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Mario Tennis Review
Gavin Frankle
00/12/0000
Mario Tennis
Mario Tennis is THE most fun you can have without being arrested. If this game was a three course meal it would have fun as a starter, more fun as the main course, and a huge heapin' spoonful of fun for dessert.
Mario Tennis is one of those rare games that puts gameplay above all else. It's easy to get into, and yet provides an amazing amount of depth that will keep even veteran gamers enthralled for hours on end. For years tennis has been poorly represented in the gaming world. Now, within weeks of each other, we have the two best tennis games ever created. Virtua Tennis and Mario Tennis are similar by virtue of their subject matter alone. Each takes a completely different approach to the sport and both prove to be fantastic games. I'm going to avoid any direct comparison within my review, but I will say that you absolutely cannot go wrong if you purchase both. Choosing one over the other is a choice I'm glad I don't have to make.
Gameplay
The control scheme is based around the A and B buttons. Shots are executed via a combination of button presses. For example, topspins require you to double-tap the A button, while lobs are performed by pressing A then B. Holding either button down will result in a charged shot that can be rifled past an opponent. The only drawback is that your character cannot move while you're charging the shot. Simple, yet intuitive. Just the way I like it. Frenzied rallies are commonplace and developing a strategy is crucial if you plan on winning regularly. "Do I rush the net?", "should I try to lob him?". These questions are continually flowing through your mind and in no-time at all they begin to answer themselves. You start seeing angles and spaces that you never noticed were there before. You start anticipating your opponent's next move. It's like a game of chess...just more fun.
The player roster reads like a who's who of the Mario universe. All the regulars are here, but gamers will no doubt be incredibly excited by new additions such as Boo and ShyGuy. Each character has his or her own unique attributes, ranging from slow and powerful to fast and weak. Your choice of character WILL affect how you play the game. The full cast of characters is listed below.
1. Mario
2. Luigi
3. Peach
4. Daisy
5. Birdo
6. Yoshi
7. Bowser
8. Wario
9. Waluigi
10. Toad
11. Paratroopa
12. Donkey Kong
13. Baby Mario
14. Boo
15. ShyGuy(Hidden)
16. Donkey Kong Jr.(Hidden)
The gameplay modes are as strange as they are varied. Standard modes aside, players can compete in the piranha challenge - where the objective is to return as many tennis balls shot at you by the piranha plants as possible. Ring Shot mode will be familiar to anyone who's played Mario Golf. The objective here is to hit the ball through as many rings as possible while still trying to win the point. Bowser's Castle is a court suspended high above a lava pit by chains. As the players run around, the court tilts and sways, as if that wasn't enough, players can also use power-ups such as turtle shells and bananas to throw their opponent off balance.
Competing in and winning the various tournaments opens up hidden courts as well as the two hidden characters in the game. While enjoyable, the single-player mode is easily overshadowed by MT's multi-player mode. Screaming obscenities and hurling insults at your friends has never been so much fun. Matches are incredibly intense and guaranteed to keep you occupied for hours at a time.
Graphics
Graphically, the game is standard "Mario-game" stuff. Nice character models and animation, flashy special-effects and a silky-smooth framerate are all here, but like most party games associated with our favourite plumber, they serve only as a foil for the game's unmatched gameplay.
Sound
If there's one thing I love about these mascot games, it's their sound. Classic tunes from all over the Nintendo universe are used to great effect and each character's grunts and groans are consistent with the best we've heard. Although, it must be noted that their voices can become annoying with extended play, especially if someone plays with Peach - her high-pitched squeal is enough to drive you insane. The rest of the sound-effects are faithful to the game of tennis. You've heard them before, nothing new here.
Comments
There's no reason why you should not own this game. If you hate tennis, you'll love this game. If you love tennis, you'll love this game. In short, you just can't lose. Buy this game now.
