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Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash has online multiplayer & amiibo support

Village said:
No specifically the hedge.

I know comparing things to sonic is upsetting to some folks. But she's a character who broke the conventions of what a mario character could be in a 3d mario,at least. And because of that attracted so many fans she gets thrown into everything.
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Since I haven't really followed Sonic since the Mega Drive days, my knowledge of Shadow is just the general stereotypes. What conventions did he and by extension Rosalina break?
 
Ok, the fact that there is a simple mode where both chance shots and mushrooms are deactivated suddenly puts this game on my radar. Not liking how this game looks even more barebones than the 3ds one, what's up with all the stages being in a arena? But even so, this game is definitely on my wanted list for now, could be fun.
 
KingBroly said:
It's the look. Her hair covering one eye gives her the appearance of being cooler than most Mario characters.
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Cooler than even a Flurry from Super Mario Bros 2?
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Blues1990 said:
I personally never liked the outlandish courts in Mario Power Tennis (conveyer belts, movable tile slides, klaptraps that will eat your opponents leg if you hit them, etc.), so I'm sort of glad that we just have more standard courts. I will admit that I will miss the courts that take place in different vistas, such as the Delfino Plaza court or the Mario Classic court.
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I won't miss th gimmicks either, but having every stage set in the same stadium is really lame.
 
I've never played a Mario Tennis game and I'm wondering if I should give it a shot. What makes these games good?

Is there any sort of depth to it? Also, how simple is it to pick up and play for complete non-gamers?

I'm wondering if it's something I could sink time into and feel challenged, but also maybe have my wife who is terrible at video games try out for fun.
 
That's much better. Still the game is too expensive for what it offers, but at least now I will get it when it will be discounted.

Also, if they are not doing the Nintendo Directs for this year's line-up, why the hell they have to wait until the last minute to provide basic information on the games. Come on, it's stupid to always have to wonder about the features of a game up until a month (sometimes even less) before release.
 
The lack of themed courses and gimmicks makes it seem boring to me.
There are no special moves either right?

Blues1990 said:
I personally never liked the outlandish courts in Mario Power Tennis (conveyer belts, movable tile slides, klaptraps that will eat your opponents leg if you hit them, etc.), so I'm sort of glad that we just have more standard courts. I will admit that I will miss the courts that take place in different vistas, such as the Delfino Plaza court or the Mario Classic court.
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All courses had an option to toggle off gimmicks:

bCYSwxX.jpg
 
BGBW said:
Since I haven't really followed Sonic since the Mega Drive days, my knowledge of Shadow is just the general stereotypes. What conventions did he and by extension Rosalina break?
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To explain, a few things
1) she actually has a back story and one that influences who she is. And sorta sad


2) she has a bunch of design elements unique to her,unlike say daisy. But she she's simular enough she doesn't look off the wall

3)she has agency outside of the main guy and is most likely more powerful than the main guy. And her design reflects that's.

This is the short version, doesnt include in derail why these types of characters might be so popular. If you wanna talk more we could pm or start a thread.

These characters are interesting, pokemon has lucario , megaman had zero. Street fighter recently had juri and viper. Not even just video games I would argue not even just games. I would argue in the pantheon of disney princess mulan and elsa, the latter specifically, fall under this. This character that is famillar but breaks the rules of what characters are in their respective franchises. These characters often hit off super well.

Its something i considered writting a paper on. For a characterc design class.
 
My man Paratroopa gotta be in!

I'm really happy that we can toggle the bullshit-shots and that we got online, but it still seems so incredibly uninspired and unambitious.

My dream Mario Tennis would have a great RPG-lite story mode, support for motion controls, power-ups and abilities actually based on Mario games (like a tanooki suit, double-cherry, fireflower...) but that still required some skill and weren't OP. Dynamic and fantastical courts, a large roster...

There's many years between each game, yet it doesn't feel like the series has really evolved since N64.

Edit: to be clear, I think the current power-ups or whatever you'll wanna call them are like final smashes in SSB, but what it needs is something like the regular items in SSB.
 
They released information...

shocking.

All I had known previously is that it had Nintendo characters and tennis.

More details would be good.
 
What a safe roster. No off the wall characters like Donkey Kong Jr, Fly Guy and Wiggler.

New:
Rosalina

Cut:
Toad
Shy Guy
Donkey Kong Jr
Birdo
Baby Mario
Paratroopa

Diddy Kong
Bowser Jr
Koopa
Fly Guy
Wiggler
Petey

Luma
Baby Peach
Dry Bowser
Metal Mario


NICE ROSTER GUYS
 
wild wild rice said:
I've never played a Mario Tennis game and I'm wondering if I should give it a shot. What makes these games good?

Is there any sort of depth to it? Also, how simple is it to pick up and play for complete non-gamers?

I'm wondering if it's something I could sink time into and feel challenged, but also maybe have my wife who is terrible at video games try out for fun.
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As far as the Nintendo 64 game is concerned, it holds up remarkably well. It's a pretty solid simulation of tennis with a fair amount course management & strategy, but it's easily accessible and you can pick it up with little hassle. Unlike for the games that had followed it, Mario Tennis is just tennis in video game form. There aren't any power-ups to help players out who fall behind, but you can bounce back with a bit of perseverance & being more tactical with your shots.

The game has an Exhibition Mode, Tournament Mode, Special Tournaments, Mini Games, Piranha Challenge Mode, Ring Shot Mode, etc. You can also play up to four players, or have CPU's in place (either yourself and your wife on one team versus the CPU team, or you guys can have your own respective CPU partner). My friend sucks with video games, but we were able to have a lot of fun with this game, after introducing her to the concepts and how you play.
 
Blues1990 said:
As far as the Nintendo 64 game is concerned, it holds up remarkably well. It's a pretty solid simulation of tennis with a fair amount course management & strategy, but it's easily accessible and you can pick it up with little hassle. Unlike for the games that had followed it, Mario Tennis is just tennis in video game form. There aren't any power-ups to help players out who fall behind, but you can bounce back with a bit of perseverance & being more tactical with your shots.

The game has an Exhibition Mode, Tournament Mode, Special Tournaments, Mini Games, Piranha Challenge Mode, Ring Shot Mode, etc. You can also play up to four players, or have CPU's in place (either yourself and your wife on one team versus the CPU team, or you guys can have your own respective CPU partner). My friend sucks with video games, but we were able to have a lot of fun with this game, after introducing her to the concepts and how you play.
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Sounds pretty good. I know my wife would rather be on the same team, hates competition, so that's a plus.
 
Adding both NoA and NoE PRs

NoA

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mario and other residents of the Mushroom Kingdom head back to the tennis court on Nov. 20 in the Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash game for the Wii U home console. And Nintendo has served up lots of new details about the game:

amiibo Compatibility: Players can choose supported amiibo figures to be partners in online doubles matches, or players can enlist them to battle strong computer-controlled opponents in the offline Knockout Challenge mode. The more matches an amiibo plays, the more experience and skill it will gain. Currently available compatible amiibo include Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Yoshi, Yarn Yoshis, Rosalina, Wario, Toad and Donkey Kong.

New Moves: On top of standard shots like topspin, lobs and slices, the new Ultra Smash move sees characters leap high into the air and smash the ball down to devastating effect. Colorful Chance Areas occasionally appear to help players unleash super-strong smash or bamboozling slices to flummox adversaries on the other side of the net.

Game-Play Modes:
Knockout Challenge: Tense tiebreak matches against increasingly difficult computer-controlled opponents await in this single-player mode. If the going gets too tough, players can call in a compatible amiibo as a doubles partner.

Mega Battle: After grabbing a Mega Mushroom, characters grow to gigantic proportions and can dominate the court with their increased power and range.

Classic Tennis: For those who prefer their tennis a little more traditional, Classic Tennis offers two variations: Standard mode features Chance Shots and Jump Shots but no Mega Mushrooms, while Simple puts competitors on the court with nothing but the net and the ball.

Online Multiplayer: Go up against adversaries from around the world in competitive ranked play in either Mega Battle or Classic Tennis modes, or quickly jump into more casual matches. Two players* on the same console can team up to take on all comers, or a supported amiibo can join as a doubles partner on the online courts.

Multiple Controller Options: Players can choose their favorite control option, as the game supports the Wii U GamePad, Wii Remote, Wii U Pro Controller and Classic Controller Pro options.

For more information about Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, visit http://mariotennis.nintendo.com.
*Additional controllers are required for multiplayer mode, and are sold separately.
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NoE

22nd October, 2015 – Coming exclusively to Wii U in Europe on November 20th, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash offers brand new fun for court competitors, including the ability to team up with amiibo. Supported amiibo can be your partner in online doubles matches, or join you to battle strong computer-controlled opponents in the offline Knockout Challenge mode. The more matches your amiibo plays, the more experience it’ll gain, becoming a uniquely powerful team-mate as its abilities increase over time.

New faces like Rosalina also hit the courts, along with returning characters like Luigi, Waluigi, Boo and more for tennis with a distinct Mushroom Kingdom twist. On top of standard shots like topspin, lobs, slices and more, the new Ultra Smash move sees characters leap high into the air and smash the ball down to devastating effect. Adept tennis tacticians can also gain the advantage by hitting the right shot while standing in the coloured Chance Areas that occasionally appear, unleashing super-strong smashes or bamboozling slices to flummox adversaries on the other side of the net.

Using a combination of controllers including the Wii U GamePad, Wii Remote, Wii U Pro Controller and Classic Controller Pro, up to four players can get together in supported modes for lively tennis battles. And with a choice of camera angles, there’ll be no more defeats blamed on having to play on the far side of the court – the TV and GamePad screen can each show a different end of the court, so both teams will always have the perfect view.


An array of gameplay modes offer plenty of opportunities for tennis tomfoolery:


· Knockout Challenge: Tense tiebreak matches against increasingly difficult computer-controlled opponents await in this single-player mode. If the going gets too tough, you can call in a supported amiibo as your doubles partner.


· Mega Battle: Your character grows to gigantic proportions after grabbing a Mega Mushroom, dominating the court with their increased power and range. When rivals on both sides of the net are giant-sized, anything can happen!


· Classic Tennis: For those who prefer their tennis a little more traditional, Classic Tennis offers two variations: Standard mode features Chance Shots and Jump Shots but no Mega Mushrooms, while Simple puts competitors between the tramlines with no Chance Shots or power-ups – a real test of tennis prowess.


· Online multiplayer: Go up against distant adversaries from all over the world in competitive ranked play in either Mega Battle or Classic Tennis modes, or quickly jump into more casual matches. Two players on the same console can team up to take on all-comers, or a supported amiibo can join you on as your doubles partner on the online courts.


As a limited launch offer, anyone who purchases Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash from Nintendo eShop in its first four weeks on sale will receive a download code for the Nintendo 64 game Mario Tennis on Wii U Virtual Console. This N64 title not only kick-started Mario’s tennis career, it also introduced the world to Waluigi for the very first time.

Compete to see who’s the top seed in your household, train up a compatible amiibo as a powerful doubles partner and match up against online opponents in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, coming to Wii U in Europe on November 20th. Two colourful new controller designs – Wii Remote Plus Toad and Wii Remote Plus Bowser – will also be available on the same day. To get a taste of the tennis action, check out the Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash trailer on YouTube.
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I can't believe this game is shaping up to have even less content than the 3DS game. I mean, it's clearly just filler they rushed out for the holidays but it seems undercooked even by that standard.
 
@MUWANdo said:
I can't believe this game is shaping up to have even less content than the 3DS game. I mean, it's clearly just filler they rushed out for the holidays but it seems undercooked even by that standard.
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This game is a prime example of why so many skipped Wii U. When a big holiday release has less content than a very similar game on the portable system, you know there's a major problem. 3DS was more than enough for most Nintendo fans this generation and that's all on Nintendo. There have been far too many similar experiences between the two platforms.
 
All these characters can jump super high. It looks like there would be no way to simply lob a ball over someone. Can someone point out of you can do that or not? I've always used that strategy in the gamecube one
 
OrbitalBeard said:
This game is a prime example of why so many skipped Wii U. When a big holiday release has less content than a very similar game on the portable system, you know there's a major problem. 3DS was more than enough for most Nintendo fans this generation and that's all on Nintendo. There have been far too many similar experiences between the two platforms.
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To be fair, this isn't really a "big holiday release"; it's a Mario game they rushed out at the last minute when it became apparent that Zelda and Starfox were going to be delayed and they needed something else to put on shelves for the holidays; I don't doubt it'd be a 2016 game if not for the fact that they needed a stopgap.

Even so, for something that's so obviously derived from the 3DS game, you'd think they'd at least be able to match it in content, especially when you consider that the last game was hammered for its lack of content.
 
Hmm, online 2v2 sounds cool. I'll probably end up getting either this or Amiibo Festival, depending on which one sucks ass less.

SpacePirate Ridley said:
So they added a pantyhose to Rosalina's sports design...

Some one at Nintendo is a mad genius that understands why Rosalina's design sells.
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no dude it's because of her unique and interesting backstory in mario galaxy
 
"Online Multiplayer: Go up against adversaries from around the world in competitive ranked play in either Mega Battle or Classic Tennis modes, or quickly jump into more casual matches"

So no real confirmation of simple mode for online play against randoms. Also hope the ranking system is much better this time around. I would prefer different tiers instead of simply a single number.
 
wild wild rice said:
I've never played a Mario Tennis game and I'm wondering if I should give it a shot. What makes these games good?

Is there any sort of depth to it? Also, how simple is it to pick up and play for complete non-gamers?

I'm wondering if it's something I could sink time into and feel challenged, but also maybe have my wife who is terrible at video games try out for fun.
Click to expand...

The N64 Mario Tennis game was that to a T. It's one of the best games on the system.

My dream Mario Tennis game (you can also substitute golf for tennis if you want) is the simple, realistic-ish tennis gameplay of the 64 game with the RPG progression of the GBC game. I don't like crazy gimmicks. The basic gameplay of 64 Tennis was so good that it didn't need it. Also, the RPG systems were never very elaborate. Just a handful of locations. I can't imagine it would be too expensive to add. It doesn't need to look like Skyrim, especially if it's something that only the hardcore get into.
 
AND YOU CAN TURN OFF CHANCE SHOTS!? YESSSSSSS! Finally! That abomination can be turned off! OK, now I'm teetering on purchasing this depending on what else there is in the game.

The game will flow so so much better without chance shots. Thank GOD.
 
This isn't a day one purchase for me mainly due to the fact that it still looks kind of unambitious in terms of the variety modes, but I know the gameplay will be solid, so I might pick it up when it gets cheaper.
 
Rosalina's voice just progressively worsens with each game, huh...

Welp, online play pretty much confirms my purchase of this game. ...Though it does look quite barebones. =/
 
AKC12 said:
"Online Multiplayer: Go up against adversaries from around the world in competitive ranked play in either Mega Battle or Classic Tennis modes, or quickly jump into more casual matches"

So no real confirmation of simple mode for online play against randoms. Also hope the ranking system is much better this time around. I would prefer different tiers instead of simply a single number.
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Simple mode is a sub-mode of Classic Tennis, though. Chances are you should be able to select it unless Camelot are that daft and have decided to limit it down to only two modes with none of Classic Tennis' sub-mode options... It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe the casual matches would have that option?

We'll have to see.
 
MannyToons said:
Rosalina's voice just progressively worsens with each game, huh...

Welp, online play pretty much confirms my purchase of this game. ...Though it does look quite barebones. =/
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Mercedes Rose is always the best Rosalina. Shame she hasn't voiced her since Mario Kart Wii ;-;
 
entrement said:
Can't believe people doubted online support.

The 3ds game had it, people.
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Nintendo.

Zalman said:
This isn't a day one purchase for me mainly due to the fact that it still looks kind of unambitious in terms of the variety modes, but I know the gameplay will be solid, so I might pick it up when it gets cheaper.
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As much as I think Nintendo games are usually worth full price, a game like Mario Tennis just screams "buy on fire sale" for some reason.

Especially if it's unambitious in terms of roster and content.

I would just hope that, down the line when the game becomes cheaper, there's still an online community of some sort.
 
butalala said:
The N64 Mario Tennis game was that to a T. It's one of the best games on the system.

My dream Mario Tennis game (you can also substitute golf for tennis if you want) is the simple, realistic-ish tennis gameplay of the 64 game with the RPG progression of the GBC game. I don't like crazy gimmicks. The basic gameplay of 64 Tennis was so good that it didn't need it. Also, the RPG systems were never very elaborate. Just a handful of locations. I can't imagine it would be too expensive to add. It doesn't need to look like Skyrim, especially if it's something that only the hardcore get into.
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The OG Mario Tennis seems pretty revered. If Ultra Smash turns out to be a dud, maybe I'll look into getting that one.
 
Great news. It should have been obvious, but Nintendo is spotty with providing online support, like none for Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival. So at least there is this, and it looks pretty good.
 
It's on amazon.de for 43 € for quite some time (as most other Wii U Games). Is it again full-priced 60 $ in the States? If so, weird. Nintendo console games became really affordable here and mostly launch at around 45 € for the last years.
 
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