Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash Reviews
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.
Nintendo's best competitive sports title is just as thrilling as ever, but feels a little too familiar and light on 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.
Treat it as an HD remaster of the N64 game and this is actually one of the best Mario Tennis games since then, but the lack of features and extra content is a real turn-off.
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 is a well-built game, but feels like one of the weakest in the 'Mario Sports' series in terms of content.
There is a great straightforward tennis game here, but little else to hook you in and keep you coming back
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is fun. I enjoyed my time with it - much more so than I did with Mario Tennis Open. It's a step up over the last iteration in some areas, yet still it manages to be a lackluster entry in a series that seems to be sadly suffering from continual decline.
The core gameplay of Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is enjoyable, but disappointing side modes, online restrictions and gimmicky power-ups make this return go a little wide of the mark.
After more than a decade of handheld titles and digital re-releases, Mario Tennis finally returns to consoles with Mega Mushrooms, online multiplayer, and a disappointing lack of content.
In the end, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is a solid tennis game that feels thin when it comes to content. But the gameplay is fun and the visuals are great eye candy. Playing with friends in a living room is a fun way to kill a few hours.
Mega Battle is great fun, especially in local multiplayer, and has seen me both laughing and cursing aloud, but with no mini-games or notable campaign to speak of, and without the overblown power-ups I'm used to in Mario games, it's a game that I'll have all but forgotten by the time Wimbledon rolls around next year.
Mario Tennis' transition to the Wii U feels like one step forward and two steps back. The addition of Mega Mushrooms is clever enough, but the game doesn't commit to the idea of power-ups enough to sustain it. Meanwhile the no-frills package feels so anemic that I was burned out on the experience after only a few hours. If you want a great Mario Tennis game, stick with the better, cheaper, and more complete 3DS version.
[A]s a whole, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash feels like a rushed Christmas pick-up after the incredible fan-service of Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart 8.
Like a rookie player with bags of potential, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash has that raw ability, but it lacks the finesse to be a champion.
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 wonderful looking game with very little substance.
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.
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.
It's shocking how little content there is in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash. As much as we'd love to explore the title further, the rabbit hole doesn't go any deeper.