Mario's Tennis is a tennis game that was released as a launch title for the Virtual Boy. It is the first tennis-related Mario game, and would later be followed by the Mario Tennis series. You get to choose from seven different characters, all with different ability levels, to play against each other in either singles or doubles matches. You can also play in an exhibition or tournament mode.
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It's literally JUST Tennis
Funny to think this was the first Mario Tennis released, I have bad depth perception at the best of times so emulation is not helping my case I did not score once in the one game I played of it. Its intresting I can say that
The very first Mario Tennis game!
As the first game in the series I think it does it's job well and plays a good solid game of tennis. The camera is pulled down to a lower level than your usual tennis game to make the 3D effect stand out more. Because of this, it can be hard to adjust to following the ball and timing your hits at first but once you get used to it, you'll get into the swing (sorry!) of things.
Shots are pretty limited in this with a basic shot on A and a lob shot on B. Smash returns are available if your opponent tries to lob you. Movement is on the d-pad and you have to be fairly accurate in your position and timing of your swing to hit the ball.
Mario's Tennis unfortunately suffers in a way similar to many of it's fellow Virtual Boy title - lacking in content. You've got 7 characters (the Super Mario Kart roster minus Bowser), singles and doubles modes and a tournament mode but without any trophies to win.... and that's it. It's quite telling how little content there is when the tournament brackets are uneven and doubles teams can't be filled out in a tournament without doubling up on a character. It's a shame because the core gameplay is solid, it would just be nice if there was a little more meat on the bones.
Mario's Tennis is a solid first entry in the Mario Tennis series, playing a solid game of tennis that is enjoyable in 3D. A lack of content however means there's little to keep you coming back to this for replaying which is unfortunate
As the first game in the series I think it does it's job well and plays a good solid game of tennis. The camera is pulled down to a lower level than your usual tennis game to make the 3D effect stand out more. Because of this, it can be hard to adjust to following the ball and timing your hits at first but once you get used to it, you'll get into the swing (sorry!) of things.
Shots are pretty limited in this with a basic shot on A and a lob shot on B. Smash returns are available if your opponent tries to lob you. Movement is on the d-pad and you have to be fairly accurate in your position and timing of your swing to hit the ball.
Mario's Tennis unfortunately suffers in a way similar to many of it's fellow Virtual Boy title - lacking in content. You've got 7 characters (the Super Mario Kart roster minus Bowser), singles and doubles modes and a tournament mode but without any trophies to win.... and that's it. It's quite telling how little content there is when the tournament brackets are uneven and doubles teams can't be filled out in a tournament without doubling up on a character. It's a shame because the core gameplay is solid, it would just be nice if there was a little more meat on the bones.
Mario's Tennis is a solid first entry in the Mario Tennis series, playing a solid game of tennis that is enjoyable in 3D. A lack of content however means there's little to keep you coming back to this for replaying which is unfortunate
One has to scratch their head and ask why Nintendo never re-released any Virtual Boy games on the 3DS. Yeah the console itself might’ve been hot doodoo, but this lovely piece of kit had the stereoscopic 3D to improve at least a few of its games by a landslide, purely on the merit of not having to play ‘em on an actual Virtual Boy, ironically.
Heck, I’d take this over Mario Tennis Open on the same handheld, cause at least the VB game isn’t automated to the point of tedium.
Heck, I’d take this over Mario Tennis Open on the same handheld, cause at least the VB game isn’t automated to the point of tedium.
Virtual Boy Complete - Game #9
I feel nothing towards this title. It has less depth than a Cool Math Game. Only two shots despite the VB being twin-D-pad, and no multiplayer. Doubles is fine enough I guess? but singles feels barren. It's not "bad" per say, as much as it is a null void that it's impossible to feel positively or negatively towards, so I think I have to give it a really low score. Gets an extra half a star for 1. not being 3D Tetris, and 2. Yoshi serving with his tongue, which is cute.
I will say there's a fun novelty to a major, multi-generational Nintendo IP like Mario Tennis having its roots on VB, and I do like the outfits, glad they brought that back for Aces.
I feel nothing towards this title. It has less depth than a Cool Math Game. Only two shots despite the VB being twin-D-pad, and no multiplayer. Doubles is fine enough I guess? but singles feels barren. It's not "bad" per say, as much as it is a null void that it's impossible to feel positively or negatively towards, so I think I have to give it a really low score. Gets an extra half a star for 1. not being 3D Tetris, and 2. Yoshi serving with his tongue, which is cute.
I will say there's a fun novelty to a major, multi-generational Nintendo IP like Mario Tennis having its roots on VB, and I do like the outfits, glad they brought that back for Aces.
very simple and barebones in terms of gameplay, yet a groundbreaking use of 3d technology way ahead of its time