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Website Unseen64 has dug up some interesting information regarding a cancelled Mario sports title, Super Mario Spikers. The title was in early development for the Wii, beginning life initially as Mario Volleyball. When developer Next Level Games began to integrate wrestling mechanics into the game, the title was changed to Super Mario Spikers, to reflect the fact that the game offered more than just volleyball. Unseen64 also unearthed test footage and concept art, which we’ve mirrored below.
According to a former artist for Next Level Games, development on the title ceased after a failed pitch to Nintendo in 2007. The opportunity came as a result of the developer’s success with soccer title Mario Strikers Charged. The game sounds like it would have featured a bit more physicality than we’re used to seeing from Mario titles, which the artist cites as the reason Nintendo passed on the title. Nintendo felt that it would have violated its code of honor.
It’s always interesting to get a glimpse at games that didn’t see release. Super Mario Spikers looks like it could have been a very unique entry in the Wii library. However, if Nintendo felt that the game could have been detrimental to the long lasting appeal of its properties, it might have been for the best.
Would you have been interested in Super Mario Spikers? Let us know what you think on the comments below!
Source: Unseen64
While Spikers sounds like an interesting idea, I really want and new Strikers game. That was always a favorite among my friends and I. The only problem I had with it was its unheard of levels of cheapness sometimes. Like seriously, the good items always go to the computer player.
Augh! Mario in a leotard?! Did NOT need to see that!