Mario Tennis GameBoy Color

Nintendo of America Inc.
2001
Nintendo GameBoy Color
ages 8 - adult
$29.95 (MSRP)

In this one-to-two player game, you can even use a Game Link cable to play against your buddy. "It's really a blast," said my 9-year-old tester, as he expertly used the transfer pak to super-charge his N64 game by earning new characters.

The big draw on Mario Tennis for Game Boy Color is definitely its compatibility to Mario Tennis for Nintendo 64. By using an N64 transfer pak, you can unlock new characters by playing the Game Boy version of Mario Tennis. For most kids, this seemed to be the ultimate purpose of playing this hand-held game! That, and beating the king of tennis, Mario!

Fast-paced and zany, Mario Tennis for Game Boy Color lets kids interact with a cast of all-time favorite and new Nintendo characters including Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Alex, Nina, Harry, Mark, Emily, Kevin, Kate, Baby Mario, Peach, Wario, Bowser, Yoshi and Waluigi.

Kids can choose a favorite player (and select male or female; right or left handed abilities) and serve up plenty of aces at the Tennis Academy. Who says learning isn't fun? Everyone wants to be the school's top player!

Multi-level game play enables kids to start in the Junior Class and work up to the Senior Class to play the prestigious Varsity Court. The games are a blast to play because you can charge up your shots (by pressing different button combinations) or power-up your shots without working up a sweat!

My tester, Tim, used the GameShark web site, http://www.gameshark.com and an InterAct GameShark to beat the game.

He explained to me that he earned infinite upgrades and was able to beef-up his tennis character, Alex, by using the GameShark codes he found on the Web.

For instance, if you're engaged in doubles, you'll be pitted against the ultimate duo--Mario and Princess Peach! By using the GameShark codes, Player One (which is you) always wins! Earth shattering, right?!

If you aren't in a hurry to beat the game, Mario Tennis for GameBoy Color scores high in replayability and smashing fun!

Like the console game, you can choose between four different courts. Unlike the console game, you won't find hidden courts during certain levels of play.

Whether you're chatting with the coaches or training your character to be the best tennis star in the world, be sure to save your game so that the fun never ends!

Other unique features that the GameBoy version offers are hanging out at "The Service Ace", a campus restaurant that dishes out tennis advice from fellow classmates and the dormitory, where you can get the skinny from your roommate!

Just remember, all it takes is a little practice! It's easy to get discouraged as you can quickly lose (without GameShark codes). By playing aggressive tennis, you can earn EXP (experience points), which allows your character to move up a level and improve skills such as Spin, Power, Agility or Control.

You'll also find many mini-games throughout this tennis adventure, and you can select difficulty levels as you progress. Kids put their reading (and good vision) to good use while checking out fun-filled game rules. We missed the lush graphics accustomed to while playing the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis. A GameBoy Advance version of this game would be awesome!