simulation

First off, I have to say it's games like Mario Tennis that make me glad I bought a GBC. It's a very, very enjoyable game.

The graphics are very good - playing tennis in the Game Boy Color's 2-D mode doesn't cripple your enjoyment at all. The matches are played from a view much like the one used in the N64 version - or on any real life tennis match you'd see on TV. So no problems there.

The controls are easy to learn and use. You're not staggering around, making stupid mistakes, just because you didn't know the correct order of buttons to push. There are several cool shots you can do, however. It's very satisfying, when you lure the opponent close to the net, then put a lob shot waaay over their head. Coaches in the game will teach you techniques like that to use, and make you practice them until you can actually use them in a real match.

The easy controls make the gameplay fast and fluid, especially when you're up against really good players. Very few games - on any system- have made me actually swivel the controller (or in this case, the entire system) around in the air, and actually shout out at the people in the game.

As you win more matches, you can gain levels. With each level comes a chance to improve an ability of your character - do you give her more Power, or is it your philosophy that "A match can't be lost if the opponent can't make me miss!" and work on speed, instead? Each ability has their own advantages/disadvantages, all depending on your own personal strategy.

And to top it all off, like the cherry on top of a sundae, there's a great storyline. Well, maybe not GREAT - it's not "deep and involving" or anything, but it works to not get you bored with playing match upon match, either. It's -immensely- satisfying to actually surpass your own coaches in skills.

If you really don't know anything about tennis - don't worry. I didn't, either, when I first picked this game up. But the instruction booklet teaches you a lot, and there's a very thorough glossary in the game that has all the tennis terms.

It's the final match of the Island Open tournament. This will determine the best of the best. You and your partner have worked for months to get to this point. You've won many, many matches, and learned much from each of them. You work well together as a team, and received many compliments, but in your heart, you know that everyone watching from the crowded stands really doesn't believe you can win. And as you look at the opposing team, you can feel a tiny trace of doubt - "Do we honestly expect to win?" But you've made it this far. You get into the ready stance, and tighten your grip on the racket. The server on the opposing side throws the ball into the air, and smashes an extremely fast, curving serve. Desperately, you dive for the ball...

Mario tennis. While this is a very easy game to learn it is not especially realistic to an experienced tennis player. While i admit that mario tennis is fun for a while it is not anything like "Real" tennis. When I first get the game and went to play exhibition mode with "Mario and his Friends" i was disgusted find only: Luigi, Baby Mario and DK (Mario and Peach can be unlocked in Tour mode)and the play does not exacly blow you off your feet. It seems at first more like a big game of ping-pong than tennis.
The game becomes more fun when you enter "Mario Tour" though. You are invited to join the "Royal Tennis Academy" to train for your tennis. You start out in the junior class in both singles and doubles and have to work your way up to the senior class (done so by winning matches and beating the top ranked player in the class) and then to the varsity court and then to traveling team. I must point out that the play is extremely easy through the first three classes (the first time i played tour mode i didn't lose a game until the traveling team.)Then the fun begins. You go to the island open to compete, win the tournament and become top ranked at the academy. You are then invited to go challenge Mario "The Greatest Player Ever" (the over statement of the centuary) you beat him, beat the game. 3 hours tops and you've beaten the game and the fun of the game is gone. One good thing though is the people you play tour mode you can play in exhibition mode now.
My Biggest complaints are:
1. It is impossible to hit a winner from the baseline
2. It is impossible to miss (serves included)
3. Until you get your tour player to about level 50 you can't win a point without comming to net (because you cannot hit the ball hard enough from the baseline.)
I know that this is about as close to a "real tennis game" as you can get for gameboy color. but if you have a gameboy advance any one of the 4 tennis games for that is better than this.
The bottom line is if you're looking for something with mario charecters this is for you. But if you're looking for something real this is not.
My Huge reccomendation is that you go and check out "Tennis Masters Series" for the PC. It is really realistic and alot more competitive. You can check it out on amazon.com ...

This is one of the best games made for the gameboy coler. The gameplay is great and it's pretty tough. I love the level up feature and the free roaming feature. But I found that the only way to beat it is to train your charecter on the N64 using the N64 transfer pack.