We see our favorite characters, including Mario and Bowser, imbue their rackets with the power of fire, wind, ice, and earth to their advantage. Anything goes on this court, and you’re going to have to think quickly if you want to stay ahead of the competition. The opening cinematic shows off the game’s sleek art style with the sort of confidence that makes us quite optimistic about its success.

With a massive playable roster and a lot of additions that are both fresh and familiar, Mario Tennis Fever is shaping up to be something special when it launches on February 12th. Besides Fever Shots, there’s a new Adventure Mode and Wonder Effects, which work well to keep your opponents on their toes and vice versa.

This is a Switch 2 exclusive you don’t want to miss if you’re looking for some arcade-style tennis fun or if you’ve been a fan of the series over the years. Now, how about that new 3D Mario, Nintendo?

These include Dr. Mario on the Game Boy and Mario Golf and Mario Tennis for the Game Boy Color. Dr. Mario launched in 1990 and is a puzzle game akin to Tetris, where players must align different colored pills to destroy viruses. Mario Golf launched in 1999, and unlike its Nintendo 64 cousin, it offers a story mode and role-playing game elements.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, those features would find their way into the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis. It launched in 2001 and saw the player training at the Royal Tennis Academy, becoming champion and eventually going on to face Mario (though there are separate paths for singles and doubles).

Each character has their own unique abilities and swinging styles, thus providing a variety of different ways to play. Players can also check the course from top to bottom and look for the best possible conditions to take a shot. There’s also a replay system to look back on any amazing plays.

On top of all of this, multiplayer support is included thus allowing one to golf with their friends. Along with Mario Golf, Nintendo has also added Banjo-Kazooie, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask and many more N64 classics to the service. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack retails for $49.99 per 12 months for individuals. Stay tuned for updates on the service’s next N64 title in the coming weeks.

As a follow-up to 1987’s NES Tournament Golf, Mario Golf features 14 characters from the franchise including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Wario and so on. Along with their own unique swinging styles, they also possess different powers for turning the tide in a match. Players can also analyze the course from different camera angles to determine the best possible shot.

Ten different modes are also on offer from Tournament and Speed Golf to Ring Shot and Mini-Golf. A replay system, taunts and multi-player support are all included. While not as sharp-looking as Mario Golf: Super Rush, Mario Golf received universal acclaim when it first released on the Nintendo 64.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack retails at $49.99 for 12 months (on an individual basis). Along with classic Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis titles, it also provides access to DLC like Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Happy Home Paradise and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass.

Get into the swing! ⛳

Tee off with Mario and friends when Mario Golf comes to #NintendoSwitch for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members on 4/15. #Nintendo64 pic.twitter.com/bB4ujaj59F

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 7, 2022

Though Nintendo has confirmed three new post-launch characters for Mario Tennis Aces in Q1 2019, namely Luma, Daisy and Boom Boom, it still has two new characters coming up in December. These are Petey Piranha, introduced in Super Mario Sunshine, and series mainstay Shy Guy. Check out their newest gameplay trailers below.

While players can unlock them starting from December 1^st, there are a few conditions. For Petey Piranha, players must participate in an online singles tournament. Shy Guy can be earned by participating in an online doubles tournament. Both tournaments will be available from December 1^st 2018 to January 1^st 2019.

On January 1^st 2019, both characters can be earned normally and without online participation. This pretty much follows the pattern for previous DLC characters like Koopa Troopa and Blooper. Other characters that have joined the roster after launch include Birdo, Diddy Kong, and Koopa Paratroopa. To learn more about the base game, check out GamingBolt’s review here.

Three more characters are hitting the courts in Mario Tennis Aces, Nintendo’s Switch-exclusive tennis game. They include Luma from Super Mario Galaxy, Pauline in her Super Mario Odyssey attire, and Boom Boom, who’s been seen throughout the Mario franchise. Check them all out below.

These new characters are scheduled to release in Q1 2019. If the experience with previous characters like Koopa Troopa and Blooper is any indication, then we’ll likely see tournaments to unlock the newcomers early. Players who earned a set number of points in online tournaments will receive access before the new characters were released to all.

Of course, you should expect Luma, Pauline, and Boom Boom to release separately instead of all at once. In the meantime, players can unlock Koopa Paratroopa with a Nintendo Switch Online account, or play around with Birdo and Diddy Kong. Will there more post-launch characters in 2019? Time will tell, but Nintendo’s support is certainly appreciated.