An accessible and effective formula
I admit that, for my part, it’s been a while since I got my hands on a Mario Tennis. It is in this type of situation that we fully appreciate Nintendo’s know-how in terms of accessibility, since we only needed a tutorial of just a few minutes, in the company of Luigi, to quickly understand the basics of the gameplay. We then embarked on a first one-on-one match against an Italian colleague.
No need to be a tennis expert, the game favors an arcade and welcoming approach, in the spirit of a Mario Kart or a Super Mario Party, where shared pleasure takes precedence over pure technicality. This does not mean, however, that the title lacks depth, since it obviously retains the fundamentals of the sport. Reflexes and the ability to anticipate the opponent’s next move are regularly put to the test, especially since it is possible to return the ball in different ways (direct hit, lob, topspin, etc.).
On the other hand, standard matches adopt a deliberately simplified format. No games or sets here. The objective is to reach a certain number of points. This choice makes it possible to maintain a dynamic match rhythm and to offer immediate gaming pleasure. We then took part in two-on-two matches. This mode brings increased intensity and a greater challenge in terms of reading the game, since you must monitor both the position of the two opponents and that of your teammate, in order to avoid getting in each other’s way or going on the same ball at the risk of conceding a point unnecessarily.
As for the casting, we find the emblematic characters of the franchise, accompanied by some new newcomers: Goomba, Carottin and Baby Waluigi. In total, there are 38 characters who make up a particularly solid roster, each with varied statistics, with their strengths and weaknesses (speed, power, control, etc.).
League Rackets
The great novelty of Mario Tennis Fever lies in his “frantic rackets”. Around thirty are available, each with a specific power. By returning enough balls, a gauge fills up and, once activated, triggers a “frenzied strike” capable of disrupting the course of the match. However, its use does not guarantee a point, since a frenzied strike can be countered by another.
We were able to test a few of them, and they do indeed offer varied effects. Some facilitate movement, like the turbo racket, while others invade the opposing field with ice or fire in order to disrupt or slow down the opponent. This remains to be confirmed during the final test, but this diversity of approaches brings real depth to the gameplay and considerably strengthens replayability, whether in singles or doubles.
The other notable addition concerns special matches. During this session, we were only able to try the one inspired by Super Mario Bros. Wonder. These matches start in a classic way, then literally change when a Prodigy Seed is activated. From there, the rules change. We had the opportunity to rerun this special match several times, which allowed us to observe different effects. In one of the configurations, you had to precisely aim at flowers while avoiding Piranha plants. Another filled the field with bouncing balls, the objective being to hit the one that shone in order to score a point.
It remains to be seen what the other special matches will offer, but this one already gives a good overview of the ability of Mario Tennis Fever to break the routine. For the rest, we will also have to wait for our test to find out what exactly adventure mode has in store for us. Visually, the title fits into the standards of the series. Even if we feel less of the gain in power of the Switch 2 compared to the previous generation, the colors are shimmering and the effects of frenetic rackets remain very pleasant to the eye.
Controller in hand, Mario Tennis Fever leaves an overall positive impression. Accessible without being simplistic, more generous in content and ideas than its predecessor, it seems to have found the right balance between immediate fun and depth of play, in particular thanks to the frenetic rackets and special matches capable of renewing the sensations. It is obvious that the game takes on its full dimension in multiplayer, but the solo part seems set to be well stocked. It now remains to be verified, over time, whether everything keeps its promises in terms of variety and balance.