No summer would be complete without tennis and 2012 sees Mario and friends hit the courts in Mario Tennis Open. The latest in the Mario Tennis series sees the action take place in your hands and, of course, makes full use of the 3DS as you can StreetPass, play online and take to the courts as your Mii.

The series, which started on the Nintendo 64 over a decade ago, has given us a somewhat realistic simulation (as realistic as Mario sports titles get) with its first outing, made things a bit crazier and over the top with Mario Power Tennis and has now settled into somewhere between the two with Mario Tennis Open. Gone are the power shots and instead replaced with chance shots, which are highlighted areas of the court that the computer suggests you run to in order to score.

Over the last few years Nintendo seem determined to make gaming accessible to everyone and the controls in Mario Tennis Open are representative of this. While you can play using the 3DS buttons the bottom screen has been reserved for the numerous types of shots you can use. Being able to play competently by running in the vague direction of a shot (as the computer will do most of the leg work) and tapping the screen in the right place is bound to help newcomers and perhaps disgruntle hardened fans who feel it is taking the challenge out of the game.

Of course you can choose how you play but playing with the touch screen certainly feels easier. The fact that the shots are all colour-coded and a giant coloured circle indicates the ideal spot for you to hit the ball makes getting to grasp with the game even easier.

Nintendo has also taken advantage of the 3DS' gyrosensor to allow you to aim by tilting the console. However, much like New Play Control Mario Power Tennis it doesn't quite feel right in spite of the best intentions. It's by no means terrible but it seems like something that most people will never bother using after initially trying out.

Underneath these controls however still lies an enjoyable game. Fans of Mario Power Tennis may miss the frantic action but as a tennis simulation game it does a good job. The matches provide a perfect mixture of fast-paced action and enjoyable gameplay. The chance shots may make things easier but that doesn't mean you can't have fun as you swing your way through the tournaments.

As with Mario Kart 7, Nintendo has streamlined the options available in Mario Tennis Open to single-player, local and wireless multi-player, some mini-games and the club room. Single-player gives you the chance to compete in tournaments, opening up items to purchase in the club room, or in exhibition matches whereby you can choose the players, court and how many sets and games you need to win.

Four mini-games allow you to collect coins, build your skills or just simply pass your time. Each one offers a slightly different experience and are quite enjoyable, making a welcome break from tournaments. The mini-games are as follows:

• Ring Shot - You and an opponent must hit the ball through rings to score points. The rings start off small and grow larger while their points value decreases.

• Super Mario Tennis - As classic Mario stages scroll across a screen you must hit enemies, collect coins and ultimately survive until the end of the level. This mini-game challenges your ability to keep a lobby going.

• Galaxy Rally - Keep a rally going with a Luma while also collecting a required number of star bits.

• Ink Showdown - Three pirannah plants spit tennis balls at you, requiring you to return them to the other side of the court while ensuring your opponent doesn't return it back.

Nintendo's online offerings have become standardised and Mario Tennis Open is no different. You can choose to either host your own match or join a match that has already been set up. This approach has proved to be easy to set up, much as Nintendo intended, but with their other games that use this it can result in long waits for an online game.

The 3DS' StreetPass feature allows you to swap Miis with those you pass on the street and later play computerised versions of them. Of the numerous uses of the Nintendo 3DS' features the StreetPass is one of the most enjoyable.

No Mario sport title would be complete without a range of characters to choose from. You can choose your Mii and customise their outfit and gear in the club room or alternatively there are an array of Nintendo characters to choose from. Anyone who has played a Mario sport title probably has a good idea of who is available but joining the available characters list is Super Mario Galaxy's Luma as well as less commonly used characters such as Dry Bowser.

Similarly, the courts on offer are all taken from the Mushroom Kingdom and range from the standard courts to the thematic ones that provide the kind of challenges and play modes that you only get in Mario sports titles.

Fans had high hopes for Mario Tennis Open; the original game was beloved and the Game Boy Color version featured a surprising amount of depth, with the ability to play against others online Mario Tennis Open should have been a smash. However, the online can become tedious if there's not enough players and you're left havign to face off against the computer. The gameplay is enjoyable, if not simplified, but how long you'll be playing this game for depends on how much you enjoy tennis.