The level of excitement you feel for Mario Tennis Fever depends on your familiarity with the previous installments of this enduring sports series.
Nintendo’s iconic character, Mario, has been showcasing his tennis skills since 2000 in collaboration with Japanese third-party studio Camelot. The latest release, Fever, is the ninth edition available for the Switch 2 console. Mario’s tennis journey dates back to his cameo as an official in the 1984 Tennis game for Game Boy.
While the core gameplay of Mario Tennis Fever remains robust, offering intense and thrilling tennis matches with a wide range of options and imaginative elements, the single-player Adventure mode may not fully satisfy long-time players.
Nonetheless, the game serves as a valuable addition to the exclusive games lineup of the Switch 2 console, which has had mixed success since its introduction a year ago.
The fundamentals of Mario Tennis Fever are accessible to players of all levels who can grasp the game’s scoring system. Players can select one or two characters from the extensive Mario universe for singles or doubles matches.
The gameplay involves running across the court and hitting a tennis ball, which remains as gratifying as ever. The controls are precise and responsive, requiring an understanding of each character’s strengths and weaknesses. The impact of hitting the ball with a racket feels powerful, akin to a significant shot at a Grand Slam event, but with added speed. The colorful arenas reflect the signature Mario aesthetic, with realistic textures on the court surfaces.
Each character fits into distinct styles such as speedy, powerful, or technical.
For instance, Mario is a versatile character suitable for beginners, while heavyweights like Donkey Kong and Bowser possess formidable overhead smashes but are slower in movement. Some characters introduce unique gameplay mechanics, requiring players to adapt their strategies. Rosalina, from Super Mario Galaxy, floats gracefully above the court, unaffected by surface types, while Koopa Troopa maneuvers like a hockey puck on ice, sliding and careening around.
Slice, smash … fireball?
The highlight of Fever rackets is their ability to trigger special fever shots during gameplay. These shots introduce unique effects, such as setting the opponent’s side of the court on fire or creating obstacles like banana peels. Some shots enhance player speed or summon a temporary computer-controlled player.
Matches often revolve around unleashing as many fever shots as possible, creating a thrilling back-and-forth dynamic as players anticipate and counter each other’s moves.
The game offers various Mix It Up modes that add an extra layer of excitement. For example, a pinball table mode features bumpers that bounce players and balls unpredictably, while Wonder mode incorporates whimsical elements from Super Mario