Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash Reviews
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is a well-built game, but feels like one of the weakest in the 'Mario Sports' series in terms of content.
This is a good game of tennis, in fact I'd even say a great one. Though, it's not the best use of the Mario brand, honestly. This feels like filler in the Wii U's holiday line up and nothing convinced me otherwise.
It looks great and plays very nicely, but Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash lacks the depth, the career modes and the content that make a great Mario sports game, and Nintendo's usual attention to detail isn't quite there. With a bargain basement £10 to £15 price tag it might be worth considering, but at £40? It's not even close.
Mario Tennis Ultra Smash brings the fun and entertaining gameplay that is expected from a title in the Mario Tennis series, along with a wide variety of characters and courts which will keep its players around the racquets for quite a while. It doesn't go beyond that, as it also leaves the impression that the game needs some additional work and the lack of game modes make its content feel rather empty.
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Mario Tennis Ultra Smash does a good job in refining the base gameplay with new mechanics but also suffers from a lack of modes and features compared to its predecessors. Mega Battles also feel gimmicky as opposed to a new game changing feature and amiibo integration could have been better. Although the single-player experience is lacking, however, Mario Tennis Ultra Smash continues to shine in its multiplayer matches, which remain a fun experience locally with friends and family as well as against online foes. Gather a bunch of folks in the living room and get ready for some wacky tennis hijinks and lots of hilarious screaming.
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is a wonderful looking game with very little substance.
A tennis game that lacks motion controls, signature Mario silliness or even the effort for unique cut scenes, the only thing Mario Tennis Ultra Smash has going for it is that it's functional and vaguely entertaining for short periods of time.
If Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash were a book, it would have the cover of an epic novel and the pages of a children's book.
Despite these shortcomings, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash does offer a well-made tennis game. Mixing up your shot types, using the new jump, and balancing your use of Chance Shots to catch your opponent off-guard are essential for victory. Local and online multiplayer is competitive, fun, and the true appeal of the game. Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash has all the tools be an elite tennis game, but doesn't offer enough content to achieve that goal.
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is a mechanically decent game that is slew-footed by a lack of interesting gameplay modes. There's online play, but outside of that there's nothing of real substance to be found. As such, the game feels light and lacking, and doesn't have the type of hook that one would hope for. It's a shame, really, given how great Mario Tennis used to be.
Nintendo's best competitive sports title is just as thrilling as ever, but feels a little too familiar and light on content.
For the diehard Nintendo or Mario Tennis fan, Ultra Smash is worth a look, but if you're looking for a satisfying new Wii U title this holiday, this probably won't do it for you.
Neither issue proves to be a game wrecker thankfully, but do keep Mario Tennis Ultra Smash from reaching the heights of pure fun it might have. Just the same, if you love Mario, tennis (or Pong for that matter), Mario Tennis is still an entertaining option. For social gamers, in particular, who enjoy a good game night in front of the TV, this is a perfect choice.
Fun, but nothing on its 11-year old predecessor
Unless Nintendo decides to give Ultra Smash some Splatoon-esque post-release support, series loyalists should just keep playing old versions
There's fun to be had with Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash if you're jonesing for a fix of Mario Tennis, but it's far from the best in the series, and it comes up short in terms of lasting appeal. While there's something to be said about doing one thing well, this game is as bare bones as it gets. If they had at least the same amount of content as the N64 title, this game could have been something great.
If you're looking for a casual tennis game to play with friends, Wii Sports Club Tennis is still where it's at. You can grab it for your Wii U on the eShop for under $15. Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash will do ya if you're big on using buttons instead of swinging Wii Remotes or if you absolutely must perform fancy shots. Just know that this is a full-priced game that says, "Here, play some tennis," and not much else.
This isn't really so much of an Ultra Smash, as it barely qualifies as "just flying over the net."
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash was always designed to be a filler game as we wait for Xenoblade X, Star Fox Zero, and Zelda U. It's unfortunate that not a lot of effort was put into the game, but it's still enjoyable enough as it is. Once the price tag drops, I'll be willing to recommend it.