In 2000, one year before the Gamecube would arrive, Nintendo and Camelot produced a tennis game for the N64. How could they resist, however, adding on the name of Mario as well?
The result was Mario Tennis, and the game was met how almost every Mario game is met with - open arms. And now, four years later, its sequel is finally about to arrive. That game, my friends, is the appropriately titled Mario Power Tennis.
Mario Power Tennis has kept all of the things that made the original fun while adding on new and exciting features. The most significant addition is the ability to perform things called power moves. All of the characters in the game have one offensive and one defensive power move, and can use them once they have volleyed back and forth for a while. Soon the player’s racket will glow brightly, and then when the move is triggered, a short cutscene will ensue, showing how your character plans to strike the ball. Mario, for example, will produce a gigantic hammer from an unknown place (I guess it’s his pants), swing it behind him, then whack the ball, sending it flying in a burning flame over to the other side of the court. Now, although power moves are, well, powerful, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be returned. However, even if your opponents do return them, they will be knocked backward and stand stunned for a few seconds.
The control and gameplay of Mario Power Tennis is basically the same as the original. You can carry out your usual swings and lobs with the A and B buttons, and as in other tennis games, getting the ball over the net requires good timing. Also, the analog stick can be used to direct the ball once you hit it. Nothing new here for tennis fans.
On to characters. Yes, we’ve got the Mario gang, including the likes of Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Wario, Waluigi, Yoshi, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and of course Mario. Each character will have different stats, some stronger in speed, some stronger in technique, and some great all-around.
Mario Power Tennis will have the normal grass and clay courts, but also throws in themed courts too. The Luigi’s Mansion court will pester you with ghosts all over the place, and the Mario Sunshine court will slow you down with grimy sludge. In the latter you’ll be able to remove the sludge by pressing pads which will hose down the court. Whether or not you want to risk doing so when your opponent might win a point while you’re away from a certain area is your choice.
In addition to the regular game mode, Mario Power Tennis will have minigames to help you improve your game. Think of it as being tricked while you learn. A few of these games are a painting minigame, a minigame where you have to hit balls at portraits of ghosts to prevent them from attacking you, a game where you have to keep a few chain chomps at bay with good racket swings, and a seemingly unfair minigame where you volley against an octopus who has a racket in each tentacle.
And what would a game like this be without a multiplayer mode? Up to four players can duke it out in Mario Power Tennis, and if you don’t have any friends, then the AI isn’t too bad either.
Mario Power Tennis is scheduled for release on November 8. Hurry up and go make some friends to play the game with before it arrives.
