If you’ve been following the Mario Tennis Fever series, your excitement may vary depending on your experience with past installments. Nintendo’s iconic character, Mario, has been engaging in tennis matches since 2000 in collaboration with the Japanese studio Camelot. The latest release, Fever, is the ninth installment, adding to Mario’s longstanding love for the sport dating back to 1984’s Tennis for Game Boy.
While the core gameplay of Mario Tennis Fever remains solid, offering intense and thrilling tennis matches with a variety of options and fantastical elements, some fans may be underwhelmed by the single-player Adventure mode. Nevertheless, the game contributes positively to the exclusive lineup of games for the Switch 2, which has had a mixed reception since its launch.
The game mechanics of Mario Tennis Fever are accessible to all players familiar with tennis scoring. Players can select characters from the Mario universe for both singles and doubles matches, enjoying the familiar thrill of running around the court and hitting the ball with responsive controls. The vibrant visuals, typical of Mario games, enhance the experience, with realistic court surfaces adding depth to the gameplay.
Each character in the game is categorized into different play styles such as speedy, powerful, or technical. For instance, Mario is a well-rounded character suitable for newcomers, while heavier characters like Donkey Kong and Bowser excel in power but are slower in movement.
Some characters introduce unique gameplay mechanics, requiring players to adapt their strategies. For example, Rosalina floats above the court regardless of surface type, while Koopa Troopa maneuvers like a hockey puck on ice using its shell.
Slice, smash … fireball?
The highlight of Mario Tennis Fever is the Fever rackets, which can trigger special shots during gameplay. These shots create hazards for opponents, from setting the court on fire to creating clones or enhancing player speed. Matches often revolve around utilizing these powerful shots strategically, adding an element of chaos and excitement to the gameplay.
Additionally, Mix It Up modes introduce further variations, such as a pinball table setting or reality-bending effects inspired by Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Players can also engage in Swing mode for a more casual experience using Joy-Con controllers as virtual rackets.
The single-player Adventure mode offers a brief storyline with tutorials and mini-games resembling Mario Party activities. However, the mode’s narrative is quirky and short-lived, appealing more to younger audiences with its nonsensical plot involving characters like Princess Daisy and baby versions of Mario and Luigi.
Mario Tennis Fever thrives on its classic formula, offering a fun multiplayer experience ideal for gatherings. While online play is an option, the game shines brightest in local multiplayer settings. Despite its strengths, the