"Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash" is the newest addition to the "Mario Tennis" series of video games. The game was developed by Camelot Software Planning and released exclusively for the Wii U console.
The game retains several gameplay elements found from its two predecessors; "Mario Tennis Open" and "Mario Power Tennis." On the other hand, the game introduce the new Mega Battles and Jump Shots. The game can be downloaded directly from the Nintendo eShop and requires 888MB of storage space.
Critics lambaste the "Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash" for its lack of new features and gameplay modes. Some critics praised the game's excellent effects and colorful characters which will surely appeal to hardcore "Mario" fans.
One new feature present on the "Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash" is the random appearance of mushrooms that cause characters to grow in size. Despite this interesting concept, the oversized characters are described as more of an annoyance rather than an improvement, according to Venture Beat.
Another disappointing feature is the lack of unique character attributes or skills. There are 16 playable characters to choose from but aside from physical appearance, everyone have the same set of skills that are not entirely unique from each other, according to IGN. While this creates a sense of balanced gameplay, it also prohibits players from mastering one character from another.
"Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash" also lacks replayability. The game lacks interesting modes and online challenges that could encourage players to keep playing. The game also lacks Tournament and Campaign modes.
The only saving grace of the game is its excellent character design and graphics. The effects that occasionally pop up while playing the game are also visually stimulating.