Mario and Sonic Baseball

Mario and Sonic Baseball is a Mario and Sonic sport title for the Nintendo Switch and is the first installment of the Mario and Sonic Baseball series, being the first dedicated baseball game in the Mario franchise. As with most Mario Sportstitles, it has traditional rules of the sport, but with special, Mario-themed quirks and mechanics to differentiate itself from the real sport. This includes characters using Star Skill abilities to cause the ball behavior to behave differently; team captain's Star Skill abilities are unique and cause a wide variety of special effects such as attacking outfielders if batting and causing the pitched ball to behave erratically. Characters also have field abilities to differentiate themselves from other teammates. Chemistry is a feature unique to the Mario Baseballgames where players perform differently whether they are neutral, like, or dislike another character they are cooperating with. Additionally, most fields in the game have stage hazards that can affect outfielders such as the Piranha Plants serving as obstacles in Yoshi Park.

Aside from the main Exhibition mode, where players can play baseball freely with up to two players, players can participate in a single-player oriented Challenge mode that has them playing as a designated team captain and their preset team and recruiting other captains and team players to face off against Bowser. This game also introduces the Toy Field mode where individual characters play on an interactive baseball field and get coins based on where the ball lands. Finally, players can play in Mario-themed minigames that have baseball mechanics, such as hitting Bob-ombs to create fireworks or collecting gems in the baseball diamond while avoiding a Chain Chomp. Toy Field and Minigames mode are the only modes that can support up to four players.

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Gameplay[edit]
Mario Superstar Baseball plays similarly to actual baseball; teams take turn batting to run on the bases and fielding. The team who bats hits the ball to the field while the fielders attempt to make the batters out. Once a runner touches the home base, their team earns a point. There are three outs on an inning for the batting team. Once a team gets three outs, they switch sides. Whichever team obtains the most points wins. Teams, led by specific team captains, can have up to nine members.

Controls[edit]
Controls for batters and runners.

Menu controls[edit]

 * A: Confirm
 * B: Cancel
 * /: Select menu items
 * L/R: Switch between positions and line-ups
 * Y: Changes color of certain characters
 * ZL/ZR: Deselect all members
 * R: Change hand type of a character
 * X: View profile of a character selected

In-game controls (batter)[edit]

 * A: Normal Swing (holding A causes the swing to charge)
 * B: Bunt
 * L: Reset batter to default position
 * /: Reset batter to default position or aim the hit
 * A + ZR: Use Star Swing

In-game controls (runner)[edit]

 * Choose a base when stealing a base
 * Y: Steal a base/Advance a base
 * R: Return to base/Dash
 * B: Tapping it makes characters dash

In-game controls (pitcher)[edit]

 * /: Change pitcher's position on mound/control the ball
 * A: Normal Pitch (holding A causes the pitch to charge)
 * A + ZR: Throw a Star Pitch
 * + B: Check a runner
 * L: Reset pitcher to default position

In-game controls (fielder)[edit]

 * /: Move
 * + A: Choose a base and throw
 * + A: Diving Catch
 * A: Jump
 * A: Use unique talent (if any)
 * B: Tapping it makes characters dash

Exhibition mode[edit]
Selecting characters for Exhibition Mode. The start of a game in Exhibition Mode.

Exhibition mode is a standard one or two player game of baseball. Players fill out a roster and play a game. There are six different, unique stadiums in which players can choose to play in. The player, before playing in a stadium, can adjust options such as number of innings, mercy, which player bats first, and turning Star Skills on and off. Players can also adjust field settings, running, drop spots, and batting cursors.

Star skill[edit]
Mario, using his Fireball as a Star Skill.

A new feature in this game is the ability to use a Star Skill. Star Skills can be activated either while pitching or while batting. Anyone in this game can use a Star Skill, but a team captain's Star Skill is superior to a sub-character's Star Skill. Team Captains have mostly different Star Skills, however, captains that usually pair with each other (Mario and Luigi, Peach and Daisy) have similar Star Skills. The amount of Star Skills that can be used is represented by 5 Team Stars in a meter. The amount of starting Team Stars depend on the sub-characters' chemistry with the team captain.

Star Skills can be replenished by hitting ball park features. They can also be replenished by striking a player out or making a batter reach a base safely when the words, "Star Chance!" appear. Team captains and sub-characters use up one Team Star while captains as members use up two Team Stars.

Challenge mode[edit]
Wario in Challenge Mode.

Challenge mode (the main game mode of Mario Superstar Baseball) is a game mode where one player selects one of five Team Captains (Mario, Sonic Peach, Amy, Donkey Kong, Vector, Wario, Knuckles, and Yoshi, and Tails) and plays with a pre-made team. The player wanders a map of the Mushroom Kingdom and can play minigames to earn coins and spend at a Shop, where power-ups can be bought. The player's objective is to beat the other four captains in a game of baseball, on their own course. In order to get the others, the player should see the scout flags for the match. Scout flags are earned by completing scout missions, such as getting a hit, or scoring a run. If the scout mission is not completed, you will not earn the scout flag(s). There are scout flags next to the characters' faces. These flags serve as a purpose for recruiting other characters to the player's team. Each character has a set number of Scout Flags (up to five flags), with team captains requiring more Scout Flags (3 on the Mushroom level, 4 on the Flower level and Star level, and 5 on the Special level) and sub-captains and characters of race (excluding the characters with color changes) needing the median number (2 on Mushroom and on Flower, 3 on Star, and 4 on Special) and minor characters needing the least (1 on Mushroom, 2 on Flower and Star, and 3 on Special).

The only exception is Donkey Kong's team, with all his teammates needing only one scout flag on the mushroom level. Bowser's team cannot be recruited due to no scout flags; the only way to do so is when Bowser is selected as a challenge mode captain. When Bowser is chosen, the team players require the same number of flags as the captain when he is not chosen. Before the match, the opposing team's has the message "Round up Players" on their batting order screen. The order of the opposing team is random as well as the fielding position, with the exception of Bowser's team, whose batting order and fielding positions remain the same. Players from other teams can be recruited after clearing certain missions. When the player recruits the captain they are not able to recruit other characters on their team unless the player faces Bowser Jr.

After beating all four opponents, the path to Bowser's Castle opens, where the player is able to challenge Bowser's team. Once Bowser's team is defeated, Challenge Mode is cleared. Additionally, Bowser Jr. wanders the map. Coming in contact with him starts a short, one inning game where the player is put in various situations. If the player has had a captain join their team, they can unlock characters on their team from Bowser Jr. Sometimes, they are ahead by a point and must defend their position. Other times, they are behind and must make a comeback. Challenge Mode is the only way to unlock characters.

There are four difficulties to Challenge Mode: Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special. Once Special mode is cleared, Bowser becomes a playable captain. In Bowser mode, Bowser must beat the other five captains, and then play a team of nine of the ten captains and sub-captains, led by Mario (the excluded character is random). Bowser can recruit other characters, excluding the captains and sub-captains, and in Bowser mode, Bowser Jr. does not wander the map.

In order for players to star characters, they must complete specific Star Missions for a character in Challenge Mode. These are optional, but Superstar characters have an increase in stats. The number of Star Missions vary depending on the character; generally, team captains have more Star Missions than team players. Characters have a star title: these change when characters achieve more missions. In addition, challenges are confined to specific difficulties: some challenges are exclusive to Mushroom difficulty while others can be obtained if players cleared it in Star difficulty.

Alternate team players[edit]
An asterisk (*) means that character is unlockable.

Teams[edit]
This is a list of teams formed by team captains in Exhibition Mode. One of them is a common team formed by a captain as the teammates is mostly a different character type than the captain's, another one must be formed by using the majority of the captain's character type, and two of them must be formed by putting in the four required characters in the captain's team. The only exception is Bowser, who needs only three required characters to play on one of his teams. Boldednames indicate that the team name returns in Mario Super Sluggers.

Mario[edit]

 * Mario Besties (Sonic, Luigi, Tails, Toad)
 * Mario Fireballs (Balance Majority)
 * Mario Sunshines (Luigi, Monty Mole, Pianta, Noki)
 * Mario All-Stars (Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser)

Sonic

 * Sonic Heroes (Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Cream)
 * Sonic Winds (Shadow, Silver, Espio, Metal Sonic)
 * Sonic Supers (Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Silver)
 * Sonic Surfers (Jet, Shadow, Tails, Knuckles)

Luigi[edit]

 * Luigi Gentlemen (Common)
 * Luigi Vacuums (Balance Majority)
 * Luigi Mansioneers (Bowser, Green Toad, Boo, King Boo)
 * Luigi Leapers (Waluigi, Diddy Kong, Yoshi, Baby Luigi)

Tails

 * Tails Flyers (Cream, Charmy, Silver, Rouge)
 * Tails Mechanics (Luigi, Wave, Vector, Eggman)
 * Tails Dragonflies (Storm, Yoshi, Knuckles, Metal Sonic)
 * Tails Outbacks (Diddy Kong, Boo, Mario, Shadow)

Peach[edit]

 * Peach Roses (Common)
 * Peach Dynasties (Technique Majority)
 * Peach Monarchs (Daisy, Toads, Toadsworth, Toadette)
 * Peach Princesses (Mario, Bowser, Baby Mario, Bowser Jr.)

Amy

 * Amy Pikos (Peach, Blaze, Daisy, Cream)
 * Amy Sweethearts (Cream, Peach, Toadette, Rouge)
 * Amy Love Strucks (Sonic, Cream, Tails, Blaze)
 * Amy Pink Crystals (Peach, Rouge, Birdo, Toadette)

Daisy[edit]

 * Daisy Lilies (Common)
 * Daisy Cupids (Balance Majority)
 * Daisy Queen Bees (Peach, Dixie Kong, Toadette, Noki)
 * Daisy Petals (Birdo, Dixie Kong, Wario, Petey Piranha)

Blaze

 * Blaze Gem Flames(Amy, Silver, Rouge, Cream)
 * Blaze Purple Flames (Rouge, Daisy, Birdo, Wave)
 * Blaze Tornados (Sonic, Silver, Amy, Shadow)
 * Blaze Dragons (Peach, Birdo, Luigi, Yoshi)

Wario[edit]

 * Wario Garlics (Common)
 * Wario Steakheads (Power Majority)
 * Wario Greats (Waluigi, King Boo, Magikoopa, Boo, Petey Piranha)
 * Wario Beasts (Donkey Kong, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Hammer Bro)

Waluigi[edit]

 * Waluigi Mystiques (Common)
 * Waluigi Smart-Alecks (Technique Majority)
 * Waluigi Flankers (King Boo, Wario, Magikoopa, Dry Bones)
 * Waluigi Mashers (Mario, Luigi, Toadsworth, Wario)

Yoshi[edit]

 * Yoshi Eggs (Common)
 * Yoshi Pineapples (Speed Majority)
 * Yoshi Islanders (Birdo, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Shy Guy)
 * Yoshi Cannonballs (Boo, King Boo, Koopa Paratroopa, Paragoomba)

Birdo[edit]

 * Birdo Beauties (Common)
 * Birdo Models (Balance Majority)
 * Birdo Bows (Mario, Luigi, Peach, Blue Toad)
 * Birdo Fans (Yoshi, Shy Guy, Goomba, Koopa Troopa)

Donkey Kong[edit]

 * DK Explorers (Common)
 * DK Wild Ones (Power Majority)
 * DK Kongs (Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Goomba, Paragoomba, Koopa Troopa, Koopa Paratroopa)
 * DK Animals (Yoshi, Bowser, Monty Mole, Petey Piranha)

Diddy Kong[edit]

 * Diddy Survivors (Common)
 * Diddy Ninjas (Speed Majority)
 * Diddy Tails (Yoshi, Birdo, Dixie Kong, Boo)
 * Diddy Red Caps (Mario, Birdo, Baby Mario, Toadette)

Bowser[edit]

 * Bowser Flames (Common)
 * Bowser Blue Shells (Power Majority)
 * Bowser Monsters (Bowser Jr, Dry Bones, Hammer Bro)
 * Bowser Black Stars (Waluigi, Wario, Petey Piranha, Hammer Bro)

Bowser Jr.[edit]

 * Jr. Fangs (Common)
 * Jr. Bombers (Power Majority)
 * Jr. Pixies (Diddy Kong, Boo, Shy Guy, Goomba)
 * Jr. Rookies (Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi)
 * }