PAX Preview: Mario Tennis Open, or How Our Editors Kill Each Other

In order to properly preview Mario Tennis Open, our Editor-in-Chief, Dan Tallarico, played our news editor, Chris Ullery. As you can imagine, they destroyed each other in proper gladiatorial tennis combat.

Considering there had to be both a winner and a loser, there’s obviously going to be some differing perspectives. Hit the break to read what both of ‘em had to say.

The Victor: Chris “Ultra” Ullery

Had Dan only been quicker to pick up on Mario Tennis Open’s relatively simple mechanics, perhaps he could have stood a better chance against the relentless assault of the princess of Sarsaraland. The basics are mostly unchanged from prior incarnations – pressing A and B in different sequences gives you access to topspin, backspin, lob, drop, and flat shots. 

Gone are the ridiculous power shots that tipped the scales seemingly randomly in Mario Power Tennis. Instead, a colored circle will appear on the ground when your opponent feeds you a particularly messy shot. These colors correspond to the different types of shots, recommending the best course of action in a given scenario. Stand in the circle and start charging up that particular shot and its effectiveness will boost significantly.

But it’s not all bad for poor Dan. Even though I gave him one too many galaxy-destroying smashes (the cinematic over-the-top replays are a great touch), there’s a co-operative mode available that offers a different experience. Players volley a rally back and forth through a superimposed image of Super Mario Bros., racking up collective points for smashing goombas and collecting coins. It’s a neat little mode that makes good use of the 3D effect.

Add in features like collectible equipment and perspective-altering gyroscope controls, and Mario Tennis Open is shaping up to be a neat little package. The game launches on May 20.

The Loser: Dan “I have a blog about Pizza” Tallarico

I’m a loser. I couldn’t handle the outrageous spin put on the ball by Daisy. The lobs that would melt in to the ground. The comets that shot out of her racquet.

As a turtle, I thought that playing on the sandy court would work as an advantage towards me. I mean, I’m a turtle who plays tennis. This is my wheelhouse. Yet, I was decimated and wasn’t even able to achieve a breakpoint. Such a simple concept. Tennis. You just hit the ball! But all that changes when there’s glowing spots on the ground that can augment shots. It enhances them; it’s an injection of adrenaline or steroids. Legal in Mario Tennis, but nowhere else. 

I was shocked that Daisy was so ferocious, especially after our partnership in Mario Power Tennis. As we volleyed the ball passed through a the familiar 1-1. We worked together to destroy goombas with a tennis ball, collect coins, travel down pipes. It was a pleasant first date. Or so I thought.

Then, as we know, I became a loser.