While this isn’t the first Tennis game bearing Mario’s name, Nintendo like to pretend that Mario’s Tennis on the Virtual Boy never existed (along with every other game on it) . This follows the same formula as Mario Golf – provide a great sports game that just happens to have Mario characters in it, rather than the more random and powerup-fuelled later Mario sports games.

And it really is a great tennis game. The characters have different kinds of swings, and you have a few basic shots. It’s not overly complicated, but it’s something you’ll enjoy playing for hours at a time. The only special moves are just stronger moves that require you to be positioned in advance, and that’s what makes is so great. There are a ton of courts to unlock by playing tournaments, and a good amount of characters, including newcomer Waluigi.

There’s also a few bonus modes, such as a mode where you have to hit the ball through rings and then win the point to score them, one where you have to return a ton of balls shot by piranha plants, and a bonus mode which is more like what you’d expect from Mario Tennis now – a tilting board with items to use. They’re all fun, and provide a great alternative way to play.

Mario Tennis is still incredibly good fun and still a great tennis game. There are some great little touches (such as seeing Lakitu fly away from a player after a close up), and a lot of charm that makes the game enjoyable without going crazy with the core gameplay.

Great

What makes the situation all the more surreal is that Mario Tennis is an absolutely fantastic game. Rather than just update Super Tennis, developers Camelot have created a new style of gameplay that is incredibly easy to pick up and offers experienced players greater shot-making sublety than anything else available.

Martin Kitts, N64 Magazine #47. Review Score: 91%

Remake or remaster?

A remake of this, combined with the Game Boy Colour’s RPG mode in 3D, would be amazing.

Official ways to get the game.

There is no way to buy a new copy of Mario Tennis, the only official way to play is to rent it via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak.

Re-releases

2010: Wii Virtual Console

2015: Wii U Virtual Console

2021: Nintendo Switch Online (Subscription Only)