Mario Tennis

"One of the better tennis games I've played..."

We have seen this famous plumber in many places, from the well-liked Mario Kart to Mario Golf. In this game, you can create a character and his partner from scratch, then train them to become Tennis Legends. If you have Mario Tennis for Nintendo 64, then you can hook them up and send your created character to the big screen. If you connect the two games, you will unlock some special features, like perhaps new characters. This game is pretty good because it actually makes you feel like you are really serving up an ace.

Story:

Basically, you are a new student accepted into a tennis academy. The goal is to train and become the best in the world. Win matches, gain levels, challenge Mario to a match and school him. You start as a beginner and slowly work your way up the ladder. At the top is the reowned Varsity level, where all the best tennis players gather. If you win the tournament, you can unlock a special visit to a secret place beyond the rainbow.

Gameplay:

The gameplay surprised me, because i never expected a Gameboy Color game to be so elaborate. Their are trainers in the practice courts that will teach you how to smash, slice, lobbing, etc. Like in real life, you can choose to play singles or doubles. When you choose doubles, your partner will come and assist you. Your partner's pretty good and will occasionally serve an ace or two. The only problem I see is that the CPU does the same thing every time, so that lowers the replay value of the game. All it takes is a little practice at this game and you will be serving aces everytime. The controls are easy to pick up, even for a 5-year-old. If you do not want to play the story mode, you can play Mini-games with characters like Peach and DK. With many different modes of gameplay and a variety of characters, this game is suitable for kids of all ages. What impressed me the most by far, however, is that the producers included a Tennis dictionary! I find it useful to help clarify a few of the terms. Lastly, there is an Exhibition mode, where you can play as any character to hone your skills. You can even choose to play as your rivals from Story mode!

There are several different shoes and rackets you can unlock, both enhancing gameplay. Choose the one that suits you the best. Lastly, you can unlock special tennis courts, each with unique qualities. The combinations are endless, so that is what makes this such a hooking game!

Graphics:

Actually pretty smooth for a Gameboy Color game. The producers tried to make the characters as 3-D as possible. I have noticed that only a few colors are used in this game. The backrounds and characters are drawn with average qualities, so nothing to get all upset about.

Sound:

Basically, the only sound are the ball getting hit back and forth. Gets repetitive quickly, I had to turn down the volume. The sound effects are not really that inspiring. All hope is not lost however! This game makes up the poor sound effects with decent music! The music during a match is cheerful and lively, but turns serious when somebody is about to win a set or match. Sometimes, you will be hearing these tunes in your sleep. The music is kind of similar to the N64, but with somewhat less quality and cheesy sound effects.

Play time:

To me, I feel this game is rather short, but you can always start over from the beginning. Even if you beat the game, you can still level up to 99 and try to completely max your skills. With a game as deep as this, it could last a few weeks. It would be even more fun with a friend. You can also put this game aside for a few days, then come back and enjoy the Story mode again. Since you have to beat singles AND doubles, the gameplay is rather lengthy.

Replayability:

This game has a multiplayer mode that never gets boring. The Mini games are frustrating and will keep you occupied for a while. After you beat the game, restart and try to see how fast you can beat the game. In conclusion, this game has a lot of replay value.

Rent or buy:

I would have to say buy. Since the game is so old, you can only get it in places like Funcoland or EB games. This is a really good game if you also have the N64 version. The two games combined will result in a wonderful tennis experience you will never forget.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/27/04