Mario Tennis Fever recently released on the Nintendo Switch 2, attempting to appeal to a whole new generation of Nintendo gamers. In each match played by Wolf editors Braden Hudspeth and Logan Nebling, there was always a hint of that classic Nintendo innovation that has kept them far ahead of competitors in nuanced game design. But how does it keep up the pace?
Mario Tennis Fever’s game design
Nebling: I enjoyed the mixing and matching aspect of the characters and Fe-
ver Racket abilities, especially in doubles, when you and your partner can strategically choose rackets with synergistic powers.
Hudspeth: As a Mario Tennis traditionalist, I didn’t appreciate many of the new game mechanics that were introduced in this edition of Mario Tennis.
Historically, Mario Tennis has had subtle abilities shared by all characters to keep an even playing field. In Fever, the abilities can literally put fire on the map and deal damage to players. Yes, if a player takes enough damage, they will die and be unable to play for 10 seconds in a doubles match.
Mario characters, new and old
Nebling: Each character exhibits a bit of personality on the court. For example, Nabbit carries a large bag over his shoulder, making his backhand inherently weaker because the bag gets in his way. I also appreciated the alternate colors they added for some of the cast. It adds some nice variety.
Hudspeth: After seeing Mario Kart World’s character roster, I was quite excited for Mario Tennis Fever’s selection. But, when I didn’t see the cow as a selectable character, all my hopes were crushed. Spike and Donkey Kong were certainly my favorite characters.
For fun or for glory?
Nebling: I love the whimsical feel of Fever a lot more than the sleek and professional vibe they were trying with the last game, Mario Tennis Aces. The simplified controls and fun abilities make the game incredibly appealing and addictive for casual gamers. It feels like one of those things that’s easy to learn, but hard to master.
Hudspeth: Mario Tennis Fever adopts Nintendo’s family-fun, party-game identity, becoming something similar to Mario Kart and Mario Party. It’s sure to be enjoyed by more people than ever before, though I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss the competitive vibe that the last installment unmistakably had.
An unignorable price
Nebling: $70 is outrageous for any game. I’m glad I wasn’t the one who bought it!
Hudspeth: Now, I would consider recommending this game if it were around $20; however, the $70 price tag that Nintendo set has me begging my bank for a line of credit.
