Mario Tennis Aces

 MARIO TENNIS ACES

Today, let's cover the most recent game in the Tennis series, released for the Nintendo Switch. The game's biggest gimmick was the advertised story mode attached, but it's more of a "story mode" you tend to expect with games like this. The bare bones of a story and not much more. The tennis mechanics are pretty standard here, with all of your standard favorites like topspins, slices, flats, lobs, drop shots, star shots, and leap shots. We also have three special types of shots, including the trick shot, which slows down time to let you get to the ball faster; the zone shot, that lets you pivot your aim on a point to get a more accurate shot; and the special shot, a special move unique to each character.

Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Toad, Toadette, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, Waluigi, Bowser, Bowser Jr., and Boo all return in the base game, with Spike and Chain Chomp added as the big newcomers (honestly though, Chain Chomp with a racquet in its mouth is adorable). DLC characters came later, with Koopa, Diddy Kong, Birdo, Paratroopa, Shy Guy, Petey Piranha, Luma, and Dry Bowser returning, and Blooper, Boom Boom, Pauline, Kamek (EEEEEEE!), Dry Bones, and Fire Piranha Plant as full on newcomers.

As mentioned before, each has a special shot linked to them, mostly based on something connected with them. Mario wall jumps to get a better shot, Luigi sends it through pipes, Wario uses a fart (Hey! it's actually a thing somewhere (after Brawl. Hmm . . . )), Waluigi is just fabulous I guess, Peach uses hearts, Daisy uses flowers, Rosalina uses stars, Toad uses other Toads, Toadette just kinda hops a bit, Bowser uses his fire breath, Bowser Jr. uses his Klown Kar's punching gloves, Boo uses illusions, Yoshi uses rainbows, Donkey Kong sends it into barrel cannons, Spike coughs up a giant spiked bar, Chain Chomp breaks off his chain, Koopa Troopa spins alot, Diddy swings around on vines, Birdo is lifted into the air, Paratroopa flies around in a spiral, Shy Guy uses balloons, Petey Piranha whips up a tornado, Luma uses stars, Boom Boom just kinda gets mad and spins, Pauline sings a bit of "Jump Up, Superstar," Kamek makes himself grow gigantic, Dry Bones uses bones, Fire Piranha Plant uses its fire, and Dry Bowser uses his fire breath too.

We mentioned before a story mode, which includes a new villain named Lucien and a disembodied voice named Aster. Lucien is mostly just a possessed tennis racket who can possess other people, so any time you fight him, you're just fighting the other characters. He can also summon up a tornado, and shield or summon orbs to reflect balls back at you. Not much to go on. Probably works best as an assist or final smash or something. We'll see. Aster is mostly just your tutorial.

Our main stages include Marina Stadium, which comes with a hard, clay, and grass version; Bask Ruins, a desert level and Lucien's home; Piranha Plant Forest, a jungle level; Mirage Mansion, a haunted level; Snowfall Mountain, a snow level; Savage Sea, a pirate ship level; and Inferno Island, a Bowser's Castle level.

That's pretty much it! Let's see what we've got!

Characters:

Alex/Nina/Harry/Kate: serve, lob, top-spin, singles, doubles, slice, drop shot, flat shot, smash shot, charge shot, Banana, Mushroom, Lightning Bolt, Star, Green Shell, Red Shell, offensive special shot, defensive special shot, Chance Shots (fire flower, blooper, star, cheep cheep, bob-omb), Ultra Smash, Mega Battle, Trick Shot, Zone Shot, Special Shot

Ace/Clay: same as above, wall practice, ball machine, treadmill, balloon pump, jump, spin screw, duck walk, rope climb, Rock Paper Scissors, tightrope, tacklebot, memory game

Lucien: possess, tornado, shield, reflector ball

Mario: Iron Hammer, Spin Jump Return, Blazing Wall Jump

Luigi: Squeaky Mallet, Poltergust Return, Pipe Cannon

Princess Peach: Super Peach Spin, Sweet Kiss Return, Heart Shot

Toad: Super Toad Dive

Yoshi: Rainbow Flutter, Rolling Egg Return, Flying Rainbow

Koopa Troopa: Water Bomb, Water Shell Dash, Spin Break

Donkey Kong Jr.

Daisy: Wonder Flower, Flowerbed Return, Bloom Blast

Baby Mario

Birdo: Airlift Extravaganza

Donkey Kong: Barrel Cannon Blast, Boomerang Banana Return, Barrel Cannon Chaos

Wario: Thunder Cast Shot, Ultra Hand Return, Glorious Garlic Bomber

Waluigi: Whirluigi, Swimming Return, Showtime

Bowser: Fire Breath, Spinning Shell Dash, Firebreath Barrage

Boo: Boo Blast, Boo Brigade Return, Illusion Shot

Shy Guy: Lightning Spear, Spear Dance Return, Balloon Assist

Paratroopa: Energy Ball, Sky Dive, Spiral Special

Diddy Kong: Acrobatic Banana, Barrel Jet, Jungle Swing

Bowser Jr.: Magic Paint, Rolling Brush Return, Armed and Dangerous

Fly Guy: Tornado Twist, Tornado Return

Wiggler: Anger Management, Flutter Return

Petey Piranha: Sludge Racket, Piranha Swingback, Vicious Twister

Luma: Constellation Smash

Baby Peach

Dry Bowser

Mii

Metal Mario

Rosalina: Star Combo

Toadette: Hop Step Jump

Sprixie Princess

Spike: Spike Trick

Chain Chomp: Unleash

Blooper: Wave Rider

Boom Boom: Spiteful Strike

Pauline: Showstopper

Kamek: Gigantic Smash

Dry Bones: Bone Crusher

Fire Piranha Plant: Hot Shot

Dry Bowser: Blazing Barrage

Piranha Plant

Lakitu

Goomba

Magikoopa

Stages:

Tennis Court

Open Court

Hard Court

Clay Court

Grass Court

Composition Court

Bowser's Stage

Royal Academy

Castle Court

Tropics Court

Jungle Court

Star Court

Warehouse Court

Peach Dome

Luigi's Mansion Court

Delfino Plaza Court

Wario Factory Court

Gooper Blooper Court

DK Jungle Court

Bowser's Castle Court

Mario Classic Court

Mario Stadium

Mushroom Valley

Wario Dunes

DK Jungle

Peach's Palace

Penguin Iceberg

Bowser's Castle

Galaxy Arena

Super Mario Tennis

Carpet Court

Mushroom Court

Sand Court

Ice Court

Rebound Court

Morph Court

Marina Stadium

Bask Ruins

Piranha Plant Forest

Mirage Mansion

Snowfall Mountain

Savage Sea

Inferno Island

Thanks for reading! Now, let us begin our character sheets!