario Tennis: Peach and Daisy's alternate costumes, called "Tennis-Wear", is based off this series. More specifically, the design overall is based on the outfit that Peach wears for Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Power Tennis.
 * Mario Hoops 3-on-3: Much of the gameplay mechanics come from this game, especially in basketball. Most stages are also based off this game. The theme of Bloocheep Sea makes a return as one of the songs in Harmony Hustle.
 * New Super Mario Bros.: The design and function of the Mini Mushroom is based off this game.
 * Luigi's Mansion: A court takes place in a mansion based off this game. The Poltergust 3000 appears as Luigi's special shot.
 * Super Smash Bros. Melee: The Green Missile makes an appearance as Luigi's dive in dodgeball and his third consecutive check in hockey; similar graphics appear when Luigi jumps up to block in basketball. Luigi's dash attack also appears to have been referenced as the second consecutive check in hockey.
 * Mario Kart: Double Dash!!: Toad Park court is somewhat similar to the Baby Park racetrack.
 * Mario Kart DS: The concept of Waluigi owning a pinball-themed course returns.
 * Mario Kart Wii: In Toad Park, Toads can be seen driving Mario Kart Wii-styled karts. Some item images are also borrowed from this game, such as the Green Shells.