Soccer is a cunning, sometimes unpredictable sport, and it can really be played one of two ways. You can either approach it as an all-out serious affair, vying for the World Cup and competing against numerous ruthless teams from around the globe, ala Winning Eleven. Or, if you're looking to make it something everyone can get into, you can go with an arcade-style approach with zesty graphics and even more unpredictable gameplay antics, ala Sega Soccer Slam. With Super Mario Strikers, Nintendo and Next Level Games are taking the latter approach, designing the game with Mario fans in mind.

As expected, the game implants Mario, his friends, and a few foes onto the soccer field, forming teams and then taking to these fields to get their kicks on. The gameplay consists of the basics, such as being able to pass and shoot and pulling off other moves, such as deking and steals that would otherwise be yellow-carded but manage to stay as the norm in this game. However, the way that Next Level Games has put the controls together, they're simple enough for all ages to enjoy and yet retain the kind of addictiveness that a great soccer game needs. This could be the next big Nintendo classic.

The field test I took with this game was brief, but told me quite a story. The controls basically sit with the A button as a pass and player switch button and B to shoot. But it's not just a matter of quick shots. You can also hold down the B button to give yourself a power shot. If you're controlling one of the team captains at the time, such as Mario himself or Donkey Kong, the screen changes to a specific animation, lighting ablaze and showing a ferocity in that player's eyes as they blaze that ball across the field. It's kind of like Sega Soccer Slam's old power shots, but with far more intensity that shows the drive to score. That's not to say the defense won't be in play, as Next Level has assured that some sharp goalies are on task.

The game looks and sounds like a Mario sports product would, with lively animation and sound effects. The field representation we saw was from the side, but there were details aplenty. Hopefully, the final game will pack numerous camera options so we can view the field in our own particular manner. As far as presentation goes, though, there's very little flaws thus far, aside from the occasional annoying scream by a player who's not recognizable (like, say, a turtle).

The game's got a lot to offer to the single player, including unlockable teams and probably a Story Mode to tackle, but Super Mario Strikers was built with multiplayer enjoyment in mind. Up to four players will be able to take the field and kick the ball around with abundant joy. Sounds like a party to me.

Super Mario Strikers looks to be yet another rock-solid addition to the Nintendo Sports line-up, even giving the little plumber a kind of intensity that's admired. Look for this game to cold-kick its way into stores this November, and don't be surprised if you find yourself doing a few bicycle kicks out of sheer joy.