Mario Tennis (GBC)

 MARIO TENNIS

Today, let's cover the 64 version's handheld counterpart. They're not exactly the same game, for several reasons we will get into, but there is a lot of overlap. The tennis mechanics are more or less a simplified version of the mechanics in the console game, with none of the items available. Our "Mario" playable characters include Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, and Bowser, all of whom appear in the console version, but with several noticeably missing.

The biggest difference between this game and the console version is the RPG elements. Seeing as playing multiplayer was a bit difficult with handhelds back then, the game designers felt players needed something to do, so they made an RPG mode, where you played as a generic human protagonist attending Peach's Royal Tennis Academy, working your way up through a series of tennis matches until you are ready to face the grand champion (Mario). It's interesting. But if we're looking for a gimmick rep . . . Alex is the name of the male protagonist, while Nina is the name of the female protagonist. Each gains a doubles partner at the beginning of the game, Alex's being Harry, and Nina's being Kate.

There are a lot of other students and challengers, each with their own names, but really you could just call most of them generic tennis challenger no. 1, 2, 3, on and on and on without changing much, with only a few standing out like your teacher Emily, the quirky headmaster, and the great fairy that rises from the pond behind the school at a certain point in time, but none of them really warrant anything either.

As for stages, we have the grass, hard, clay, and composition courts returning, as well as a Castle Court, Tropics Court, Jungle Court, Star Court, and Warehouse Court. The differences in most of these are largely cosmetic. Another major location is the Royal Academy itself, which is honestly a really cool design I would consider for a stage, and a few other general locations you visit as part of the tournament.

Here's what we've got so far:

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

Mario

Luigi

Princess Peach

Toad

Yoshi

Koopa Troopa

Donkey Kong Jr.

Daisy

Baby Mario

Birdo

Donkey Kong

Wario

Waluigi

Bowser

Boo

Shy Guy

Paratroopa

Piranha Plant

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

Thanks for reading! Next up, let's cover the Game Cube entry: Mario Power Tennis!