There are a number of modes in the game, the biggest ones being the Exhibition/Vs. mode where you actually play baseball and the woefully short Challenge mode where you go into an RPG lite mini-game. Challenge mode is set up a bit differently than the last Mario baseball game and is actually quite a bit shorter considering you can make your way through all the stadiums and actual baseball challenges in less than an hour. Mario walks around Peach Island and its different stadiums trying to get characters to join him so he can make a baseball team. Mario is also presented with some puzzles here and there to free up some characters.

Once you find a character you often have to finish a challenge given by them revolving around doing something on the diamond. Throughout the short mode your enemies are Bowser and Bowser, Jr. and at the end you play a game of baseball against each one before reaching the end credits. Along the way they will both create chaos for Mario as he attempts to build his team. This mode is fun, but as said before it is very short. Children should find this quite enjoyable though because there is a good amount of reading to be had in this mode.

The computer will give you a good challenge at the toughest difficulty and you can always bring in three other people to play the game with you locally. The baseball game itself usually devolves into a hitting contest simply because the pitch selection really isn’t that great and even characters with a strong level of pitching prowess aren’t going to blow it by your friends. The nice thing here is that you can build your team from characters available and ones you unlock in the Challenge mode that add up to about 40 characters.

Each character has different strengths in categories such as hitting, fielding or pitching. These things do somewhat matter, but in the end this is a rather simple game of baseball with the ability to use attack items and in some cases characters are emotionally tied to each other and can do super moves together such as lift each other up to grab a possible home run in the outfield. As long as you remember that Super Mario Sluggers is more casual entertainment than an actual baseball simulation game, you should find it enjoyable, if a bit simple, playing with friends and family.

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