Mario Tennis Open Review: Quick Fun, Flawed Design

Mario Tennis Open wants to be everything at once. It wants to be a quick multiplayer hit, a deep strategy game, and a full Mario experience all wrapped in one cartridge for the Nintendo 3DS. It mostly succeeds at the first two, but it stumbles badly on the third.

Trailer, via Nintendo of America.

The Numbers

• Title: Mario Tennis Open
• Developer: Camelot Software Planning
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Platform: Nintendo 3DS
• Release: 2012
• Score: 6.2/10

Playing the Game

The core of Mario Tennis Open is simple: hit the ball, swing the racket, win the point. That simplicity is the game’s greatest strength. Players can pick up a controller and start swinging within seconds, thanks to touch-screen controls and button combinations that let you choose between lobs, slices, and dropshots.

The 3DS gyroscope adds a layer of depth. By tilting the entire console, you can turn the in-game camera, which helps with positioning and aiming. It’s a clever use of the hardware, and it makes the game feel more connected to the handheld’s unique capabilities.

There are twenty-four playable Mario characters, with four unlocked through specific tasks and eight more unlocked by scanning QR codes. Each character comes with a pre-determined skill set, giving some an advantage in speed, others in offense, and still others in defense. This system adds a layer of strategy to team selection, though it never quite reaches the depth promised by the game’s marketing.

Mii characters are also available. Unlike the Mario characters, Mii abilities are customizable, changing depending on the tennis gear you equip. The gear is purchased with coins earned from playing, while costumes are unlocked by completing objectives. It’s a solid mix of personalization and progression, even if the Mii focus means the game leans away from its own franchise’s stars.

Multiplayer and Online

The multiplayer modes are where Mario Tennis Open shines brightest. Up to four players can join in locally, each on their own 3DS console, and the online mode allows for region-locked play across the globe. The game handles both well, and the StreetPass feature lets players challenge a computer-controlled opponent that mimics the style of another player whose console came in contact with yours.

But the online mode has serious flaws. Lag is a persistent issue, especially during matches involving more than two players. The lack of a story mode is also a notable absence, and the focus on Mii characters over Mario characters has drawn criticism from fans who wanted more of their favorite franchise members in the spotlight.

What’s Missing

The game’s biggest weakness is its similarity to prior titles. Mario Tennis Open doesn’t bring new ideas to the series. Instead, it repeats the formula of earlier handheld entries, dropping the RPG elements and story mode that distinguished those games. For longtime fans, this is disappointing. For newcomers, it might feel like a step back.

The lack of a story mode is a significant omission. Previous handheld Mario Tennis games offered campaigns and narrative threads that made the experience feel complete. Mario Tennis Open strips that away, leaving behind a pure sports game without much context beyond the courts themselves.

The focus on Mii characters also feels like a missed opportunity. While the customization options for Mii gear and abilities are robust, the game spends far less time promoting its own roster of Mario characters. This is a strange choice for a franchise built on its iconic cast, and it leaves longtime fans feeling left out.

The Verdict

Mario Tennis Open is a competent, enjoyable game that falls short of greatness. Its multiplayer is strong, its controls are precise, and its presentation is polished. But the lack of a story mode, the repetitive design, and the online lag keep it from reaching the heights of its predecessors.

The game’s strengths are real. The touch-screen controls and gyroscope support make it easy to pick up and play, and the multiplayer modes offer genuine fun for friends and strangers alike. The depth of the shot variety and the skill-based character system give it replay value.

But the weaknesses are just as real. The online mode is hampered by lag, the story mode is entirely absent, and the focus on Mii characters over Mario characters feels like a misstep. These issues keep Mario Tennis Open from becoming a must-have purchase for the 3DS library.

Mario Tennis Open is a solid, if flawed, entry in the series. It’s best enjoyed in short bursts with friends, either locally or online, where its strengths shine brightest. As a standalone experience, it falls short of what the series has delivered in the past.

Comparison Table

Key Facts Box

• Title: Mario Tennis Open
• Developer: Camelot Software Planning
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Platform: Nintendo 3DS
• Release: 2012
• Score: 6.2/10

The game is a mixed bag. It delivers a strong multiplayer experience with a polished presentation, but it fails to deliver the innovation or depth that made the series stand out in the past. For casual players looking for a quick tennis fix, it works. For serious fans of the franchise, it falls short.

Camelot · game review · Mario Tennis Open · multiplayer · Nintendo 3DS