With no Nintendo Direct imminent, Camelot’s next Mario Tennis has received a near-six-minute overview trailer. It may be hyperbole to call this the “most jam-packed” entry yet, but Mario Tennis Fever is making a strong case with 38 playable characters and the new Fever Rackets.
The roster includes classics such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Daisy and Wario alongside the likes of Kamek, Baby Waluigi, and many more. If you’re familiar with previous entries, the controls should feel very familiar with top spins, slices, and lobs – all possible without a hitch using the Joy-Con 2.
The Fever Rackets introduce the biggest twists, as players can unleash powerful abilities in a match. Shots that explode into lava pits, icy ground, sludge pits – the number of ways to make life miserable for an opponent is pretty extensive. I’m personally a fan of the Shadow Racket, which creates a clone of you, turning matches into a 2v1 situation.
Fever Shots are a double-edged sword, though, as their effects won’t activate without hitting the ground. Opponents can thus return them at you, keeping tensions high, especially since you can get temporarily KO-ed from taking too much damage.
Of course, for those who favor old-school tennis, it’s readily available. Mario Tennis Fever launches on February 12th for Nintendo Switch 2.
