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Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash: Difference between revisions
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'''''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash''''' is a multiplayer sports [[List of games|game]] in the [[Mario Tennis (series)|''Mario Tennis'' series]], developed by [[Camelot Software Planning]], for the [[Wii U]]. It is the third home console installment in the series and the seventh overall. It was first released in November 20, 2015 in Europe and North America. Up to four players can locally play the game. | '''''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash''''' is a multiplayer sports [[List of games|game]] in the [[Mario Tennis (series)|''Mario Tennis'' series]], developed by [[Camelot Software Planning]], for the [[Wii U]]. It is the third home console installment in the series and the seventh overall. It was first released in November 20, 2015 in Europe and North America. Up to four players can locally play the game. | ||
The game, as an installment in the ''Mario Tennis'' franchise, features traditional tennis gameplay with various [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] elements mixed in | The game, as an installment in the ''Mario Tennis'' franchise, features traditional tennis gameplay with various [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] elements mixed in. It features nine stadium-themed courts with various different gimmicks and retains several gameplay elements from two predecessors, ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'' and ''[[Mario Tennis Open]]'', while introducing Mega Battles, Jump Shots, and the titular Ultra Smash; Mega Battle is a mode where players can grow larger from picking up [[Mega Mushroom]]s to increase their offense and defensive capabilities, while Jump Shots enable players to leap into the air to perform faster and more powerful shots. The Ultra Smash is a special kind of shot that can only be performed when the opposing player loses form while returning a shot, and allows players to return the ball with an extremely fast and powerful smash shot, acting as a punishment mechanic. The [[Wii U#Wii U GamePad|Wii U GamePad]] is taken advantage of in two-player singles, allowing a second player to use a separate screen for the perspective of their character.<ref name="Overview Trailer">Nintendo (NintendoWiiUUK) (October 22, 2015). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKPjDi_qwZ8 ''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash'' - Overview Trailer (Wii U)]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved October 22, 2015.</ref> If players download the game from the [[Nintendo eShop#Wii U|Nintendo eShop]], the software requires 888 MB to be installed.<ref>[https://checkout.nintendo.com/#/item/WUPNAVXE/billing Checkout for ''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash''] ''Nintendo''. Retrieved November 1, 2015.</ref> The game also features [[amiibo]] support, allowing players to use compatible amiibo to train it and play with a CPU-controlled character. | ||
The game featured worldwide online multiplayer for the first time in the ''Mario Tennis'' series. Up to four players (including an amiibo) could use the game's online capabilities to play Singles and Doubles with people around the world over [[Nintendo Network]]. The service, however, was terminated on April 8, 2024, making the game no longer playable online.<ref name=Shutdown> {{cite|author=@NintendoAmerica|date=October 4, 2023|title=As of early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.|url=https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1709418623566020975|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=February 17, 2024}}</ref><ref name=ShutdownUpdate> {{cite|author=@NintendoAmerica|date=January 23, 2024|title=Update: as of 4/8, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.|url=https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1749963072998166670|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=February 17, 2024}}</ref> | The game featured worldwide online multiplayer for the first time in the ''Mario Tennis'' series. Up to four players (including an amiibo) could use the game's online capabilities to play Singles and Doubles with people around the world over [[Nintendo Network]]. The service, however, was terminated on April 8, 2024, making the game no longer playable online.<ref name=Shutdown> {{cite|author=@NintendoAmerica|date=October 4, 2023|title=As of early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.|url=https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1709418623566020975|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=February 17, 2024}}</ref><ref name=ShutdownUpdate> {{cite|author=@NintendoAmerica|date=January 23, 2024|title=Update: as of 4/8, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.|url=https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1749963072998166670|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=February 17, 2024}}</ref> | ||
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==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
===Critical reception=== | ===Critical reception=== | ||
''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash'' received mixed reviews from critics with aggregate scores of 58 from 58 critics on Metacritic<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii-u/mario-tennis-ultra-smash Metacritic scores on ''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash'']. ''Metacritic.'' Retrieved November 18,2015</ref> and 55.78% based on 36 reviews on GameRankings.<ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/168676-mario-tennis-ultra-smash/index.html GameRankings score]. ''GameRankings''. Retrieved November 18, 2015.</ref> Reviewers praised the graphics and presentation, but lambasted the stark lack of overall content and basic features, both offline and online, calling it bare-bones, especially when compared to the previous ''Mario Tennis'' games. Chris Carter of Destructoid was severely disappointed and harshly criticized the game, noting the lack of content, the forgettable Jump Shot and Mega Battle features, and the lack of lobbies or other extra features.<ref>Carter, C (November 18, 2015). [http://www.destructoid.com/review-mario-tennis-ultra-smash-320462.phtml Swing low]. ''Destructoid''. Retrieved November 18, 2015.</ref> He ends by saying that players are "better off just playing any other previous game in the series, which is particularly easy to do since the first game is on the [[Wii U]]'s [[Virtual Console#Wii U|Virtual Console]] for just 10 bucks." He gave the game a 5.5/10. Marty Sliva of IGN had a similar opinion, stating that "''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash'' is about as paint-by-numbers as you can get. The lack of modes, characters, and new ideas make it a step backwards from the series' debut on the [[Nintendo 64]] back in 2000." He cites the Mega Mushroom feature as bad and gimmicky, appearing to be arbitrary and imbalanced. He also compared it unfavorably to its predecessors by stating "that ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'' on the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] managed to include more characters, interesting modes, and varied courses a decade ago is a bit insulting." He gave it 4.8/10, a score labeled as "bad". Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer expressed similar disappointment, praising the game's core gameplay and the addition of Ultra Smashes and Jump Shots for being solid and fun but wishing the game offered much more.<ref>Hilliard, K. (November 18, 2015). [http://www.gameinformer.com/games/mario_tennis_ultra_smash/b/wii_u/archive/2015/11/18/mario-tennis-ultra-smash-game-informer-wii-u-review.aspx Nintendo Drops The Volley]. ''Game Informer''. Retrieved November 15, 2015.</ref> | ''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash'' received mixed reviews from critics with aggregate scores of 58 from 58 critics on Metacritic<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii-u/mario-tennis-ultra-smash Metacritic scores on ''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash'']. ''Metacritic.'' Retrieved November 18,2015</ref> and 55.78% based on 36 reviews on GameRankings.<ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/wii-u/168676-mario-tennis-ultra-smash/index.html GameRankings score]. ''GameRankings''. Retrieved November 18, 2015.</ref> Reviewers praised the graphics and presentation, but lambasted the stark lack of overall content and basic features, both offline and online, calling it bare-bones, especially when compared to the previous ''Mario Tennis'' games. Chris Carter of Destructoid was severely disappointed and harshly criticized the game, noting the lack of content, the forgettable Jump Shot and Mega Battle features, and the lack of lobbies or other extra features.<ref>Carter, C (November 18, 2015). [http://www.destructoid.com/review-mario-tennis-ultra-smash-320462.phtml Swing low]. ''Destructoid''. Retrieved November 18, 2015.</ref> He ends by saying that players are "better off just playing any other previous game in the series, which is particularly easy to do since the first game is on the [[Wii U]]'s [[Virtual Console#Wii U|Virtual Console]] for just 10 bucks." He gave the game a 5.5/10. Marty Sliva of IGN had a similar opinion, stating that "''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash'' is about as paint-by-numbers as you can get. The lack of modes, characters, and new ideas make it a step backwards from the series' debut on the [[Nintendo 64]] back in 2000." He cites the Mega Mushroom feature as bad and gimmicky, appearing to be arbitrary and imbalanced. He also compared it unfavorably to its predecessors by stating "that ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'' on the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] managed to include more characters, interesting modes, and varied courses a decade ago is a bit insulting." He gave it 4.8/10, a score labeled as "bad". Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer expressed similar disappointment about the game's content, praising the game's core gameplay and the addition of Ultra Smashes and Jump Shots for being solid and fun but wishing the game offered much more.<ref>Hilliard, K. (November 18, 2015). [http://www.gameinformer.com/games/mario_tennis_ultra_smash/b/wii_u/archive/2015/11/18/mario-tennis-ultra-smash-game-informer-wii-u-review.aspx Nintendo Drops The Volley]. ''Game Informer''. Retrieved November 15, 2015.</ref> | ||
{| class="wikitable reviews" | {| class="wikitable reviews" | ||