Mario's Tennis

Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use mdy dates Template:Distinguish Template:Main other{{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | child = | subbox = | bodyclass = ib-video-game hproduct {{#ifeq:|yes|collapsible {{#if:|{{{state}}}|autocollapse}}}} | templatestyles = Infobox video game/styles.css | aboveclass = fn | italic title =

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| label2 = DeveloperTemplate:Pluralize from text | data2 = Nintendo R&D1, Tose

| label3 = PublisherTemplate:Pluralize from text | data3 = Template:Vgrelease

| label4 = DirectorTemplate:Pluralize from text | data4 = Hitoshi Yamagami
Masao Yamamoto

| label5 = ProducerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data5 = Gunpei Yokoi

| label6 = DesignerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data6 = Template:If first display both

| label7 = ProgrammerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data7 = Mitsunari Tani

| label8 = ArtistTemplate:Pluralize from text | data8 = Template:If first display both

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| label10 = ComposerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data10 = Hitoshi Fukushima
Morihiro Iwamoto

| label11 = Series | data11 = Mario Tennis

| label12 = Engine | data12 = Template:If first display both

| label13 = PlatformTemplate:Pluralize from text | data13 = Virtual Boy

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| label15 = GenreTemplate:Pluralize from text | data15 = Sports

| label16 = ModeTemplate:Pluralize from text | data16 = Single-player

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Template:Nihongo foot is a 1995 sports video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Virtual Boy. It was one of five launch titles in Japan and the pack-in game in North America for the Virtual Boy. The first entry in the Mario Tennis series, the player participates in singles or doubles tennis matches, controlling one of seven Mario characters. Its gameplay takes place from a third-person perspective.

Mario's Tennis was co-developed by Nintendo R&D1, the same team responsible for the development of the Virtual Boy, and Tose. It was co-directed by Hitoshi Yamagami and Masao Yamamoto and produced by Gunpei Yokoi. Yokoi's success with the Game Boy, coupled with a widespread public belief that it was too early for the next generation, led the team to design a system that used stereoscopic 3D to display 2D computer graphics. Virtual Boy emerged from the hardware phase, and Mario's Tennis from the software phase.

Mario's Tennis received a mixed reception from critics, with praise for its graphics, controls, and gameplay. Some reviewers were divided on the game's 3D effects and soundscapes, while criticism focused on the lack of multiplayer. Retrospective commentary in the years following its release have hailed it as one of the best titles for the Virtual Boy. The game will be added to the Nintendo Classics service at a future date.

Gameplay

File:VB Mario's Tennis.png

Mario and Princess Toadstool as a doubles team preparing to serve (screenshot taken from an emulator without 3D display).

Mario's Tennis is a sports game reminiscent of Tennis (1984), described as a tennis simulator.<ref name="NGenVBmt"/><ref name="CNv4i9">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="SuperPowerFRVBmt">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="MGVBmt">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The player participates in singles or doubles matches with an AI, or in a tournament, choosing between a one-set or three-set match.<ref name="CNv4i9"/><ref name="MGVBmt"/><ref name="SPVBmt"/><ref name="JPIVBmt">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Singles tournaments allow three games, while doubles tournaments only allow two.<ref name="AllgameVBmt"/><ref name="NLifeVBmt"/> There are seven playable Mario characters, each with their own attributes, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, Yoshi, Toad, Koopa Troopa, and Donkey Kong Jr.<ref name="CNv4i9"/><ref name="CVGVBmt"/><ref name="NWRVBmt"/><ref name="MTibNA">Template:Cite book</ref>

The action on the court takes place behind the player character from a third-person perspective. The Virtual Boy's stereoscopic 3D allows the player to perceive the depth of the court, allowing them to perceive the distance between a tennis ball and the character.<ref name="CNv4i9"/><ref name="NLifeVBmt"/><ref name="GamePro84">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="VBW">Template:Cite book</ref> The player can perform serves, forehands, backhands, groundstrokes, volleys, smashes, and lobs.<ref name="CNv4i9"/><ref name="JPIVBmt"/><ref name="MTibNA"/><ref name="GamePro84"/> Unlike later installments in the Mario Tennis series, which added gameplay elements not present in traditional tennis, such as power-up items, special power shots, or gimmicks that interfered with on-court play, Mario's Tennis focuses on the fundamentals of tennis.<ref name="NLifeVBmt"/><ref name="NWRVBmt"/><ref name="VBW"/><ref name="GRadar"/> There are three difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, and Hard. The player can increase the difficulty by entering a cheat code on the title screen.<ref name="AllgameVBmt"/><ref name="MTibNA"/><ref name="GI31">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Development and release

Mario's Tennis was co-developed by Nintendo R&D1, the same team responsible for the development of the Virtual Boy, and Tose.<ref name="PG">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="HC294">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="SEMOnintendo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was co-directed by Hitoshi Yamagami and Masao Yamamoto, and produced by Gunpei Yokoi.<ref name="MTstaffroll">Template:Cite video game (Ending screens by Planet Virtual Boy. Template:Webarchive).</ref> Mitsunari Tani acted as one of the game's co-programmers, while the music was composed by Hitoshi Fukushima and Morihiro Iwamoto.<ref name="SEMOnintendo"/><ref name="MTstaffroll"/><ref name="Shinesparkers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Yokoi's success with the Game Boy, coupled with the public's general belief that it was too early for the next generation of systems due to the failure of systems like the 3DO and the Atari Jaguar, led the team to devise different approaches. The team designed a system that used stereoscopic 3D to display 2D computer graphics. Virtual Boy was the result of the hardware end, and Mario's Tennis, the end results of the software end.<ref name="PG"/> The game employs a red-and-black color scheme and uses parallax, an optical trick, to simulate 3D.<ref name="GoodGameVB">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During production, Nintendo worked on a link cable that allowed Virtual Boy consoles to connect for competitive play. Mario's Tennis was originally planned to have a two-player mode, but the feature was never implemented, as the link cable was never released due to the commercial failure of the Virtual Boy. However, unused multiplayer code remained in the final version.<ref name="TheGuardian">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="EGM86">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Engadget">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Vice">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The game was first unveiled at Game Expo '95, a Japanese event dedicated to next-generation software, and was also shown at E3 1995 under the name Mario's Dream Tennis.<ref name="DSFv3i7">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Edge21">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="VGS44">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="GamePro73">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Nintendo published the game under its final name, Mario's Tennis, as one of five launch titles for the Virtual Boy in Japan on July 21, 1995.<ref name="FamVBMmt"/><ref name="MBM158">Template:Cite magazine</ref> A North American release followed on August 14, 1995, as a pack-in game, one of four launch titles released alongside the Virtual Boy.<ref name="Engadget"/><ref name="NGen8">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="UGO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Playtronic released it in Brazil in September 1995.<ref name="OEdSPv116i37224">Template:Cite news</ref>

Mario's Tennis will be added to the Nintendo Classics service at a future date. The game requires the use of an additional accessory for play, which is used to recreate the stereoscopic 3D effect of the original system. The accessory will be available in two formats: a plastic mount based on the original system, and a cardboard sleeve.<ref name="Fam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Gematsu">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Kotaku">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reception

According to Famitsu, Mario's Tennis sold approximately 8,833 copies during its lifetime in Japan.<ref name="GDL">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The game received mixed reviews from critics.<ref name="FamVBMmt"/><ref name="VBMCGVBmt">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="UGVBmt">Template:Cite magazine</ref> GameProTemplate:'s Slo Mo applauded the game's impressive 3D visuals, variety of tennis moves, and challenging opponents but faulted its simplistic soundscapes.<ref name="GameProVBmt">Template:Cite magazine</ref> GamePro awarded it "Best Virtual Boy Game" of 1995, over Galactic Pinball and Vertical Force.<ref name="GamePro79"/> VideoGames remarked that the third-person perspective was ideal for tennis and that it was easy to distinguish the ball thanks to the 3D effect but criticized the game for not being full color.<ref name="VGTUGMVBmt"/> GameFanTemplate:'s Dave Halverson and Nicholas Dean Des Barres highlighted the game's simple controls and court environments but pointed out the lack of a multiplayer link option.<ref name="GameFanVBmt"/>

Computer and Video Games found it easy to determine where the ball was thanks to the 3D depth effect but felt that the game, while fun, was a bit too easy even on the highest difficulty and noted the short length of the tournament mode.<ref name="CVGVBmt"/> AllGameTemplate:'s Scott Alan Marriott regarded it as one of the most entertaining tennis games. Marriott commended its graphics but criticized the lack of a league mode, multiple court surfaces, and additional characters.<ref name="AllgameVBmt"/> Danny Wallace of Total! opined that the game was simple yet addictive and very playable.<ref name="TOTVBmt"/> Victor Lucas, from The Electric Playground (EP Daily), felt that Mario's Tennis was a nice introduction to the Virtual Boy. Lucas gave positive remarks to its audiovisual design and good recreation of racket swings but faulted the mediocre AI opponents.<ref name="EPDVBmt"/>

Game Players commended Mario's Tennis for its fun gameplay, ease of control, and pleasing 3D effect, but remarked that while not a good tennis simulator, it was a solid title. Game Players also awarded it "Best Virtual Boy Game" of 1995.<ref name="GPVBmt"/><ref name="GP79"/> Nintendo Power highlighted the game's easy learning curve and fun characters, but the lack of a two-player option was seen as a negative.<ref name="NPVBmt">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Next Generation stated that "if you're looking for an addictive title to play on your Virtual Boy, this is one of the best choices you can make".<ref name="NGenVBmt"/> Super PlayTemplate:'s Tony Mott commented positively on the characters' humor and found the doubles mode entertaining but felt that the game's 3D was not as effective as expected.<ref name="SPVBmt"/> Game Zero MagazineTemplate:'s Bryan Carter wrote that "if you're a casual player and somehow managed to pick up a Virtual Boy without this game, I wouldn't recommend going to Template:Sic far out of your way to hunt it down".<ref name="GZMVBmt"/>

Retrospective coverage

In retrospectives, Mario's Tennis has been listed among the best Virtual Boy games by IGN, Nintendo Life, and Destructoid.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Rome News-Tribune referred to the game as the only decent stab at tennis prior to Virtua Tennis.<ref name="RNT">Template:Cite news</ref> Philip Wesley and Ron Price of Nintendojo commended the game's overall graphical presentation but were divided regarding its while criticizing its lack of gameplay depth and multiplayer mode.<ref name="NintendojoVBmt:0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="NintendojoVBmt:1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nintendo LifeTemplate:'s Dave Frear called it a simple but solid tennis game, giving positive remarks for its audiovisual department and excellent 3D effect, but felt that the lack of a multiplayer mode and the lack of additional characters held it back.<ref name="NLifeVBmt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 1Up.com praised the game's 3D effects but criticized the lack of a multiplayer mode or much to actually accomplish in the single-player mode.<ref name="1UP">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> GamesRadar stated that the game worked fairly well as a 3D showpiece but noted that its gameplay was rudimentary.<ref name="GRadar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nintendo World ReportTemplate:'s John Rairdin highlighted the game's character sprites and decent use of 3D but faulted the lack of multiplayer, unique Mario elements, and shallow gameplay.<ref name="NWRVBmt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Legacy

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Mario's Tennis kicked off the Mario Tennis series and is credited as the game that started the sports-related sub-series of Mario video games in general.<ref name="VBW"/><ref name="GRadar"/><ref name="Engadget"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These include Mario Golf, Mario Baseball, and Mario Strikers.<ref name="GSpot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2017, hobbyist developer Martin "M.K." Kujaczynski released a multiplayer patch for the game that allows players to compete head-to-head in singles and doubles matches using fan-made Virtual Boy link cables.<ref name="VBW"/><ref name="Vice">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website Template:In lang