The goals at either end of the pitch---and the Kritters who defend them---are simply the most important enemies on a field full of enemies---you just happen to attack them with a ball (or glowing, ball-like metal orb, as the case may be). So if you're looking for a soccer game, seek out something around the lines of "FIFA" or "Winning Eleven" in the title. If you're looking for a game that's vaguely soccer-themed and a lot of fun, then strap on your body armour and head for Mushroom Kingdom.
If you've played Super Mario Strikers on GameCube, then virtually nothing about Charged should surprise you: teams of four Mario-universe characters (plus CPU-controlled goal keepers) square off on a variety of fantasy soccer fields. Power-ups and obstacles abound and cheap shots are not just allowed, but required to win. The Super Strike from the original game has been replaced by the Mega Strike (OOH!)---a shot that can potentially unleash six balls out of one at once. A Mega Strike cues a minigame that requires your opponent to swat the shots away by using the Wiimote like a light gun. If your timing is good when you unleash the shot---you need to stop a fast-moving power meter---then your shots will be difficult to stop and you'll rack up plenty of goals. The Mega Strikes are cool but they don't represent much of a shift in the basic game mechanics of SMS. Charged lifts itself over its predecessor by sharpening the controls, improving the graphics and---most importantly---ratcheting up the game's speed. Passing and shooting are lightning fast, and ball possession can change in the blink of an eye. Defensive moves---well...maybe "mugging" is a more appropriate term---are accomplished by a quick snap of the Wiimote. Because it's so easy to drive opponents into the turf, you'll find yourself doing it constantly. It's almost as much fun to do as it is to score goals. And even more fun to do such to people you don't know---like anonymously over multiplayer feature of Charged.
Pokemon Battle Revolution beat Charged to the market as the first online Wii game, but it's fair to say that Poke Balls have nothing on Mario's glowing orbs when it comes to online action. You can establish a Friends Roster if you want to keep your crude humour and mild cartoon violence within your small circle, but the real selling point of Charged is the ability to jump online at any time to OWN some random people. So start sizzling against those electrified fences that surround the pitches.
Bottom Line: 9/10 (Super Charged!)
