Mario Tennis Aces: Difference between revisions

{{italic title}}

{{redirect|MTA|the canceled [[Philips CD-i]] game with the same abbreviation|[[Mario Takes America]]}}

|title=Mario Tennis Aces

|image=[[File:MTA boxart.png|250px]]

|developer=[[Camelot Software Planning|Camelot]]

|publisher=[[Nintendo]]<br>Tencent Games (China)

|genre=[[Mario Tennis (series)|Sports]]

|platforms=[[Nintendo Switch]]

}}

The game also offers expanded online features, mostly through tournaments and co-op challenges, where players can participate to unlock exclusive content. Since release, the game has been updated with new playable characters, story mode levels, modes of play, and tournament features, most notably a rank classification.

==Gameplay==

===Basic gameplay===

===Types of shots===

Shots can be charged to increase their power by pressing their corresponding button early before the player hits the ball. Max Charges result in powerful, quick shots that can push the opponent back. These can be countered with certain shots to reduce the push. In matches with standard rules, charging up a shot confers the player energy which can be used to perform Zone Shots and Special Shots. However, simple rules only allow basic tennis shots.

{|class="wikitable center"

!colspan=3|

|-

!Topspin

|align=left|Topspins are shots that cause the ball to spin forward and bounce high. The shot is denoted by the red trail behind the ball. A Max Charge topspin can be countered with a slice.

|-

!Slice

|align=left|Slices are shots that cause the ball to spin backward and bounce low. The shot is denoted by the blue trail behind the ball. A Max Charge slice can be countered with a topspin.

|-

!Flat

|align=left|Flats are shots that do not inflict any rotation on the ball, making it move on a straight trajectory. It is faster than topspins and slices. The shot is denoted by the purple trail behind the ball. A Max Charge flat can be countered with another flat.

|-

!Lob

|align=left|Lobs are high shots that send the ball far into the court. The shot is denoted by the orange trail behind the ball.

|-

!Drop Shot

|align=left|Drop shots are low shots that send the ball close to the net with little bounce. The shot is denoted by the white trail behind the ball.

|-

!Star Shot

|align=left|Star shots are shots that return the ball at high speed. These shots can be performed when the player stands on a Star Point, which usually appears on the ground when the ball gets sent high into the air by the opponent or when the player's energy gauge is filled one third. They are slightly more powerful than Max Charge shots, pushing the opponent behind when countered.

|-

!Leap Shot

|-

!colspan=3|

|-

![[Trick Shot]]

|align=left|Trick Shots are shots that involve the player moving quickly towards a distant ball to hit it, usually slowing time in the process as in a Zone Speed. Players spend energy to perform Trick Shots, but if their timing is right, they can gain energy instead.

|-

![[Zone Shot]]

|-

![[Special Shot]]

|align=left|Special Shots are the most powerful types of shots in the game. They can be performed from anywhere on the court, but only when the player's energy gauge becomes full. They will trigger a short animation which shows how the character is going to perform the shot, after which the player can aim and shoot the ball in a first-person perspective like Zone Shots. Unless countered with a block, Special Shots have the power to break the opponent's racket instantly.

|}

===Game modes===

====Adventure====

[[Toad]] accompanies Mario throughout the jorney, acting as his spokesperson, as Mario does not talk. After selecting a mission on the map, a short dialogue between Toad and other involved parties will commence, then the player can begin the mission. Mario can exit to the world map or (as of version 1.2.0) retry the mission if the player pauses or fails it.

====Tournament====

Tournaments are successions of matches (here also called rounds) in which the player can challenge computer opponents or online worldwide opponents in an 8-player bracket. They return from previous ''Mario Tennis'' games after being absent in ''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash''. Tournament matches feature up to three sets, each divided into two games. If players are tied by the end of these sets, there will be a tiebreaker that decides the winner of the match.

=====COM Tournament=====

[[File:MTA COM Tournament.jpg|thumb|Mario facing off against Daisy in the semifinals of Mushroom Cup]]

The table below lists all cups with the corresponding rules and opponents.

!align=center|Cup

!align=center|Rules

Players can obtain rating points by winning matches, or lose points otherwise. The amount of points earned or lost in a match depends on the player's performance. Rating points determine a rank from D- to A+, which are used to match players of similar proficiency. If someone has rank B (2,500 points) or higher, they will start each tournament from the semifinals. When players enter a month's tournament for the first time, the points they had obtained during their last online tournament period played are rounded and kept for the current tournament period, along with their rank. Each tournament period keeps track of player statistics such as tournament wins, round wins, and round losses, with the latter two being calculated in a win ratio.

Between July 2018 and July 2019, playing at least one match in an online tournament each month awarded the player with an additional character as a participation bonus. Starting with the January 2019 tournament, the player can also earn Participation Points, which can reward alternate costumes.<ref name="direct2"/>

====Free Play====

|-

!align="center"|Match Type

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!align="center"|Doubles Partners

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!align="center"|COM Difficulty

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!align="center"|KO Loss

|}

====Swing Mode====

[[File:MTA Swing Mode (Regular Ball).jpg|thumb|Yoshi and Toad in Swing Mode]]

In this mode, players can use motion controls to play tennis. This mode is played solely with the left or right JoyCon, which may be chosen depending on the player's dominant hand. During matches, the camera is positioned lower than usual. There are multiple features in Swing Mode, all of which only allow simple tennis rules (i.e. no Zone Shots, Special Shots or Zone Speed).

=====Regular Ball=====

Matches can be played with a regular ball, just like in Free Play. Most rule options from Free Play are also present here, though the player cannot adjust the Play Style and, by extension, the KO Loss. One added option is to activate the {{wp|Hawk-Eye|challenge system}}, wherein the player is allowed to challenge the decision that the ball was shot out of the court.

Up to four local players can join a match in Swing Mode.

If players have enabled the challenge system, they will be allowed to challenge whether the ball bounced very close to the court's bounds and was called out by the judge. During a challenge, the camera zooms into the spot where the ball bounced, showing precisely if it landed in or out of the court. If the ball has merely touched the boundary line, it is considered to be in the court. If the challenge is successful, the call will be overturned and the opponent will receive no points, but if it is not, the opponent will receive their points and the player will lose one challenge. The player can incorrectly challenge a call three times, after which they can no longer challenge a call during a match.

=====Special Game=====

=====Rally Challenge=====

**change trigger controls for Zone Shots and Zone Speed.

**change trigger controls for Special Shots and Cancel Charges.

==Controls==

|+Traditional controls

|-

|-

|Run

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|Topspin

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|Slice

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|Flat

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|Lob

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|Drop Shot

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|Cancel Charge

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|Leap Shot (only in Simple Mode)

|-

|Trick Shot

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|Zone Shot

|-

|Zone Speed

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|Special Shot

|}

|+Swing Mode

|-

|-

|Run

|-

|Topspin

==Characters==

===Playable===

Like in previous installments, characters are split into categories of types.

Mario is the only playable character for the majority of the Adventure mode (Peach is also playable in Lucien Cup Finals), and none of his variations available in other modes are usable. Players can, however, select from multiple rackets as they are unlocked in the mode.

|-

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*Overalls (pre-launch online tournament participation bonus; earn 500 Participation Points in the January 2019 online tournament; April 2019-May 2019 demo participation bonus; earn 500 Participation Points in the September 2019 online tournament or the March 2020 online tournament)

*Tennis outfit, with Lucien Replica (unlocked by clearing "Last Trial Boss Challenge")

|

*Overalls (earn 2,000 Participation Points in the January 2019 online tournament; earn 1,000 in the September 2019 online tournament or the March 2020 online tournament)

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*Overalls (earn 500 Participation Points in the July 2019 online tournament or the January 2020 online tournament)

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*Overalls (earn 1,000 Participation Points in the July 2019 online tournament or the January 2020 online tournament)

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*Tennis Outfit (earn 2,000 Participation Points in the February 2019 online tournament; earn 1,000 in the May 2019 online tournament; earn 500 in the November 2019 online tournament)

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*Tennis Outfit (earn 2,000 Participation Points in the May 2019 online tournament; earn 1,000 in the November 2019 online tournament)

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*Tennis Outfit (earn 1,000 Participation Points in the June 2019 online tournament or the December 2019 online tournament)

|Visor (reward for the "Boo Hunt" co-op challenges)

First Boo Hunt (September 19, 2018 - October 11, 2018), Boo Hunt on June and December of each year:

*Light-Blue, green brim (earn 20,000/10,000 coins)

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|Yoshi colors (reward for the "Yoshi's Ring Shot" co-op challenge)

First Yoshi's Ring Shot (December 1, 2018 to January 10, 2019), Yoshi's Ring Shot on February and August of each year:

Offline Yoshi's Ring Shot:

*[[Yoshi (species)|Purple Yoshi]] (unlocked by clearing all Ring Shot challenges)

*Blue (earn 300 Participation Points in the April 2019 online tournament; earn 250 in the December 2019 online tournament)

*Pink (earn 1,000 Participation Points in the April 2019 online tournament; earn 500 in the December 2019 online tournament)

*Yellow (earn 2,000 Participation Points in the April 2019 online tournament; earn 750 in the December 2019 online tournament)

*White body, yellow outline (earn 300 Participation Points in the March 2019 online tournament; earn 250 in the October 2019 online tournament)

*White body, red outline (earn 1,000 Participation Points in the March 2019 online tournament; earn 500 in the October 2019 online tournament)

*White body, green outline (earn 2,000 Participation Points in the March 2019 online tournament; earn 1,000 in the October 2019 online tournament)

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|  

*Blue shell and blue shoes (earn 250 Participation Points in the August 2019 online tournament or the February 2020 online tournament)

*Red shell and red shoes (earn 750 Participation Points in the August 2019 online tournament or the February 2020 online tournament)

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*Blue shell and blue shoes (earn 500 Participation Points in the August 2019 online tournament or the February 2020 online tournament)

*Green shell and green shoes (earn 1,000 Participation Points in the August 2019 online tournament or the February 2020 online tournament)

First Shy Guy Train Tussle (March 1, 2019 to April 15, 2019), Shy Guy Train Tussle on April and October of each year:

*Blue Shy Guy (earn 5,000/2,500 coins)

*Light-Blue Shy Guy (earn 10,000 coins)

*Pink Shy Guy (earn 20,000 coins)

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*[[Biddybud]]s

*[[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]]s

*[[Rabbit]]s

*[[Fire Piranha Plant]]s

*[[Shy Guy Tower]]s (version 2.3.0)

*[[Shield Guy]]s (version 2.3.0)

====Audience members====

*[[Toad (species)|Toad]]s

==Courts==

Marina Stadium is the starting court, and other playable courts are unlocked for Free Play by completing levels in Adventure Mode. Like in ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'', some courts contain hazards that can be toggled on or off. Prior to version 2.2.0, a court selection screen for Free Play was absent, and courts are chosen at random (however Custom lets the player choose to set the selection of stages).

|-

|-

|[[File:MTA Mario Luigi.jpg|200px]]

|Fast

|Strong

|-

|[[File:Marina Stadium (Hard).jpeg|200px]]

|Normal

|Strong

|-

|[[File:Marina Stadium (Clay) Court.jpeg|200px]]

|Slow

|Weak

|-

|[[File:MTA Piranha Plant Forest.jpg|200px]]

|Normal

|Weak

|-

|[[File:MTA Mirage Mansion.jpg|200px]]

|Fast

|Normal

|-

|[[File:MTA Snowfall Mountain.jpg|200px]]

|Normal

|Strong

|-

|[[File:Savage Sea Court.jpeg|200px]]

|Fast

|Normal

|-

|[[File:Inferno Island Court.jpeg|200px]]

|Fast

|Strongest

|}

==Adventure Mode==

===Story===

In some ruins within the [[Kingdom of Bask]], [[Wario]] and [[Waluigi]] stumble upon a tennis racket named [[Lucien]]. As they decide over who gets to use it, Lucien suddenly envelops them both in a mysterious light.{{footnote|main|a}}

The following are Mario's rackets, with the mission where they are obtained mentioned under their name.

<gallery widths=65.5px>

MTA Mario's Racket.jpg|'''Mario's Racket'''<br><small>default</small>

===Levels===

====[[Bask Ruins]]====

*Bask Ruins: [[A Bone to Pick]]

====[[Snowfall Mountain]]====

*Snowfall Mountain: [[One versus...One?]]

*Station Square: [[Sure Shot Challenge (Intermediate)]]

====[[Ruins of Trials]]====

*Red Trial: [[Ancient Trial Panel Challenge]]

*Green Trial: [[Ancient Trial Rally Challenge]]

|caption2=Koopa Troopa's racket seen in Adventure Mode.

}}

*[[Dry Bones]] - Opponent in "A Bone to Pick".

*[[Donkey Kong]] - Opponent in "Pipe Gripe".

==Co-op Challenges==

In Co-op Challenges, four players cooperate to obtain a number of points in a limited amount of time. At the end of a challenge, the points earned by all participants are totaled and awarded to everyone. Once the player's total score surpasses a certain amount of points, they unlock a new alternate costume or color for the character that the event is themed around (i.e. [[Boo]] in Boo Hunt). In addition, they earn a different title within a Co-op Challenge event for each surpassed goal; for example, the player is a "Veteran Boo Hunter" if they complete the 2,500 point goal in Boo Hunt.

===Boo Hunt===

Boo Hunt uses Swing Mode controls. In this event, players use tennis balls to hit Boos on the opposing side of the court to eliminate them, earning coins in the process. If the Boos reach the center of the court, they will steal some coins from the group total. Small mirrors that line the center of the court shoot tennis balls for the players to hit. Some Boos have an orange glow, and when a player hits them their next ball will be large, allowing them to hit more Boos at once. There are three stages, and when the group total reaches a certain threshold of coins they can proceed to the next stage when time runs out. Hitting Boos will also increase the Frenzy bar. When the Frenzy bar is filled up, Frenzy Time will activate. [[King Boo]] will appear and hover around the court, and all players will continuously receive tennis balls to hit him to earn more coins. He will disappear when either his health bar or the Frenzy bar is depleted.

In version 2.1.0, Boo Hunt is permanently added to Special Games in Swing Mode.

====Rewards====

The player's initial title in this Co-op Challenge is "Beginning Boo Hunter".

|-style="background: #ABC;"

!rowspan=2; width=40%|Start and end dates

====Rewards====

The player's initial title in this Co-op Challenge is "Hungry Yoshi".

|-style="background: #ABC;"

!rowspan=2; width=40%|Start and end dates

===Shy Guy Train Tussle===

[[File:MTA Shy Guy Train Tussle.jpg|thumb|Once Frenzy Time is reached, several stacks of Shy Guys will appear in front of the players. The Shy Guy towers can be reduced progressively as more Shy Guys are defeated.]]

Train layouts and Shy Guys tend to vary slightly between stages, constantly providing players with a different challenge when trying to collect coins. Shy Guys may come in singles or in [[Shy Guy Tower|stacks]], as well as [[Mega Guy|larger variants]] or [[Shield Guy|shield-holding ones]]; the latter two variations require two hits to defeat them. Some Shy Guys float across the screen with the help of balloons and carry large amounts of coins in crates. Often, players will encounter different kinds of chests as part of the train's freight, which are opened on different conditions. For example, some chests require players to defeat a certain number and color of Shy Guys in order to open them, while other require players to uncover a key hidden inside of a crate.

====Rewards====

The player's initial title in this Co-op Challenge is "Fledgling Ranger".

|-style="background: #ABC;"

!rowspan=2; width=40%|Start and end dates

====Stage layouts====

The following gallery shows possible stage variations in this Co-op Challenge.

<gallery widths=180px>

MTA Shy Guy Train Tussle 1.jpg

Prior to the game's release date, a free demo titled '''''Mario Tennis Aces: Online Tournament Demo''''' was released on the [[Nintendo eShop]] on May 24, 2018. This demo included a pre-launch online tournament, as well as the ability to practice with CPU players. The tournament allowed players to play as Mario, Peach, Yoshi, and Bowser, with Waluigi, Toad, Spike, Rosalina, and Chain Chomp<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5BUIycx8iE</ref> becoming available as players earned points, for a total of nine playable characters. All tournament participants could receive an alternate costume for Mario that dresses him in his usual clothes (effectively making him appear identical to his appearance in ''Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash''), usable in the full game.

{{br}}

|-

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|Earn 300 points in total.

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|Earn 600 points in total.  

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|Earn 1000 points in total.

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|Earn 1500 points in total.

|}

[[File:Mario Tennis Aces Special Demo title screen.jpg|thumb|Title screen]]

Another free demo titled '''''Mario Tennis Aces: Special Demo''''' or '''''Mario Tennis Aces: Special Online Demo''''' was downloadable between April 26 and May 3, 2019, but only playable from April 26 to April 28, 2019. Upon downloading it, the player received a code for a free seven-day subscription to the [[Nintendo Switch#Nintendo Switch Online|Nintendo Switch Online]] service. Compared to the previous demo, this demo had some changes and additions. It featured a different title screen, different unlockable characters, simple class, Co-op Challenge mode (where Yoshi's Ring Shot was playable, and the blue, red, and yellow Yoshis could be unlocked for use in both the demo and the release version), and other features introduced in the full game as of version 2.3.0 (new adjustable control options and a revamped online tournament). The character unlock criteria was also changed, requiring the player to simply play a set number matches (including both computer and online matches) to unlock each character instead of earning points in tournaments. Likewise, Mario's alternate costume could be unlocked by participating in a match either online or offline.

{{br}}

|-

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|Play 6 matches in total.

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|Play 9 matches in total.  

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|Play 12 matches in total.

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|Play 15 matches in total.

|}

<br>

|-style="background: #ABC;"

!colspan=6|Yoshi's Ring Shot rewards

===1.1.0===

|-

|-

An update was released on June 21, 2018 (PT). The following changes were made:

<blockquote>

===1.1.1===

An update was released on June 28, 2018 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

*'''Changes to Online Tournaments'''

===1.1.2===

An update was released on July 19, 2018 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

*'''Game Balance Updates'''

</blockquote>

|}

===1.2.0===

An update was released on July 31, 2018 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

*'''Game Balance Updates'''

*'''Changes to Character Abilities'''

**The abilities of certain characters have been changed.

|-

|align=center|Toad

</blockquote>

|}

===2.0.0===

An update was released on September 19, 2018 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

[[File:MTA Co-op Challenge update.jpg|thumb|200px]]

*'''Changes to Character Abilities'''

**We changed the abilities of certain characters.

|-

|align=center|Donkey Kong

</blockquote>

|}

===2.0.1===

An update was released on October 10, 2018 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

*'''Changes to Shot System'''

*'''Changes to Character Abilities'''

**The abilities of certain characters have been changed.

|-

|align=center|Wario

</blockquote>

|}

===2.1.0===

An update was released on November 30, 2018 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

*'''Changes to Online Tournament'''

*'''Changes to Character Abilities'''

**We changed the abilities of certain characters.

|-

|align=center|Mario

</blockquote>

|}

===2.1.1===

An update was released on December 13, 2018 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

*'''Changes to Online Tournament'''

</blockquote>

|}

===2.2.0===

An update was released on January 30, 2019 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

*'''Changes to Menu'''

*'''Changes to Character Abilities'''

**We changed the abilities of certain characters.

|-

|align=center|Mario

</blockquote>

|}

===2.3.0===

An update was released on February 28, 2019 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

[[File:MTA Shy Guy Train Tussle update.jpg|thumb|200px]]

*'''Changes to Character Abilities'''

**The abilities of certain characters have been changed.

|-

|align=center|Birdo

</blockquote>

|}

===3.0.0===

An update was released on April 14, 2019 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

[[File:MTA Ring Shot update.jpg|thumb|200px]]

*'''Changes to Character Abilities'''

**The abilities of certain characters have been changed.

|-

|align=center|Pauline

</blockquote>

|}

===3.1.0===

An update was released on May 31, 2019 (PT). The following changes were made:

|-

|-

<blockquote>

*'''Changes to Character Abilities'''

**The abilities of certain characters have been changed.

|-

|align=center|Kamek

Tristan Ogilvie of IGN gave the game a score of 7.5/10, praising the visuals, the court gimmicks, and the multiplayer mode, but criticized the story mode (considering it bare-bones, with nothing making it a fresh and satisfying experience), and also criticized the way local multiplayer works, stating "The biggest problem with ''Mario Tennis Aces''{{'}}[s] Adventure mode is how poorly it incentivises you to keep playing. I had completed all 27 of its levels and unlocked all of its courts and rackets by the time I was on level 34, which was around a half a dozen hours of game time. Out of curiosity, I replayed a number of the challenges and boss fights several more times over to grind my way up to level 55, but was rewarded with absolutely nothing aside from incremental boosts to Mario's stats, thus making the existing challenges even easier. With no New Game+ or more challenging versions of its levels to unlock, or even the option of playing through it with a different character, ''Mario Tennis Aces''{{'}}[s] Adventure mode becomes increasingly simple and repetitive the more time you put into it."<ref>Ogilvie, Tristan (June 20, 2018) [http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/06/20/mario-tennis-aces-review Review of ''Mario Tennis Aces''] ''IGN''. Retrieved June 21, 2018.</ref> In a more positive review, Mike Diver of Nintendo Life gave the game an 8/10, praising what he believed to be vast improvements over its Wii U predecessor ''[[Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash]]'', stating "Where [''Mario Tennis:''] ''Ultra Smash''{{'}}s extras were a pure Monkey Island's worth of living without that particular piece of junk – here's your context, kids – [''Mario Tennis''] ''Aces'' stuffs its kit bag with activities until the zip's positively pinging off across the locker room like a smartly volleyed can of energy drink. Not everything is evenly fleshed out, but whatever your preferential way to play, there's plenty to get stuck into, both solo and with pals."<ref>Diver, Mike (June 20, 2018) [http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/mario_tennis_aces Mario Tennis Aces Review: Super Grand Slam Brothers] Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 21, 2018.</ref> In a slightly more lukewarm review, Justin Clark of GameSpot gave the game an 7/10, praising the game's new playing mechanics over past games as well as the story mode's incentive to teach players of the new mechanics, but had mixed to somewhat positive feelings about the story mode, stating "The story itself is ridiculous, but ridiculous in that very specific, quirky way Nintendo has been getting away with for decades. During the Mushroom Kingdom's annual tennis tournament, an evil tennis racket--yes, really--named Lucien takes possession of Luigi and flies off to find five Power Stones that will help him take over the world." He was also more critical of the online play, panning a stark lack of features as his main issue.<ref>Clark, Justin (June 20, 2018) [https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-tennis-aces-review-in-progress-aim-high/1900-6416932/ Mario Tennis Aces Review: Aim High] GameSpot. Retrieved June 21, 2018.</ref>

|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"

|Release

|align="left"|"''It speaks volumes that even the multiplayer limitations don't entirely dampen my enthusiasm for Aces. The Tetris Effect is in full swing here; days after the credits rolled, I still crave the satisfying thwack from a Power Shot, mentally replay matches and imagine how I might do things differently given a bit more focus and know-how. Mario Tennis Aces does what this series has done best, and for the most part, improves what it's rarely gotten right prior.''"

|-