Mario serves up ace challenge for youngsters
Mario Tennis Aces For: Nintendo Switch From: Nintendo of America
Rating: (G) ★★★★+
PARENTS need to know that
Mario Tennis Aces is a tennis simulation game that sends Mario on an adventure around an island where he must complete tennisthemed challenges. There’s no violence or scariness beyond the occasional body shot that makes characters wince with a sting. The overall vibe is one of friendly competitive play and — if playing with friends locally or online — a sense of cooperation and teamwork. Each character emotes in his or her own way, with traditional heroes like Mario and Peach cheering and frowning in appropriate situations while villains like Bowser and Wario express anger and gloat with victory. Parents should note, too, that while much of the game isn’t terribly challenging, there are sections — especially puzzle challenges and boss fights — that can be frustrating, and could force players to search online for strategies and solutions.
What’s it about?
Mario Tennis Aces puts players in the shoes of Mario as he journeys around an island on a roleplaying gamelike tennis adventure to find a quintet of ‘‘power stones’’ connected to the world’s most powerful tennis racquet. It begins with basic tutorials that teach players how to hit a variety of shots, including trick shots and special timepausing power shots. As players move from location to location, they unlock challenges that force them to practise and exploit specific techniques and shot types. Mario’s level and tennis stats improve with each event. Outside the adventure mode, players can take part in short tournaments against computercontrolled opponents, set up matches against other players both in the same room and online, and try ‘‘swing’’ mode, which allows kids to wield their JoyCons like real racquets to hit the onscreen ball.
Is it any good?
If you want something more gamelike than just a straight tennis simulation, this might be the game for you. Mario Tennis Aces gives players much more than a standard career mode where they master skills and climb ranks. Its adventure mode expertly melds the sort of things kids tend to love about Mario games — colourful graphics, boss battles, puzzles, and a quirky story — with surprisingly strong tennis simulation. The best part is that the adventure challenges are crafted to teach players to master the game’s more intricate strategies. Some puzzlelike levels and boss fights can be frustrating and tricky, but taken as a whole, the adventure mode keeps things fresh and fun throughout.
Nintendo’s gamesmiths could have put a little more into some of the other modes, though. Skilled kids will be able to blast through all of the tournaments in a single night. And while the ability to set up your own matches and play with authentic swing controls is appreciated, there aren’t a lot of options or game types to tinker with. Players who simply love tennis for the sake of tennis — and who want to play the game socially with friends or family — will have fun here, but others may lose interest.
Overall though, there’s an awful lot to do, making Mario Tennis Aces one of the best and most satisfying Mario sports games in some time. — TNS