Tennis is probably the one sport that the franchise has explored with the most over the last 30 years or so, beginning with Mario’s Tennis on the Virtual Boy. Camelot took over the Mario Tennis series starting with the N64 and Game Boy Color, and they really took things to the next level with Mario Power Tennis on GameCube and Power Tour on GBA.
Then for a long time not much happened. Power Tennis got a port to the Wii under the New Play Control line, but that was it until 2012. In the early- to mid-2010s the quality of tennis games plummeted, with the mediocre Mario Tennis Open on 3DS and the laughingstock Ultra Smash on Wii U. But after that whole fiasco, Camelot seemed to finally get their act together with the announcement of Mario Tennis Aces for the Switch.
When [this new entry was first announced](https://youtu.be/mMHT2vdWvpg) a little more than 5 years ago, it promised to offer more competitive depth for players than ever, fusing pure tennis with the tech skill and mindgames of a fighting game, while also offering the first single player story mode in the series since the GBA. It even had online tournaments and you could deny someone with a poor connection if you so choose, something we haven’t seen in a Mario sports game since Strikers Charged. It also promised to offer more playable characters and game modes well after launch with free content updates, including the [first playable appearance of Pauline ever](https://youtu.be/mvu9tF5m-0c).
Upon release, Mario Tennis Aces’s reviews eclipsed that of the previous two entries (which wasn’t a high bar to clear anyway), with outlets praising the game’s visuals, roster, online play, and depth/replayability with the new gameplay mechanics. But criticism was also thrown in for the lack of game modes, baffling menu options, and the lackluster story mode. It went on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide, making it the single best-selling Mario sports game of all time. Regardless after launch and for the next year or so, Mario Tennis Aces would see over a dozen new playable characters added monthly, as well as character rebalancing and the addition of new game modes like ring shot and limited time online co-op challenges.
As for me, I enjoyed what I’ve played of Aces. The new fighting game elements make this exceptionally fun to try to outwit my opponent, and the online was really solid in my experience (back when it was still free). I thought the story mode was neat even if it was riffing a bit on Infinity War; you had to travel across the land to find several multicolored stones to place inside a special golden tennis racket. It did have some cool boss fights that put your dodging and blocking skills to the test, even if it had some difficulty spikes here and there. I treat it like Splatoon’s single player in the end; an extended tutorial to prep you for multiplayer. And besides, what does “content” really mean in the context of a multiplayer-focused game anyway?
But it really was the core gameplay and strong multiplayer that kept me and so many others playing for nearly a year after launch. Some remember this game as a filler entry back when it came out, but there was a decent amount of hype going in, as this was Nintendo’s big multiplayer game for the summer that year. And unlike forthcoming first party sports titles which I thought were pretty meh to bad, I never felt ripped off for paying $60 bucks for it at launch. I got a lot of mileage and had a lot of fun with it, and the consistent post-launch support it got only added to my enjoyment whenever a new character came out. Easily in my top 3 Mario sports games alongside World Tour and Strikers Charged.
by Asad_Farooqui
28 Comments
The supers are busted af
It’s fun but very repetitive. Fun to have a couple quick matches but then it gets repetitive af
Certainly not a $80 game
The mechanics are fantastic, probably the best in the entire series. But the online focus killed my enthusiasm for it. I was able to beat the story mode in less than 5 hours when it was a game trial a few years ago, so I never saw a need to buy.
Boring
It was fun, but the single player was lacking. On the game cube there were single player tournaments, and that kept me coming back. Here the story was just a big tutorial.
Meh
Was good mechanically but these sports games are shallow without the adventure mode. That was what made the gbc and gba games so good
I couldn’t get into it. Haven’t played much but it just didn’t grab me at all. I’ll hopefully give it another chance at some point
Hated how they handled the cosmetics and the game was just overall boring unless you disabled supers
I have played the game more than 100 hours. It is one of best Mario Sports games on Switch. Plays more like a fighting game where you need to counter every move of your opponent. The game was fantastic as long the online player base was strong. After six months it was impossible to find players. Such a sad end to a fantastic game. For me it was a highly enjoyable game.
I think that gameplay wise it is probably the deepest the series as ever been. My preferred way of playing are with friends in either singles or doubles it’s where I get my money’s worth!
Sadly, the single player is a bit boring and grindy.
As for the online it is a little lackluster because the main mode is tournament mode in which you need to win three 2 point matches to get a trophy. Also, if you win enough matches you unlock some skins.
It’s still a great game that I would get either used or at a discount on the eshop.
The ability to stop any shot by slowing time and moonwalking across the court ruined it for me.
Gameplay and controls feel so good I very much enjoyed my time with it… and now I go back to it once in a while just for the Wii Sports style swing mode haha
It’s a great game, but I still have much fonder memories of Mario Power Tennis for the GC :’)
Bought it and played it for an hour. 5 years later, my five year old likes it.
Wish I had my money back
I only played it during the NSO trial period.
Honestly, wasn’t a game for me.
Entertaining but not worth the price.
4 player simple mode with friends is the most fun i had in gaming.
I see a lot of lukewarm and negative-ish reviews here but personally I loved it and it was a go-to for friends and I when choosing co-op games for a year or two after release.
One gripe being story mode was short and at moments lackluster but overall myself and friends put dozens of hours into it, one of if not my very favorite Mario-sports game to come to the switch.
I haven’t played it in some time but I still reminisce on the fun times had and the only other Mario sports type game that’s come close in my opinion would be Golf, although golf falls flat in many areas tbh. I completely disliked Mario Strikers, I felt the gameplay was messy and the screen hud felt crowded. After spending hours trying to get the hang of it I finally gave up and haven’t played much since. Of course that’s just my experience and opinion but; I did enjoy tennis a lot!
All Mario sports games on switch slap.
It’s a guilty pleasure. Great for short single player burst. Bought it when it was 40 and I play it when I just want to just veg on the couch and not think too hard.
All Mario sports games on the switch have been a major disappointment to me
I regret buying all 3 Mario Sports games on the Switch. These are $19.99 games at best.
I remember there were *many* people here who defended the baffling decision to launch a tennis game in which you couldn’t play full games. Those people preferred to criticize the folks who thought it was a necessity for a tennis game. It’s a best selling Mario sports game because too many people in this sub are willing to put up with crap. Nintendo isn’t all too different from EA.
I want my money back
Super unpopular opinion but the sports game on the switch are the best in the series. Strikers may be the only exception, however the one on the Wii was lacking content as well so it’s really up to personal opinion.
Still good
IMO the gameplay is the best of the franchise, the best mario sports game, and probably one of the most fun tennis titles out there.
The problem IMO, was the lack of focus on same console multiplayer and single player. I miss interesting challenges modes for single player, tournament mode that pose a challenge for single player, pluss unlockables as a reward to do those things. I also miss console multiplayer tournaments, and more configuration of matches and tournaments like in N64 (number of games, and number of sets, not just a preset to change).
Online was good overall though. But as I see it, Online mp is an add on to this game and not something so central.
Thus said, for me the killer of this game is Nintendo pricing policy. I would totally have bought this game for 20, or maybe even 30 at launch. But the game is 60 and I doubt it will be less than 40. Furthemore in Switch there are no “classics” line for half the price. For me barely any game has that much value, and this game definitely doesn’t have it.
I don’t want a justification about Nintendo and his prices. I am saying that FOR ME is not worth the price it has.