Mario Tennis

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Mario Tennis
North American cover art
Developer(s)	Camelot Software Planning
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Toshiharu Izuno
Composer(s)	Motoi Sakuraba
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, GameBoy Color, Virtual Console
Release date(s)	Nintendo 64 Version JP July 21, 2000 NA August 28, 2000 PAL November 3, 2000 Game Boy Color Version JP November 1, 2000 NA January 16, 2001 PAL February 2, 2001 Virtual Console JP TBA NA June 21, 2010 PAL June 18, 2010
Genre(s)	Sports game
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ELSPA: 3+ ESRB: E OFLC: G PEGI: 3
Media	128-Megabit cartridge

Mario Tennis (マリオテニス64, Mario Tenisu Rokujūyon^?, Mario Tennis 64) is a sports video game published Nintendo and developed by Camelot Software Planning for the Nintendo 64 video game console. The game was released in North America and Japan in the summer of 2000, and released in Europe later in November. It is the first tennis-oriented game starring Mario since Mario's Tennis, and the first game developed by Camelot on a Nintendo system.

The success of Mario Tennis led to a sequel, Mario Power Tennis in 2004. It was also re-released on the Virtual Console in the PAL region on June 18, 2010.

Contents 1 Characters and Transfer Pak features 2 Gameplay 3 Reception 4 Handheld version 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Characters and Transfer Pak features

Marking the sixth Mario game for the Nintendo 64, Mario Tennis brings eleven new characters to the Mario Tennis franchise, including Waluigi, Princess Daisy (Prior to Mario Tennis, Daisy's last appearance was as Luigi's caddy in the 1991 game NES Open Tournament Golf), Wario, Shy Guy, Donkey Kong Jr. and Birdo.

Through the use of an N64 Transfer Pak, players are able to import his or her characters from the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis to the N64 game, as well as the characters' stats. After connecting Mario Tennis for the Game Boy Color with Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64, various options become available; Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi and Bowser can all be sent to the Game Boy Color Version, and GBC characters Alex, Harry, Nina and Kate can be transferred to the Nintendo 64 version. Using the latter four characters, experience points may be earned to transfer back to the GBC version. As the characters go up in levels, one may send his or her improved characters to the N64 version to level up again.

A variety of tennis courts can become available to unlock in the Nintendo 64 version after linking with the Game Boy Color Version.

[edit] Gameplay

The game uses a control system that differs from most other video tennis games on the market. Shots are performed by pressing one, or both, of the two main buttons (A or B), which make the ball spin in different ways. Pressing a button twice strikes the tennis shot with more power and spin. Additionally, pressing the two buttons in a different order can result in a different type of shot altogether, such as a lob or drop shot. Both buttons can be pressed at the same time to hit a very powerful smash shot. The longer a button is pressed before contact is made with the ball, the stronger the shot will be. The control system allows players of all levels to become familiar with the mechanics of the game within a very short time, whilst also encouraging advanced players to take advantage of the variety of shots on offer to come up with different strategies for winning points. A total of seven types of shot are possible using only the two main buttons of the controller.

These gameplay mechanics were later brought to the other games of the Mario Tennis series in Mario Tennis GBC, Mario Tennis: Power Tour and Mario Power Tennis.

[edit] Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	88%[1]
Metacritic	91 of 100[2]
Review scores
Publication	Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly	9 of 10
Game Informer	7.75 of 10
GameSpot	8.2 of 10[3]
IGN	9 of 10[4]
Nintendo Power	9.1 of 10
Awards 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards Console Family Award[5]

Dutch magazine Power Unlimited gave the game a score of 9.1 out of 10, calling it very addictive, especially with four players.^[6]

Mario Tennis sold over 200,000 copies within two weeks of its release.^[7]

[edit] Handheld version

This section requires expansion.

Mario Tennis is a sports game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color, and is the third title in the Mario Tennis series. The game was released on November 1, 2000 in Japan; January 16, 2001 in North America; and February 2, 2001 in Europe.^[8][9] It features a wide variety of human and Mario characters for the player to use. The game also features mini-games such as a tennis version of a shooting gallery where, as Donkey Kong, the player must hit the banana targets on the wall to earn points in a set amount of time.

The RPG mode is not featured in the N64 title, but a similar game mode appears in Mario Golf on the Game Boy Color. In this mode, players begin as a rookie tennis player at the Royal Tennis Academy, who must build up his/her skill (by leveling-up) through training and practice matches before entering various tournaments. The aim of this mode is to be crowned champion at the academy, although a surprise awaits those who attain this goal. The RPG is playable in singles and doubles (separately), effectively doubling the game's longevity. There are training facilities that can help the player progress.

	Book:Mario titles
Books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Nintendo Japan Mario Tennis 64 site
• Official Nintendo Japan Mario Tennis Game Boy Color site
• Mario Tennis at Nintendo.com (archives of the original at the Internet Archive)
• Mario Tennis strategy guide at IGN.com

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