Mario Tennis

"Great game, but why the hell is Donkey Kong purple?"

Mario started his tennis career way back on the virtual boy. Not many people realise this given that said console was Nintendo's biggest flop to date, leaving Mario Tennis left largely unheard of until a few years ago when he made a comeback on the N64 and Gameboy color. The strangest thing is, that while the N64 version is an excellent game, especially in four player, this is a very rare case of the Gameboy game actually being better than the console game; something that hasn't been seen since Pokemon.

In a feature not seen in the N64 version, there's actually an RPG to play through. You take the role of either Alex or Nina (name's variable) and you've just joined a tennis academy with dreams of making it to the top. You also get to choose a doubles partner which can either be a hairy man or a foxy woman. the story's pretty lame to be honest, and the RPG is hardly top class, boiling down to not much more than a load of matches, but there are plenty of distractions along the way. It's a charming little RPG and best of all it will keep on going once you've completed it. Remember spending hours on Pokemon training you're Nidoking to level 100? That's here too. Never underestimate the power of addiction my friend.

Even if this whole RPG lark doesn't appeal there's still the prospect of getting all nine Nintendo faves including the likes of Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser and Mazza himself. No matter how many games these characters are in, you can always count on it being great fun to play as them. As if that wasn't enough, they all have unique stats and playing styles, and best of all, they each have their own brilliant mini-game. These vary from hitting icons on a wall, to pulling off designated shots or even taking on two players on your own. There's yet more Nintendo fun with the unlockable courts based around the characters, which even have classic Nintendo tunes in the background. Why the hell is Donkey Kong purple though?

Gameplay- 10

There is almost no way this game could play any better. For a gameboy game, Mario Tennis is as perfect as a tennis game could possibly be. If you don't like tennis, it makes no difference, if you hate Nintendo, it makes no difference. You'll be so fixated on how much this plays like a dream that you won't even care. For a pick up and play experience there's nothing else that can beat this on the GB, and for a long term challenge that never disappoints, it's definitely one of the finest GB games out there. The controls are simple, and utterly flawless except for when you have to use the select button. This really helps keep the game flowing, and you always feel really in control. There are plenty of game modes and lots of unlockable characters both from Nintendo and from the RPG and there's so much fun on offer that you' won't be able to put it down for weeks. Rallies are furious and competitive, and the satisfaction of pulling of a smash or a drop shot is unrivaled on Gameboy. Just remember that Mario tennis is supremely playable and as addictive as hell, making it easily one of the most playable GB games ever made. The only problem is that once you master it, MT is pretty easy.

Graphics- 8

No denying the levels look great, and the feel of 3d is superb, but to be honest the detail could be much better. It looks good enough, and the effects are undeniably great, but there are times when it looks a little lazy. Some character models such as Wario look pretty terrible and why the hell is Donkey Kong purple? It looks so good sometimes, that to ask for more seems selfish, but there are definitely some imperfections.

Sound- 9

The tunes are actually really good. There are one or two annoying ones, but for the most part, you'll want to keep the volume right up. In-match music is superb and actually kind of motivating, while the classic tunes from Nintendo games are well recreated and easy on the ears. Characters are annoying when they speak, but the sound effects are mostly all good too.

Lifespan- 9

Mario Tennis will last you absolutely ages. There really is no other game on gameboy that you'll rather just pick up and play. The mini-games take hours from your life, and the RPG is pretty long too. As well as the appeal of simply playing the game and the fact that you can be your Nintendo faves, as I said earlier, if you have the will power you'll spend hours training up your character to level 99 and making them the ultimate player for two player matches with your mate. Like most games, if you play it too much, it'll get boring for a while, but pick it up months later and you'll still have the time of your life. It's also the perfect companion for real life grand slams as you can play it while still keeping an eye on the TV.

Overall- 9/10- 94%

Not content with just being better than most gameboy games, Mario tennis is better than most tennis titles on any console. It's easily one of the most playable and constantly enjoyable experiences that you can have on the train. One question though, why the hell is Donkey Kong purple?

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/10/04