Mario Tennis Aces is a little bit of all right in our eyes, which you'll know if read or watched our review, so when Nintendo UK asked to make some videos that are distinctly related, we thought that was a fairly marvellous idea.
So as you can probably see, we've compiled all three videos below for your viewing entertainment. We're personally very chuffed with the introduction to the Swing Mode video, so if you only watch one of them for some mad reason, make sure it's that one.
Up first we're looking at the story, and to make sure it's all spoiler-free and delicious, we're only going to be taking you through the introduction of the story, because yes, there's a real, ludicrous plot tied to it. And we love it.
Secondly we're going to take it up just a smidgen with some quick tips to help you get an edge in-game. There's five of them to chew through, but they're genuinely handy if you find yourself stuck in Adventure Mode or being repeatedly pummelled online.
And lastly, the Wii Sports-reminiscent Swing Mode. If your memories of Wii Sports Tennis is of just waggling the controller from a comfortable seat on the sofa, this will be a bit of a shock. As technology has improved, so have motion controls, and this is probably one of the hardest game modes to get to grips with as it relies almost entirely on real-life tennis structure and mechanics.
Comments 27
I'm having problems with the controls in this game. Sometimes I press R in the star and nothing happens, the ball hits me instead of it activating the zone shot. When I try to do a lob with up and X the character seems to dance around a bit instead of hitting the ball. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong but it's really frustrating.
The game is great and so satisfying to play. When your matched against a similar skilled opponent and locked in long rally after rally, it's up there with the very best sports games ever made.
A couple of complaints though.
Why have all those fancy courts but limit the main portion of the game to a single stadium? The courts look fantastic, especially the boat, it would be great playing competitively on those,without the obstacles of course.Playing in the same stadium all the time gets boring.
Boo's swerve is far too overpowered and when controlled by a good player is almost impossible to beat.
This game actually has pretty fun tennis mechanics but I wish there were more multiplayer options (such as doubles tournaments) and customizable controls. Whoever decided to map the trick shot to (L + X + X) is responsible for screwing me over in multiple matches.
@Grandiajet The zone shots are only possible if you have a certain amount of energy built up. The star will still appear but without enough energy in the tank your character won't jump. Not sure what you're doing wrong with lob shots. How you getting on with the drop shots?
@Grandiajet To follow up on what OorWullie said, if the star is rotating, it means you have enough energy to do a Zone Shot. If it's not rotating, then you don't have enough energy, but you can still do a Star Shot (basically just a high-speed return) by standing in the star and pressing Y.
@Razieluigi I hadn't noticed it rotated myself, that helps a lot. Cheers
Single player has to got be the most frustrating game I've played in 20 years. It's well made but it's just infuriating too often. I kind of raced to get it OVER with as fast as I could, which is a shame. It shouldn't have been that bad and had cool stuff...but I just didn't enjoy it like I should have. And online is a little thin for now. Still fun to noodle with though. You KNOW more content is coming.
@LegendOfPokemon Trick shot is also on right stick. Just tilt left/right/up/down for appropriate trick. L+XX is the backward compatible mapping to older games on single stick consoles
This game blows... I got it Friday (launch) and I did all 3 tournaments in like under 30 mins and I'm nearly done in story, been at it like 2 hours super dissapoint... Trade in in a few days time when it's done
Thanks Guys. I had assumed that the star would only appear if you could do the Zone Shot. I had no idea about the Star Shot. I'll try the other control method for the lob.
Hey, kids! This is advertising!
@MH4 Advertising a brand new major 1st party game on the world's biggest Nintendo site? Surely not!
I grabbed this Saturday after a movie. (Helped wash out the taste of Jurassic World in a packed theatre with broken AC in south Georgia, ugh). I am certainly enjoying it, but I agree with @NEStalgia in that some single player portions are frustratingly difficult. I mean, I know what needs to be done, but it makes me start getting snarky with Mario like I'm trying to reunite a baby penguin all over again. Only the baby penguin is covered in thorns. And crisco. Efffff that mirror boss. I also wish I understood more what the game wants for me in Swing mode. For all the tutorials Dry Bones gives you, why not just a few moments helping you with this magical motion tech? "I think I'll return this forehand", I think to myself, as the game decides I really want to backhand out the court. For all my issues, online multiplayer has me hooked. Simple rules tournament, Yoshi or Boo, and this has become my evening bout of stress relief. I've gotten into some long matches, too.
@OorWullie What is this world coming to?! Next I assume folks will expect to breathe air and drink water!! Preposterous, I do say.
@AlexOlney Alex, help! I watched the swing vid hoping to catch ya'lls movements but couldn't see arms much. I think I noticed something, though; Would you say that you have to have your 'racket' to whichever side you're swinging from on that side while the ball is on the other side of the court?
I have tended to keep my racket at a nuetral level off my right waist until the ball is back on my side of the clay. Then i make a fast swing. But more often than not, my shot lands out.
Why can't we play swing mode online?
@OorWullie Advertising? On my Nintendo site? It’s more likely than you think.
@HobbitGamer The mirror boss was nothing compared to the Reflection Room before it. The ice boss had me hurling more obscenities at Mario than he's heard since the early 90's. "return this shot 300 times was annoying" as they keep trying to spike it out as well. It got a little easier after that actually, but the penultimate battle while just plain tennis and not an annoying gimmick annoyed me because if you lose, you have to play the FIRST half of it all over again. But my 3 worst moments were definitely reflection room, ice boss, mirror boss in that order
I think what I found most annoying about single player was every single match/battle was very clear that it was trying to be a puzzle....there was ONE correct technique to win, and until you figure out what, you're just throwing yourself against the wall over and over. Essentially it doesn't try to hide the fact that it's not actually a game, but a training regimen for online tournaments. Sure it's totally different, but it's really a thin veil around being a training session to drill mastery of game-play mechanics into you more than being fun on its own. Which is itself frustrating because the components to have a really fun campaign were there and they instead did that.
@Grandiajet Two other additions to what others said to you btw. The Zone Shots, your guage needs to be at least yellow (if it's red or empty/black you can't do it, yellow/green/blue-glow you can do it.) It's about 33% fill required. Also the "little dance" when doing a lob is because you're double-clicking on X which is activating the trick shots (also accessible with right stick). You have to be sure to only single click (or press and hold for a charge shot.)
It's an astoudningly complex game. I think of it more as a fighting game disguised as a tennis game, much like Punch Out!! was really a puzzle game disguised as a boxing game.
I love this game. Haven’t really started adventure mode. Went straight tournament. Definitely needs a update. Waluigi and baby bowser are over powered, nearly all the top ranked are using them. Boo and Rosalinas curve shots are too good and really impossible sometimes to catch on the serves. Great game and hope it stays strong online
I am really enjoying it. Im actually rather addicted. Im hotally crap at it tho haha
Swing mode is such a dissappointment in this game. It's not casual friendly at all.
This game online is so frustating, i can't remmeber an online game where people were so good, really most matches i get leveld. Newcomers shouldn't go against someone with 10k points
Can't wait to play it tonight. I pre-ordered it late from amazon!
"Their celebrations are cut short however by a surprise..." 15 second black hole of a load screen in the middle of the opening cinematic.
@OorWullie nice points, agreed 👍
@Hobbesyall ive won one game out of 5 so far. As more people play, lets hope the matchmaking is a little friendlier.
@NEStalgia Thanks for the info. I may have missed something, but it seems the tutorial in the Adventure Mode is lacking a lot of information.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...