With Mario Strikers Charged Football being readied for a Europe release this coming Friday, 25th May, Nintendo has revealed that it has special promotional work lined-up for the first online Wii game in Europe.

With the football season almost at its very end, Nintendo UK is celebrating with style by signing Ian Wright and Shaun Wright-Phillips for the promotion of the eargerly anticipated Wii football title ‘Mario Strikers Charged Football.’ Ian and Shaun line up against Mario and Co. as the stars of the Mario Strikers Charged Football campaign which goes live across terrestrial TV from 19th May featuring in major sports events such as the upcoming Champions League and more family oriented programmes such as Coronation Street, Grease Is the Word and Big Brother.

The TV advert sees Ian and Shaun at home battling another team of opponents online using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, a feature that allows Wii owners to take on anyone across Europe. To celebrate the launch, Ian Wright will also be appearing at GAME, Oxford Street from 9am on launch day (25th May) playing against challengers in store and signing Wii hardware and software for fans.

Nintendo has taken one of the world’s most popular sports and made it even better by throwing in some of Nintendo’s most popular characters, 5-a-side teams and well and truly throwing out the rulebook for some crazy action, that is lifted by the inclusion of an online mode for more multiplayer fun. In addition, the Wii’s innovative controller allows players to immerse themselves deep into the action translating real movement into on-screen action.

Mario Strikers: Charged Football is different from the average football game and is even more exciting and engaging than ever before, with a strong emphasis on each team’s captain. These star players each have unique abilities and enhanced skills, which allow them to really influence the outcome of a game. The team captains all feature a Super Ability which can be used to devastate their opponents, ranging from Mario growing to giant proportions and trampling other players, to Peach taking a photo and freezing the entire opposing team on the spot. Tactical use of these super abilities can break down even the most stubborn defence. To top this off, in Mario Strikers: Charged Football players can choose 3 side-kicks (from a total of eight) who each have their own unique features which allows for tactical team customisation.

The Wii Remote brings a dynamic new element to Mario Strikers: Charged Football, encouraging the player to make instinctive physical movements to achieve the desired effect within the game. Basic movement and strikes are executed using the analogue stick and buttons on the Wii Remote and nunchuk, but when the pressure is on, players can use their instinctive movements to affect the gameplay. Flicking the Wii remote will cause the character to check their opponent, hopefully stealing the ball in the process. Players can also use the Wii remote to perform cat-like saves, defending their goal from Megastrikes by grabbing the balls out of the air.

In Mario Strikers: Charged Football the sense of fair play is thrown out the window along with the rulebook. Fouled players get special treats with which to avenge themselves, ranging from Red Spiky Shells, which knock everything out of their path, to the Chain Chomp that chases players from the opposing team around the pitch.

One of the many modes this game features is the multiplayer mode which can see up to four players in any one game (players must split between two teams). Players can also utilise Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service to take on players from across the globe! Multiplayer modes include Ranked mode where players can compete to climb up leaderboards and Unranked mode where they can quickly select and play friends.

The game’s main mode, Road to the Striker Cup, pits players against increasingly difficult opposition as they compete to win three different cups. For quicker pick-up and play action the game’s Domination Mode allows players to set-up a game to suit them, defining the rules as well as selecting stadium and cheats. With an in-depth main mode and a plethora of extra features you won’t take your eye off the ball in Mario Strikers: Charged Football. There is a wide and varied choice of 17 stadiums in which to defend your crown. Many of them have varying features and characteristics to put you off your game and challenge you to even greater heights.

Look out for this game on the 25th May 2007 for the estimated retail price of around 50 Euros (£35 in the UK) and Nintendic will bring you more coverage of the game very soon!