Back on the court this summer

It's been a minute since we heard any news regarding Mario Tennis Aces, but given the scorching weath?er we're experiencing right now, it seems fitting that Nintendo is?? hoping players will be getting back out on the digital courts this month.

Players participating in August's online tournament will automatically unlock a colourful selection of Koopa Troopas and Koopa Paratroopers. The unfortunately titled Yo??shi's Ring-Shot challenge also returns for the summer, and will be offering up completion rewards in the form?? of blue, red, and yellow Yoshis. All of these characters have been rewards previously, but if you missed out first time around, here's a fresh opportunity.

Originally released in June 2018, Mario Tennis Aces sees a wide variety of characters from the Super Mario Bros. universe take to the court for entertaining - and somewhat silly - tennis matches. Hardly a professional simulation, Mario Tennis Aces is a fun an??d friendly arcade game that features a selection of physics-defying trick shots and racquet-destroying Specials.

Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

Mario Tennis Aces adds Koopa Troopas [Japanese Nintendo]

The post Colourful Koopa Troopa variant??s coming to Mario Tennis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

'Stay at Home Slam' takes place this weekend

A selection of the world's finest tennis pro's - alongside a number of celebrities I'm too old to know - will come together this weekend for a Mario Tennis Aces charity tournament.

The "Stay at Home Slam" event is a joint promotion of Facebook Gaming and IMG Tennis, and will see court legends such as Maria Sharapova, Naomi Osaka, Kei Nis??hikori, and the indomitable Williams sisters rally with singer Seal, DJ Steve Aoki, supermodel Karlie Kloss, and NFL star Ryan Tannehill. Match commentary will be provided by the natural pairing of '80s champion John McEnroe and ?popular tech blogger iJustine.

All competitors will be awarded $25,000 for a charity of their choosing, with the winning team's cause receiving a mighty one million dollar donation. If you want to check out the action for yourself, the tournament will stream live on Facebook Gaming. Tune in on Sund??ay, May?? 3, at 13:00 PT / 16:00 ET / 21:00 BST.

The f?ull list of participants, along with their doubles partners, are ??as follows:

• Serena Williams & Gigi Hadid
• Naomi Osaka & Hailey Bieber
• Venus Williams & Deandre Hopkins
• Maria Sharapova & Karlie Kloss
• Kei Nishikori & Steve Aoki
• Madison Keys & Seal
• Taylor Fritz & Addison Rae
• Kevin Anderson & Ryan Tannehill

Serena William?s, Naomi Osaka w??ill play in a celebrity Mario Tennis tournament [The Verge]

The post Williams sisters,?? Sharapova, and Osaka among stars taking part in Mario Tennis charity tournament appeared first on Destructoid.

From 10AM PT today through August 13

You may recall last week that Nintendo unveiled a new "perk" for the Switch Online subscription service: game tr?ials.

The gist is that Nintendo will offer you the ability to try a full game for free for roughly one week, with the option to upgrade (in this case, with a sale price) and transfer your data over. The first offering is Mario Tennis Aces in the US/EU, and Captain Toad Treasure Tracker in Japan, and the trial ??period begins today at 10AM PT, concluding on August 13 at 11:59PM PT.

Nintendo is fairly fickle with upgrades and programs like this, so there's a chance that this will only happen a few t??imes a year: if at all. But I really hope that the concept goes off without a hitch and they keep it going, as Switch Online could use all the help it can get.

Nintendo of America [Twitter]

The post PSA: Switch Online’s free game trial program kicks off today with Mario Tennis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

'Play for free from August 7 through August 13'

Nintendo has be?en teasing ?"additional Switch Online bonuses" for months now, and it looks like one is just about to arrive.

Dubbed "Nintendo Game Trials," the idea is to give folks free access to games for a week, so long as you're a Switch Online subscriber. The promotion will run from August 7 through August 13, and will begin with Mario Tennis Aces. Th?is is vaguely reminiscent of Sony's rollout o?f PlayStation Plus demos, right down to the "you can carry your progress over to the full game." With Nintendo innovating constantly it's weird to see them follow the pack when it comes to online services.

To be clear this promotion does look like it's the full game, and again, if you tried it with the Game Trial concept you can bring your progress over. Nintendo is making Mario Tennis Aces 33% off through August 20 to entice p?eople to do just that.

Nintendo of Europe [Twitter]

The post Nintendo rolls out free ‘Switch trials’ for Switch Online members, starting with Mario Tennis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo won't stop supporting this game

If I had to name three different Mario characters in five seconds, let me tell you, Dry Bowser wouldn't come up. Not the first time I had that prompt, and not the twentieth. I know of him, sure, but he kind of just loosely exists in the far reaches of my mind. The character has quite the lineage, though. He's everywhere! His latest appearance – and surely not his last – is Mario Tennis Aces on Nintendo Switch.

Players who participate in an online tournament this month (July 1-30) can unlock Dry Bowser in Mario Tennis Aces, while everyone else will need to wait for the Defensive-class character ?until August 1, 2019. He's Bowser, but gnarlier. That's the gist. His special?? shot is a fiery blue onslaught.

I think of all my Nintendo Switch purchases, Mario Tennis Aces is one of my bigger regrets.

Not necessarily through any fault of the game itself, I played Aces in a few short bursts and then proceeded to move onto something else and never touch it again. Nintendo has continued to support Mario Tennis Aces ever since, but I don't know when I'll realistically pick it back up. Meanwhile, if Super Mario Party offered that t?ype of post-launch support, I'd be ecstatic. I keep almost impulse buying it.

The post Dry Bowser reminds me that I haven’t played Mario Tennis Aces in ages appeared first on Destructoid.

Running out of baddies

Nintendo continue to add characters to their goofy Nintendo Switch sports title Mario Tennis Aces. Next month will see the arrival of ?Fire Piranha Plant. We're onto variants al??ready? Have we done all the Koopa Kids yet?

The Fire Piranha Plant first made an appearance back in NES release Super Mario Bros. 3, surprising us all when the classic pipe-cleaner suddenly had the ability to spit flames at us. Typified by its red appearance, Fire Piranha Plant has gone on to feature in multiple Super Mario Bros. titles since.

In Mario Tennis Aces, Fire Piranha Plant is a Technical class character. Their Trick Shot sees them spinning across the court for out-of-reach returns, while thei?r Special Shot sees them set up the ball with a blast of fire, before smashing it back ove??r the net.

Players can unlock Fire Piranha Plant by playing in a tournament anytime in June, the character will then be unlocked for all on July 1. Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post Mario Tennis Aces brings the heat wi??th Fire Piranha Pl??ant appeared first on Destructoid.

Let's-a Go!

This weekend, Nintendo will be holding a free demo period for Mario Tennis Aces. Similar to the online tournament demo from last year, players will be able to sample the online offerings of the game for a limited ??time period. The demo will run from April 26 until April 28, but it comes with a nice bonus.

Since online play now requires a subscription to Switch Online (something which hadn't launched when the original demo was out), Nintendo will be giving out a free week of the service for anyone that downloads the demo. You can download the demo right now from the eShop and will be giv??en an email with a seven-day trial code inside. Even if you've already used the free trial Nintendo offers, you'll be eligible to use this free week.

As for the new demo, it will include a few extra modes for you to test out. The tournament mode returns as well as the co-op challenge "Yoshi's Ring Toss." Anyone that plays the trial will also receive classic outfits for Mario and a different colored Yoshi in the full game. At least there is some use for this demo if you do happen to already own Mario Tennis Aces.

Mario Tennis Aces Demo Event Begins On April 26, 2019 [Siliconera]

The post Mario Ten??nis Aces gets new demo with free week of Switch Online appeared first on Destructoid.

Game, Set, Ash

Nintendo has dropped the for the next addition to the huge superstar roster of Switch sports release Mario Tennis Aces. Joining fellow baddies Kamek, Chain Chomp, and Koopa Trooper is the cutest undea???d you ever did see, Dry Bones.

Originally making his debut in Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES, Dry Bones is a skeletal version of standard Koopa Troopers, and can be found wandering around palaces and castles. Invulnera?ble to fi??reballs, Mario can bop Dry Bones on the head, causing him to crumble into a pile of bones, but he reanimates again after a few seconds. Spooky.

On the courts, Dry Bones is a Tricky class character. His Trick Shot sees his speed-warping?? around the court ?to return hard-to-reach volleys, whilst his Special Shot sees him quickly disassemble and then reassemble in the skies, before hitting a powerful smash. Look at Birdo spin.

Dry Bones will be made available to all players participating in a tournament in May, before joining the roster proper on June 1. Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post Dry Bones gets ready for a dust-up in Mario Te?nnis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

Not quite Wimbledon weather, but still

For those of you still killing it on the courts with Nintendo Switch release Mario Tennis Aces, a new update brings a couple of fun new modes, along with a dr??amatic new i??ntro movie.

Update 3.0.0, which is available right now, adds new mode Ring Shot. This adds a selection of different sized rings? to the net, with up to four players competing in a rally whilst attempting to return their shots through said rings. Bonuses are awarded dependent on the size of the ring and how difficult the shot was to place.

Along with this mode comes a limited time variant. Yoshi's Ring Shot is a co-op mode where up to four players work together to earn points, cumulatively reaching a target goal. Achieving this will reward the players with different coloured Yoshi models to use in ?Free Play and Tournament mode. Yoshi's Ring ?Shot will run until June 1.

As previously mentioned, a new intro sequence has also been added to the game, you can check it out below. Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

Mario Tennis Aces Version 3.0.0 now available [Gematsu]

The post Mario Tennis Aces update adds ‘Yoshi’s Ring Shot’ and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Where'd the floor go?

Of all of Mario's enemies, Kamek has gotta be one of the most irritating. The bespectacled wizard - also known as "Magikoopa" - made his debut in Super Mario World, hindering our plumber pal with projectile spells and the ability to make the very floor disappear from under?neath you, then teleporting?? away before you could bonk his bonce.

Well, the little prick is back, except now he's bringing his sorcery shenanigans courtside as the latest DLC character for Mario Tennis Aces on Nintendo Switch. As you can see from the new trailer below, Kamek levitates along the baseline, using his teleportation and magic broomstick to quickly return those out-of-reach shots. His special shot seems Kamek si??ze up to a giant form, shattering the opposition's racquet with a mighty return.

Suitably, the trickster will be available from April 1 to all tournament participants, before being added to the roster full-time in May. Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post The annoying Kamek b?rings his trickery to Mar?io Tennis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

Baddies causing a racquet (Yep, using that one again)

Hot on the delicate heels of Pauline, Nintendo has announced two more characters who are set to join the ever-growing roster of Switch sports title Mario Tennis Aces, both of whom are standard baddies from the Super Mario Bros. series.

First up is undead Koopa Troopa Dry Bones. Dry Bone??s is recognised by his skeletal frame, ability to reanimate himself, and amusing xylophone sound effect - standard for all skeletons - when he f?alls apart upon impact. Quite how this guy is able to play tennis is anyone's guess, he has less joint strength than me.

Also headed to the courts is the mega-annoying prick that is Kamek, or "Magikoopa" as they're colloquially known. Debuting in SNES release Super Mario World, Kamek is able to dest??roy platforms at will, turning them into enemies and generally ruining Mar?io's platforming skills. He is an asshole.

You will be able to win Kamek in April's tournaments, while Dry Bones will be the prize for tournaments held in May. As is the case with previous additional characters, both Kamek and Dry ?Bones will eventually be made available to all after a short period.

Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post Mario Tenni??s Aces to add villains Dr??y Bones and Kamek appeared first on Destructoid.

Spotlight shines on Super Mario Bros. 3 villain

Nintendo has released a trailer for the next competitor stepping up onto the courts in Switch sports title Mario Tennis Aces. And it's one of Bow?ser's most old-school of hench??men, Boom Boom.

Originally making his debut in Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES, Boom Boom is recognised by his huge, ground-smashing hands ?and perpetual frown. Boom Boom is also a surprisingly lithe fellow, seen cartwheeling around the court in the new trailer, which you can check out below, before delivering his racquet-shattering super shot.

Players can add Boom Boom to their roster by playing online tournaments between February 1 and March 1. After that time the grumpy turtle will be available to all. Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post Boom Boom ready to blow?? up the court in Mario Tenn?is Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

Yep, Luma is a character

Rosalina is one of my favorite Mario series characters (I was thrilled to find out that she was an unlockable in Super Mario 3D World), but a lot of people don't like that she's been hogging the spotlight. Well, too bad, because now her fame is even rubbing off on Luma, who is entering the fray in Mario Tennis Aces&nbs??p;as a new playable character. Given that "Luma" is the denotation of the ent??ire species, their leader Lubba sure doesn't get any love.

Yep, as part of Mario Tennis Aces' free DLC run, you can play Luma in tournament mode online from January 1 through February 1. After that everyone ?can play as the little star, and you can start planning your tactics now with the gameplay trailer below. Pauline and Boom Boom are the other parts of this latest DLC drop. Koopa Troopa, Blooper, Koopa Paratroopa, Shy Guy, Petey Piranha, Diddy Kong and Birdo are already in as add-ons.

Low key Nintendo has been killing it with free DLC just between this and Kirby Star Allies, not to mention other projects.

The post Rosalina’s quest for world domination continues as her buddy Luma enters Mario Tennis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

Game, Set, Patch

A new update is headed to Nintendo's court-busting Switch title Mario Tennis Aces. Version 2.1.0, which arrives later this week, will change up the way tournaments are run, as well as stamping out som?e bugs and tweaki??ng character balances across the board.

Online players will now be grouped into one of four rankings: A, B, C and, you guessed it, D. This should make matchmak??ing between players of a similar ability more prevalent. Tournaments have been reduced from five rounds to three, with a "First to Two Games" win condition, no doubt to keep things fast and furious.

Fun new challenges in the form of "Yoshi's Ring Shot" and "Boo Hunter" will also be made available, allowing players to team up or go it alone in fun mini-games that will no doubt help improve your shot accuracy. Most importantly, the central mast in Savage Sea court can now be removed, and will be removed by default should the court turn up in r?andom selection.

As well as all of the above, A new online Doubles Class has been added, alongside individual tweaks to the roster of colourful characters, including buffs/nerfs for Mario, Waluigi, Boo, Peach, Toadette, Koopa Paratrooper and others. For a complete list of all changes, as well as a full explanation of the new ranking system, check out the original patch notes right here. Version 2.1.0 goes live in-game November 30.

Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch. 

The post Ma?rio Tennis Aces update inclu??des the removal of that pesky mast appeared first on Destructoid.

That piranha plant sure gets around

Not content with being the first DLC character for the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Piranha Plant is all set to make his debut on the courts, as he and perennial lackey Shy Guy join Nintendo's Mario Tennis Aces From December 1.

To unlock the two classic villains, all players need do is join in an online tournament between December and January 1. A Singles tourney will bag you the polka-dotted plant, while playing a Doubles tournament will unlock the perpetually surprised Shy Guy, who debuted in Super Mario Bros. 2.

Two new trailers show off both characters, giving you a glimpse at their technical and super shots. Petey Piranha, sporting a snazzy pair of pants, utilises tornadoes to rain down hell from the? skies, whilst Shy Guy uses a raft of balloons to gain the much-needed higher ground.

Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch. The next wave of DLC characters include Pauline, Luma and Boom Boom.

The post Shy Guy a??nd Piranha Plant will be available in Mario Tennis Aces soon appeared first on Destructoid.

What a racquet

Looking outside my window, I certainly don't see an environmental condition fit for tennis, but the digital world, where it can be summer all year long, holds no such limitations. As such, Nintendo has announced the next three DLC characters lined up for their cutesy sports title, Mario Tennis Aces.

Joining her pals will be the First Lady of the Mario franchise, Donkey Kong damsel turned mayor of New Donk City; Pauline. This talented singer will also be joined by Rosalina's faithful star sidekick, Luma. Fina??lly, from Bowser's kingdom, comes knuckle-headed henchman Boom Boom.

There isn't a lot of information to go on, but you can sneak a look at the three new characters in the brief trailer below. Pauline, Luma and Boom Boom will be added to the roster over the coming months. Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post Mario Tennis Aces to welcome Pauline, Lu?ma and Boom Boom to the courts appeared first on Destructoid.

Super show-off gets set to smash

Nintendo has released a new character trailer for their over-the-top sports title Mario Tennis Aces, shining the spotlight, mo??st assuredl??y, on the latest character to join the roster, it's Birdo!

Clearing loving the cameras a little too much, the charismatic villain from 1988's Super Mario Bros. 2 daintily dances around the court, giving the cam?era seductive winks and blowing kisses (rather than eggs). It's not all showboating, however, as this All-Round class character is also shown laying in some great shots, even calling in a trio of Shy Guys for assistance wit??h her Special.

Birdo will be available as an unlockable character for everybody from November 1,? although those with a shiny? new Nintendo Switch Online account can check her out a little earlier, on October 1. You can see Birdo in action in the fun new trailer down below.

Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post New Mario? Tennis Aces trailer brings the glamorous Birdo to the court appeared first on Destructoid.

Dibs on Birdo

Nintendo isn't done with Mario Tennis Aces yet (but are you?). Along with future yet-to-be-detailed content updates coming later this year, we're getting the ??Version 2 Update on September 19.

I'm most interested in a new Co-Op Challenge mode that lets mu?ltiple ?players take on missions for a limited time to earn "special outfits, characters with alternate color schemes, and more."

In terms of roster additio?ns, Birdo, Shy Guy, Koopa Parat?roopa, and Petey Piranha are all on the way.

The post The next big Mario T??ennis Aces update arrives next week appeared first on Destructoid.

September 1

Mario Tennis Aces is getting a new cast member next month in Diddy Kong, bu??t there's a bit of a proviso with his i??nvolvement.

Basically, Nintendo is using him as a way to promote the online tournament mode next month. As such anyone who plays the gametype anytime from September 1 through Septemb??er 30 will gain access to him. After that period he'll be unlocked for everyone. It's not all that ?complicated, sure, but I'm guessing someone will download the patch, log in, and ask where the hell Diddy is.

Get a look a?t how he'll play below: Speedy fans will probably enjoy working him into their rota??tion.

The post Did??dy Kong is joining the Mario Tennis Aces roster real soon appeared first on Destructoid.

And 1-2-Switch, I guess.

If you're in the market for a Switch and happen to be a fan of Mario Tennis, Walmart is going to have an enticing bundle for you. Going on sale September 5, you'll be able to grab a Switch with Mario Tennis Aces and 1-2-Switch for $359.99. This package will include the Neon Red/Blue joy-con setup and give you download codes for both ga?mes (which may or may not sour y??our enjoyment of their inclusion).

I don't know if 1-2-Switch is worth anything, but at least it isn't driving the price of the bundle up. This is basically the same price as grabbing the console and Mario Tennis separately with 1-2-Switch just tagging along.?? It?'s a pretty solid deal, at the very least.

Nintendo of America [Twitter]

The post Walmart is getting an exclusive Switch bundl?e with Mario Te?nnis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

I might actually finish it now!

My progress in Mario Tennis Aces has been glacial lately, and a large part of that stems from the lack of a retry option in story mode. I died thousands of deaths in Super Meat Boy and came out on top because that game instantly puts you back in the action when you fail. Mario Tennis Aces? Not so much.

If you've been in a similar funk, this week is our week. Nintendo's next update for the game will offer a retry option when you lose story missions and also let you man?ually retry from the pause menu.

Other changes are also in store, including much-needed nerfs for Waluigi and Bowser Jr., but we'll c??over those tweaks separately once the official patch notes are available in English.

I'm coming for ya, Blooper.

[Via ResetEra]

The post Mario Tennis Aces is adding a retry op??tion to story mode appeared first on Destructoid.

Court king dethroned... OR IS HE?

The new update for Nintendo's fun sports title Mario Tennis Aces goes live today, aside from fixing some minor text issues, the aim ?of Version 1.1.2 is to subdue the unstoppable pro-pl??ayer that is Bowser Jr.

The young tyrant has been taking the Mario Tennis scene by storm, dropping players left and right with his lengthy reach a??nd fast-charging specials, which can be popped on reaction, making his defence akin to that of a brick wall and his returns hard to deal with. The character became such a chore to play against that players started quitting matches as soon as they saw the smug MF'er glide onto the court.

With the new update, Bowser Jr. now returns shots at a lower angle - and crucially - suffers a lapse in speed whenever he is charging his shots. This should, in theory, mean that he'll have to work harder to get around the court, especially if he's planning a smash return. I guess time will tell. You can find full details on the new update right here.

Mario Tennis Aces is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post Bowser Jr.’s unspeakable reign of terror should be over in Mario Tennis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

Well, everyone except the Bowser Jr. mains

Mario Tennis Aces is about to get a little less frustrating. The most feared opponent -- the one who's frankly just too overp??owered for fair competition -- is getting reb?alanced.

Nintendo plans to release Mario Tennis Aces patch 1.1.2 on July 19, and the headlining change is that Bowser Jr. is getting nerfed. The alterations include slowing him down and lowering his return angle. Nintendo also notes that it plans to further balance Bowser Jr. (and all characters) ahead of the August Mario Tennis Aces tournament.

There are ?some other important tidbits to pull from these patch notes. Trick shots have been reworked to some degree. Now, there is less space to pull off a trick shot, and late trick shots use up more energy. However, it will now take less time to recover en??ergy. Also, body shot serves can't be inflicted unless the ball bounces once.

Here's the full version 1.1.2 Mario Tennis Aces patch notes:

• Game Balance Updates
  For All Characters:
  • We have adjusted the range within which a character is able to return a ball, as well as how much energy is used when doing a Trick Shot to hit a ball that goes behind them.
    *We made the distance you can move and the scope between left and right shorter. We also shortened the time it takes to successfully recover energy and increased how much energy is used when a Trick Shot is late.
  • We have made it so that, when returning a serve, a ball cannot inflict a Body Shot until it bounces once.

  For Bowser Jr.:

  • We have adjusted how fast Bowser Jr. can move when charging a shot and lowered the angle at which he hits the ball back.
    *We plan to adjust the balance of this character further in time for the August tournament
• Other Changes
  • Revised errors with text display.
• Notice about? the Rating system in Online Tournament
  • A ranking display based on Rating will be added to the ranking board starting with the August 2018 tournament.
    Along with this change, the Rating will not be shown on the Total Points Ranking board. If you want to check your Ratings for July, please check the Tournament chart.
  • Your Rating will change on a monthly basis based on the results of the previous month's play. (This will be reflected starting with the switch from July to August.)
    *Ratings of 2,000 or less -> Start at 2,000
    *Ratings from 2,000-2,500 -> Same rating will be maintained
    *Rating of 2,500 or more -> 1/10 of the value will be added to 2,500
    *Value will be reset to 2,000 if the player did not play the previous month or if any questionable data is present. 

How to Update Mario Tennis Aces [Nintendo]

The post The next Ma??rio Tennis Aces ?patch includes the Bowser Jr. nerf everyone wants appeared first on Destructoid.

Free DLC

I know Waluigi is all the rage right now, and I'll happily show my support, but dear sweet Birdo is my character of choice in the Mario Tennis series. Good news on that front: Nintendo plans to expand the Mario Tennis Aces roster this? fall with Diddy Kong, Koopa Paratroopa, and yes, Birdo. We've known they were coming at some point, but now we have a slightly more honed-in release window.

All three playable?? characters will be available for free.

Nintendo also posted a clip of Miyamoto and Reggie playing Mario Tennis. It's so wholesome.

Reggie and Mr. Takahashi took to the courts for a special showdown with Mr. Miyamoto and Mario! Which team do you think won? Square off in intense tennis action for yourself in #MarioTennis Aces, available today for #NintendoSwitch! pic.twitter.com/I7tAHIpkPY

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 28, 2018

I was stoked about Aces pre-release. It showed really well in trailers, and I enjoyed my limited time with the trial. But now that folks have dug into it and aired their grievances, I'm in less of a hurry. With more updates like the one that dropped earlier this week (and maybe a slight discount), I'll be there.

The post Dang, we have to wai?t until this fall to play as Birdo in Mario Tennis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

On July 1 a rating system will be introduced

Mario Tennis Aces arrived just recently on Switch, and fans already have a laundry wishlist of things they want to see Nintendo implement. No longer is this the era of the "ship a game and move on" mentality, as Nintendo has been steadily supporting their online titles -- no doubt to prep their fans for their looming paid online?? service.

Aces just got a new patch (1.1.1) to usher in some of those requests, and they involve both online and offline play. First up a "rating" system is coming on July 1, which will "start at 2,000" and go up or down depending on how well you do. Disconnects are accounted for, and ratings will go "up or down based on the sco?re in the match at that time" (wow that can be abused for sure). There's also a discrepancy modifier where you "may not even" go up in rating if there's a "great discrepancy between players in ability." Great idea, but isn't that what a matchmaking system prevents? Maybe more patches are on the way t?o clean all that up.

In offline news adventure mode has been tweaked a bit (mostly to cut down on some frustrations with the AI on certain maps), and several bugs have been squashed. You can vie??w the full patch notes here if you crave that granular info.

Mario Tennis Aces [Nintendo]

The post M??ario Tennis Aces just got a sizable patch with several online and offline fixes appeared first on Destructoid.

Forced errors

One of the reasons the Nintendo GameCube is my absolute favorite home console to date is that was when Mario sports titles absolutely exploded. The N64 brought us Mario Tennis and Golf, but it was on the next system where we got the best versions of both those games, as well as Mario Superstar Baseball and the so-good-it-has-to-make-a-return Super Mario Strikers. 

This continued early into the Wii era, where we got quick follow-ups to the latter two games. But that's when things started to take a turn. Anticipated sequels for Golf and Tennis were no-shows on the DS and Wii. While we would eventually make a celebrated return to the greens of the Mushroom Kingdom in Mario Golf: World Tour, subsequent tennis titles have been less than a Grand Slam. Mario Tennis Open is fine for what it is, but Mario Tennis Ultra Smash was an absolute low point for the franchise and the sport's appearance in Mario Sports Superstars didn't exactly raise the bar.

Really, this series has only one direction to go from here and that's up. And while Mario Tennis Aces is unequivocally a better game than its past few entri?e??s, it's still not everything it could be.

Mario Tennis Aces (Switch)
Developer: Camelot
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: June 22, 2018
MSRP: $59.99

Mario Tennis Aces starts in a way I don't expect. The Adventure Mode, central to pre-release hype for the game, is the centerpiece of the experience. Right away, I am thrust into this tennis-based RPG where a mythical tennis racket has enslaved Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi, and it's up to me as Mario to retrieve five Dragon Balls?? Power Stones to break the spell and de??feat Lucien, the aforementioned evil racket.

While it is an RPG, it really doesn't need to be. I don't very much see any massive gains from leveling Mario up throughout it, but my tennis game does improve noticeably with each challenge I conquer. These tests come in the form of several different types of games. Some are simple matches against the computer, others are mini-games where I have to rack up a certain number of points before time runs out or I run out of tries. It's occasionally frustrating, but it absolutely ma??kes me a better player. Even the challenges I hate the most -- ones where I must hit the ball so my ??opponent can't return it -- prove beneficial to my development. It's just a shame that, due to a single missing feature, this adventure can be absolutely aggravating.

In Adventure Mode, prepare to lose often. I do. Some of these challenges feel absolutely unfair and Advent?ure Mode lacks a quick restart feature that could make the journey far less arduous. I can quit in the middle of a match, but if I lose, I can't just restart the challenge right away. Instead, I have to watch as Mario gains some XP, exit out of the challenge, and then select it again. It doesn't seem like the biggest deal until it's the tenth time in a row you've done it.

Eventually, it ceases to be a bother for me because, by the time I'm gunning for the final Power Stone, my tennis game is absolute fire. I demolish the final set of challenges, including the predictable and underwhelming final boss battle. Overall, the mode to me is nothing more than an extensive tutorial teaching not only how to play the game, but how to play it well. Also, it's how I unlock the different -- a?nd occasionally stunning -- tennis courts for use in free play.

Mario Tennis Aces' gameplay follows the series formula established back on the Nintendo 64 to great effect. There are the five basic shots -- topspin, lob, slice, flat, and drop shot -- as well as new shot types that play into the pseudo-fighting-game style of play. In Aces, you can KO your opponent with the new Zone Shot and Special Shot. These are pretty much the exact same thing? though Special Shot has more flair and power.

As I play a match, I build up my energy gauge using Star Shots (shots performed from the star spots on the court,) and Charge Shots, which is just holding down the button to charge the swing. When I fill my gauge to at least a third, I can use the Zone Shot. When a star appears on the court, I simply move towards it and press the L button. This allows me to aim my shot exactly where I want it to hit on the court. It's a great way to earn easy points or to whittle away at the racket strength of ?my opponent. If?? they can't block my Zone Shot exactly, it damages their racket and pushes them closer to a knockout.

Special? Shots work the exact same way, though one shot is enough to destroy an entire racket. I need my energy gauge f??illed to the max to use this. It's not an instant win as opponents usually have more than one racket, but it can be if used correctly.

The shot can also be quite cheap. In my encounters online, I discover a strategy many people are utilizing that can be best summed up as a game of chicken. Unlike with Zone Shots, I can use a Special Shot no matter where I am on the court. It will also perfectly block a Zone or Special Shot from my opponent with no damage to my racket. Knowing this, my opponents and I tend to dance around the idea of using a Zone Shot. If I use one, and they have enough for a Special Shot, there's really nothing I can do to stop them from scoring a point at best, or breaking my racket at worst. If I wait, and they use their Special Shot first, I can counter with my own. However, depending on how well I pul?l it off, it may temporarily incapacitate me allowing my opponent to move in for an easy point.

The energy gauge isn't just for offensive shots. On defense, I can use it to slow time so I can properly block a Zone or Special Shot, or I can flick the right Joy-Con thumbstick to initiate the Trick Shot. If a ball is ever too far away for me to hit, the Trick Shot will get the job done with style to spare. Every character has their own unique Trick Shot -- Mario flips and Daisy da??shes over to the ball for instance -- and because Waluigi's has him moonwalking, he's easily the best character in the game.

Honestly, Mario Tennis Aces is Mario Tennis at its best when it comes to gameplay. Throughout the Adventure Mode, the surprisingly smooth online play, the lack?luster tournament mode, free play, and Wii-era leftover Swing Mode, it's an absolute blast. So why oh why do Nintendo and Camelot not want me to have as much fun with the game as I can?

Mario Tennis Aces makes some bizarre decisions when it comes to player choice. In free play, I cannot directly choose the court I want with ease. I instead have to let the computer pick one at random, or select the courts I don't&?nbsp;want to play. Pretty goddamn ass-backward if you ask me.

I can turn off court obstacles, but some are permanent, such as the mast of the Savage Sea. KOs and Zone/SpecialTrick Shots can be eliminated as well, but I have just two options for match length: Quick Play, which is just a single game with the goal of bei?ng the first to seven points, and Extended Play, which really needs a new name because two games in a single set is not what anyone would call "Extended."

Only the offline tournament mode allows for lo?nger matches, otherwise, I'm stuck playing a truncated version of the real sport. I like tennis and part of what makes it so entertaining are the head-games players will use on one another. Sure, matches can go for quite a while, but that's part of the fun. It becomes an endurance sport, but here, Camelot seems content just getting players in and out of matches as quickly as possible.

I'd also like to take a moment and point out just how fucking dumb the partner AI can be. Every partner I pair with, at least once a match, will deliberately aim a Zone Shot that isn't anywhere close to being in bounds. And there is no way for me to adjust their shot to keep it in play. It's baffling how anyone thought this to be an okay practice of partner AI.? I don't care if I'm playing on easy or expert, this should not be something the AI does. I'd much rather my partner not have the ability to use Zone and Special Shots than have to deal with the potential of losing because they don't know how to stay inside the lines.

Mario Tennis Aces has a chance at being a great game down the road. Right now, it's simply good. The gameplay is as addictive as ever and the Adventure Mode is a great way to educate people on the ins and outs of Mario Tennis. It's just missing features that, while small, make a world of difference when it comes to the longevity of the game. I want to play Aces for the rest of the Switch lifecycle, but right now it's not giving me much o??f a reason to keep booti?ng it up.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Mario Tennis Aces appeared first on Destructoid.

Merchandise leak proves true

Earlier this year, a Mario Tennis Aces tote bag featured images of three characters who had yet to be announced as contenders for the Switch sports title: classic enemy Koopa Paratroopa, mischievous scamp Diddy Kong, and the egg-firing Birdo of Super Mario Bros. 2 fame.

Well, Nintendo Japan have finally given official confirmation that the trio will be joining Mario Tennis Aces later in 2018. No specific date was given for the new DLC, though they won't be arriving until September at least, I guess they're still in training. In the meantime, players can prepare for the coming of Koopa Troopa and Blooper, who both received trailers earlier today.

Birdo, Diddy?? Kong, Koopa Paratrooper join Mario T?ennis Aces [Japanese Nintendo]

The post Nintendo ???confirm previous Mario Tennis Aces DLC roster rumours appeared first on Destructoid.

Stop making that racquet

As reported earlier this week, two more characters are headed to Nintendo's Mario Tennis Aces on Nintendo Switch: Perennial Super Mario Kart favourite Koopa Troopa and random Super Mario Bros. enemy Blooper.

Two trailers starring the new contenders have been released by Nintendo of Japan, showing the iconic villains taking to the court for a bit of smash action (No, not that Smash). Blooper, having no le??gs, is gi??ven a helping hand by everyone's favourite fishing buddy, Lakitu.

Both characters are able to move swiftly around the p??laying area due to their excellent mobility, with Blooper calling on their aqua abilities to help them land powerful Super Shots. Fans won't have to wait much longer to check these guys out, as Koopa Troopa will be made available for download in July, with Blooper following suit in August.

The post Mario T??ennis Aces serves up cute trailers for ?Koopa Troopa and Blooper appeared first on Destructoid.

Ink Blot

It looks like Mario Tennis Aces is set to receive some post-launch updates in the form of new c?haracters this year. Nintendo confirmed during their Treehouse E3 stream that Koopa Troopa and Blooper will be hitting the court in July and Augus??t, respectively. Both will be available as a free software update, so you won't need to shell out any coin to give them a spin.

I suppose these guys coming to the game means we could eventually see Shy Guy's grand return. I don't think it would be Mario Tennis without him dancing around ??the ?court and chanting.

Nintendo of America [Twitter]

The post Koopa Troopa and Blooper will be coming to Mario?? Tennis Aces as free DLC appeared first on Destructoid.