Whether you’re hitting topspins past Baby Wario or dodging Bowser’s flames, Mario Tennis Fever is a blast. Across its many challenges and chaotic party modes, it’s the most fun sports game in years.
With Fever Rackets at the ready, every rally is a split second away from exploding into madness. Why hit a regular return when you can ignite a Bullet Bill and slap it back in your opponent’s direction?
Every match is chock-full of these hilarious and surprisingly strategic moments, and it’s what makes Mario Tennis Fever shine through its many distinct game modes. You’re always in for a DK-stamped barrel of laughs.
Mario Tennis Fever screenshots
What is Mario Tennis Fever?
This is tennis with a twist. Sure, you can tweak settings to host a regular match, but for the real fun, you need some Fever Rackets. These give you powers like Mario Kart’s items.
Dozens of these unique bats help swing momentum. You can leave a pool of ice on the court, making your opponent slide around, or scatter fire to interrupt their return. Later on, you’ll get options that turn you and the ball invisible, while another spawns Thwomps to crush the opposing player.
Yes, some are simply too good, making them must-picks if you’re trying to win at any cost, but for the most part, they’re fairly balanced and hilarious. Anytime a Fever Shot is triggered, the match gets flipped on its head as you focus on not letting it land on your side of the court.
No matter how long you’re playing, the recipe never grows stale. Every point feels that little bit different, and with a wide assortment of unique game modes, there is so much to do in Fever.
Adventure mode has you following a brief but pleasant story as Baby Mario and Luigi duke it out on the court to grow back to their adult, mustachioed forms. Then there are six increasingly difficult Tournaments to knock out. Not to mention challenge Towers to truly test your skills, party modes that throw out all the rules, and dozens of items to unlock.
A tremendous rally
Most importantly, the tennis feels fantastic. There’s a wide variety of shot types to keep you on your toes in every back-and-forth battle, and you will need real tennis strategy to win higher-level games.
You’re not just whacking the ball over the net and hoping for the best. You’re trying to place it just right and with just the right amount of power.
Say Boo, your opponent, is rushing up to the net. A well-placed lob can catch them out. However, if Petey Piranha is staying at the back and launching power shots, a cheeky drop shot can leave them reeling.
There’s a lot to think about, especially when Fever Shots are added to the mix, so don’t expect to turn pro overnight. You’ll need to take your time to climb the ranks through Adventure mode and learn the ins and outs of all the different mechanics before taking on the tougher challenges.
When it gets harder, you’ll typically be facing off against opponents with some of the more painful Fever Rackets with some shot effects remaining on the court for far too long, to the point they’re frustrating to play against.
Some are just silly fun, but others that deal damage and interrupt animations make for an unpleasant time more often than not. It wouldn’t be too big an issue if Fever Shots were rarer, say once per game. But if a rally goes on for more than a few swings, you’re essentially seeing Fever Shots on both sides every single point. A quick balance update can fix this, but at launch, just know it can get a bit tiresome.
Flair on every point
Of course, in typical Nintendo fashion, presentation is sublime. From the diversity of the courts themselves to the vastly different animations for every individual character, the attention to detail is sensational.
It’s always a treat noticing how different characters set up their serves, like Diddy Kong bouncing the ball on his tail. Or how others react to losing an intense rally. I will never tire of seeing Dry Bones fall to bits between points.
Cinematic quality throughout Adventure mode is also top-notch. Seriously, someone should consider turning this into a movie. After Chris Pratt has explored the Galaxy, have him return home for some good old-fashioned tennis on the big screen. I’d be in the cinema on day one.
Verdict
After a few days with Mario Tennis Fever, my partner and I, playing Doubles, figured it was time. We’d landed on our favorite characters and Fever Racket combos. All that remained was to test ourselves in the toughest Tournament.
What ensued was perhaps the most electric gaming session of our lives. We were at war for every single point. Two sets a piece, down to the tiebreaker, it couldn’t have been more intense. Yelling and screaming with every return, agonizing over every miss, and erupting in cheer with every win, it was pure sporting fun of which I haven’t experienced in a game in quite some time.
That encapsulates Mario Tennis Fever. As chaotic as Mario Kart, it stands alongside the likes of Mario Golf Toadstool Tour and Mario Strikers Charged as the best Mario sports games. It’s completely thrilling.
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