Mario Power Tennis features variations of tennis matches consisting of characters, courts, and scenarios based on the Mario series. The range of courts includes the standard three types of tennis court, but consists predominantly of those themed upon games in the Mario series, known as "Gimmick" courts. As well as adopting the style aesthetically, these feature thematic elements that influence how the match will be played on that surface, such as the ghosts in the Luigi's Mansion court, which hinder movement when the character comes into physical contact with them. Although standard tennis is available, variants of the sport can be played which adopt different rules and methods of victory. "Ring Shot" involves the player earning points by hitting the ball through rings of varying sizes, with the number of points dependent on the difficulty of the shot.[9] The player acquires the points whenever a winning shot is made adhering to standard rules; the match is won once the predetermined number of points is equaled or surpassed. A similar mode, "Item Battle", involves the characters using items based on the Mario universe to interfere with each other's game and gain an advantage
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Revisiting this around my Mario Tennis 64 playthrough really hammers home how much has been improved. Gameplay overall feels a lot tighter, and I feel like I have way more control over where the ball's going. Characters feel markedly different from one another, even within the same character class. This is in large part due to the Power Shots, that high concept that the original game sorely needed to keep things interesting. Power Shots are often character-defining, but they're far from the only unique thing each character has going for them - think of them more as your inroad to each character.
The unlockable characters most clearly exemplify this, so let's run through them. Petey Piranha is a fairly standard Power character, with low movement and high volley speed, Petey is so huge that he barely needs to move around. Paratroopa this time around is a Technique character, but he has a ridiculously fast lunge that lets him catch tricky shots from his opponents. Fly Guy can fly like a helicopter, so he always faces forward - no need to account for turnaround time when chasing the ball. Wiggler is my favorite inclusion - he's a very inspired character pull/redesign, whose long body means he has little trouble keeping on top of the ball. There's a strong sense that who the characters are factors into their individual styles, on top of the classes they slot into.
I also have to say, I'm extremely impressed by what the game is as a celebration of the extended Mario franchise. This is definitely something I didn't catch as a kid; before, I saw that there were TWO dumb Mario Sunshine courts and thought they were just giving the new game needless lip service. And, like, I'm not gonna pretend that the Ricco Harbor (oh, sorry, Gooper Blooper) Court doesn't seem excessive to me.
But, like, lookit the other courts! The Luigi's Mansion Court is to be expected, perhaps, but what about that Donkey Kong court, with Klaptraps and Kritter models pulled from Donkey Kong 64? A Wario court themed after WarioWare but with Wario World music? A court themed after arcade Mario Bros., specifically? Oh, but you might think, that's all well and good, but there's no Yoshi court. True, but Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Story get their due. Shy Guy turns into a Spear Guy for his Power Shots, Wiggler turns into Flutter, Fly Guy exists... heck, Thunder Lakitu of all enemies shows up on the Donkey Kong court! The team could've picked any number of enemies for the desired effect, but no, they went with such a specific Yoshi's Island character. The game sort of presents this vision of what a greater Mario series celebration could look like, and all this exists in some random tennis spin-off, not a tentpole anniversary title.
...Wario Land 3 music plays at one point! Would've thought for sure that game was on the fast track to obscurity at this point.
I think these days I do ultimately prefer Superstar Baseball, for the sheer depth of mechanics at play. But this is an easy runner-up! My favorite turn at the wheel Camelot's had with these characters, at least of what I've played. Would love love love to see another game like this someday.
...a new OC would've been fun for this game, like when we got Waluigi in Tennis 64. Walpeach would explain a lot of stuff here, but I also like that rejected Potato character, she coulda been fun.