Mario Tennis

[scarper]

A few days ago, I was taken aback by the incredibly fun gameplay of Mario Tennis on the Game Boy Color. Very enjoyable, easy to play, and fluent. Simple and effective, likewise to the Game Boy's intention. But one thing threw me off entirely:

The "Adventure/Campaign" Mode. For all intensive purposes, it's an RPG. You spend the first ten minutes skipping through text cutscenes you don't care about, only to find that you must complete training modes, and advance your way through this rich-kid tennis college by playing other... kids. You dont even play as Mario, let alone a Nintendo character. It gets to the point where you ask the game, "Can I play Tennis yet?" I mean, this is a tennis game after all.

Im not saying I dont like it. But I kinda wanna play Mario Tennis. Not 'Junior Tennis League the RPG.'

[Hookshot_John]

That's one of the reasons they have the Exhibition Mode as an option. The "Mario Tour" Mode really is an RPG with tennis added on. I will say that the tennis matches with the other non-mario characters can be pretty intense - sometimes lasting several minutes a match. Being a fan of RPG's I really enjoyed the leveling up aspect. I will say the story was pretty lame though.

I can see how people who just want to play Tennis would be turned off. You do get to challenge Mario and his friends at the very end of that story mode though.

[kiteJargon]

Hehe, yeah it is pretty weird. All of the Camelot Software handheld games are like that, and it really made sense when they finally released a full-on RPG in the first Golden Sun. But both the Mario Golf and Mario Tennis games for the GBC and the two for the GBA all feature that RPG mode where you occasionally get to play the sport that is the game's namesake. It's not all bad though as long as you know that going in. I mean, it's not like the stories are mind blowing but it's at least functional. Good games nonetheless.

[Zing]

I think I've mentioned this at least twice on the forums somewhere, but I literally got 22 minutes into the Game Boy Advance version before shutting it off and never even seeing a tennis court.

[FerretGamer]

Strange, it was my favorite aspect of Mario Tennis GBC. I love the Tennis RPG concept!

I also have never cursed so much at a GBC game before. The final match is just ****ing insane. It was beyond a miracle that I was able to beat it.

[noiseredux]

as far as Tennis goes, I preferred the GB original. But Golf... I loved the little RPG that is Mario Golf.

[forsigmar]

I think I've mentioned this at least twice on the forums somewhere, but I literally got 22 minutes into the Game Boy Advance version before shutting it off and never even seeing a tennis court.

That is so funny, I did the EXACT same thing! I timed it too, it was right around 20 minutes and I couldn't handle it anymore!

[retrosportsgamer]

as far as Tennis goes, I preferred the GB original. But Golf... I loved the little RPG that is Mario Golf.

I only started the series on the N64 - i really need to go back and get these handhelds. I had read elsewhere that Mario Golf on the GBC was fantastic.

[noiseredux]

as far as Tennis goes, I preferred the GB original. But Golf... I loved the little RPG that is Mario Golf.

I only started the series on the N64 - i really need to go back and get these handhelds. I had read elsewhere that Mario Golf on the GBC was fantastic.

it is. It's really really awesome.

[scarper]

as far as Tennis goes, I preferred the GB original. But Golf... I loved the little RPG that is Mario Golf.

I only started the series on the N64 - i really need to go back and get these handhelds. I had read elsewhere that Mario Golf on the GBC was fantastic.

Mario Golf on the Game Boy Color is great. Everything looks and plays wonderful, feels right at home on the handheld. And you can play it without all the RPG crap.

I should note, you can play Mario Tennis without all the crap as well, just in Exhibition Mode. Still great fun.