Released on 25-May-2012

In Mario Tennis Open on Nintendo 3DS you can enjoy tactical tennis fun like never before, thanks to the unique gyro sensor and Touch Screen controls that the 3DS has to offer!

You can play singles and rule the open on your own, or go multiplayer for fun with up to four people in a range of different modes. Play with friends both locally or online, or search for other keen Mario Tennis Open players in your area with online searching. Serve, volley and smash your way through the circuit and see if you have what it takes to reach the top of the leaderboard. If you have friends nearby, you can even play a multiplayer match with just one copy of the game through Nintendo 3DS Download Play!

Choose from some of your favourite Nintendo characters or use your Mii character for a more personalised tennis experience. You can even customise your player of choice by winning coins and unlocking items from the in-game shop.

Mario Tennis Open on Nintendo 3DS utilises StreetPass in new and exciting ways. Play against other players you meet in the street without even lifting a finger and see if you bag some coins as a reward. It's a whole new ball game!

Mario Tennis Open Features:

• Choose from a variety of control options: traditional buttons, Touch Screen controls or new gyro sensor controls!
• Play online against players in your region or set up a group with your friends
• Play locally with just one Mario Tennis Open Game Card
• Enjoy virtual play via StreetPass and use any coins you win to upgrade your player!
  

Downloadable copy of Mario Tennis Open Available

Please Note: Mario Tennis Open for Nintendo 3DS is 2074 Blocks (258 MB). Check that you have enough space on your SD Card to download and install this title, if you need more storage space click here for our range of fully compatible SD Cards and how to download.

• GAME : 3DS update Round-up

  
  

  GAME : 3DS update Round-up

  If there's one thing the latest generation of consoles has taught us, it's that newly purchased gaming systems aren't the finished article when you first take them out of their shiny wrapping. Not to say they 're lacking anything fundamental, far from it in fact, but system updates now mean it's possible for platform holders like Nintendo to dramatically improve a console's functionality and boost the user experience post-launch.

  

  December's free 3DS system update is a prime example, introducing fresh game content, social features and hardware functionality to the console. Here, GAME runs you through all the major new additions.

  
  

  3D Filming!

  One of our favourite new features is the ability to make ten minute long 3D videos with just a few simple button presses. Icons on the 3DS touch screen allow you to select or fine-tune different recording features such as the 3D effect, altering the sharpness and brightness of your video, and choosing whether to film in regular colour, black and white or sepia. The quality of the recordings we've made so far is surprisingly good, although you obviously have to see them in person to get the full 3D effect.

  While the basic ability to record in 3D is a cool feature in itself, special praise is reserved for the three Trick Shot modes. Interval Shot takes still snaps at your choice of intervals, between every half a second and 60 seconds, before playing them in a rapid slideshow.

  Frame Pick, which essentially enables you to create stop-motion animations, is similar to Interval Shot except it lets you capture images of a physically manipulated object whenever you choose, creating the illusion of movement when the series of pictures is played as a continuous sequence.

  Meanwhile, Clip Link enables you to record various video segments which are then mashed together in the same video file. There's no doubt that budding animators and movie makers will spend a lot of time playing around with these simple to use but rewarding new video recording features.

  
  

  New Plaza updates

  The system update also introduces a range of new features for Mii Plaza, the place where 3DS owners can view the Mii characters they've met via StreetPass (which automatically swaps the Miis and gameplay profiles of players who pass each other on their travels). These include a follow-up to the free, in-built 3DS RPG-style game StreetPass Quest, and new 3D puzzles of famous Nintendo characters to complete by collecting pieces from other players.

  

  
  

  You now receive congratulatory messages in the Mii Plaza for achieving goals such as meeting a certain numbers of Miis or ones from different countries (which are displayed on a new StreetPass Map showing the locations of all the Miis you've encountered), or by working your way through StreetPass Quest 2. There are 78 accomplishments to get in total and a congratulatory message for each. They also unlock up to 35 different tunes to listen to in a new Mii Plaza Music Player.

  The new Puzzle Panel pieces we've collected so far are for Donkey Kong Country Returns and Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D. The puzzles themselves are larger than the originals, with 24 pieces to collect instead of 15, including four pink pieces which can only be collected via StreetPass (others can be purchased with Play Coins, a virtual currency accumulated by carrying your 3DS around with you like a pedometer).

  
  

  New Street Pass Quest

  StreetPass Quest 2, in which you control a team of fighters made up of your friends' Miis, challenges players to save three fictional family members kidnapped by slimy monsters and placed in separate cages. It contains branching paths as well as brand new enemies, and even lets players make parties of Miis to carry out team attacks using weapons or magic. The game also offers players the chance to collect a total of 57 hats for their Miis, compared to the original game's 16, but the title's only accessible if you've completed the first one twice.

  
  

  Download Demos

  Additionally, the 3DS system update paves the way for players to download demos of 3DS games, although none have been made available yet, as well as making it easier to browse and pay for games and content in the Nintendo eShop. Players can now transfer games purchased from the eShop, as well as account funds and save data including photographs and audio files, from one 3DS system to another too.

  
  

  Summary

  All in all, the 3DS system update is an impressive release, adding great new hardware functionality, amusing new game content and cool new social features. It has been almost nine months since release and our 3DS feels like a fresher piece of kit than ever before, all of which leaves us eagerly awaiting the next major system update.

  

  Published: 14/12/2011

• What has Mario got planned in 2012?

  2011 has been a fantastic year for gaming most recognisable face, Nintendo Mario, and 2012 looks set to be another. From platforming to kart racing, tennis, Olympic sports, role playing and party games, the portly yet agile plumber is clearly a highly versatile character who can do it all. Here, GAME takes a look back at a couple of the best Mario games from this year, in case you missed them, and looks ahead to some of 2012 undoubted highlights.

  3DS hasn exactly been lacking in quality games in its first year on the market, but the arrival of Super Mario Land 3D (3DS) in November and the launch of Mario Kart 7 earlier this month have really made the portable console a must own system. Mixing the best elements of older Mario games with new ideas and technology, the former is perhaps best described as a blend of the more straightforward, accessible 2D Super Mario Bros. games for Wii and DS and Wii more challenging 3D Super Mario Galaxy titles. Its magical worlds are essentially made up of left to right dashes through obstacle courses, which see players running, jumping, hovering and gliding to master the environments with the aim of reaching a flagpole at the end of each level. With simple, intuitive controls, it instantly accessible and there always a clear path to completing each stage, usually littered with coins to collect, question blocks to bump and enemies to stomp. But Mario can also wander around a little in the game 3D environments, and only explorers and the most skilled players will locate all of the secret areas, items and unlockables ingeniously hidden away in the expertly designed levels.

  Mario Kart 7 is another must-play title for newcomers and series veterans alike, mixing old and new to great effect too. It offers 16 new courses and 16 classic ones from older MK games for players to compete on, all based on environments and characters from Nintendo Mushroom Kingdom. The best showcase of the console's 3D screen yet, theye absolutely gorgeous to look at and just as well designed, featuring exciting new airborne and underwater sections to compliment the on-track action. With basic accelerate, brake, fire and jump buttons, the game easy enough that anyone can pick it up and play instantly, but itl take months of practice to master the multi-route tracks, learn all of the shortcuts and become an online karting king.

  Looking ahead to 2012, Mario will be joined by a host of Nintendo stablemates as well as characters from Square Enix popular Dragon Quest series in January release Boom Street (Wii). A Monopoly-style board game that challenges players to play the real estate and stock markets to win,here are 27 characters to choose from 13 from Mario games, 13 from Dragon Quest and your Mii and over 15 boards based on memorable areas from each series, with different shapes and layouts providing loads of replay value. Players race around the board trying to accumulate wealth and hit a target value while buying, selling and trading property to see who can be the first to cash out, and with both beginner and advanced settings, it could be the perfect game to get the family huddled round the telly on those cold winter nights.

  Mario Tennis (3DS) also looks set to be a smash hit next year. If previous games in the series are anything to go by, itl do its best to nail the balance between realism and zany, fast-paced tennis action starring all of your favourite Mushroom Kingdom characters, as well as a few surprise ones. Wee expecting a mixture of tactical tennis gameplay, special moves and plenty of mini-games that should make a great title for Mario and sports fans alike.

  Mario and friends, including Sega favourites like Sonic the Hedgehog, will keep things physical in Mario & Sonic At The London 2012 Olympics on the Nintendo 3DS, which launches in February 2012. Players will go for gold in over 50 Olympic events that make full use of the handheld different control methods, serving up a wide variety of ways to play. Competing for the top of the podium alone or in head-to-head games with friends, players will frantically slide the Circle Pad round and round to row, tilt the system to keep their balance on the beam, and blow into the microphone to keep breathing at the right time while swimming.

  Also in 2012, players will see the moustachioed, genre-hopping plumber embark on an exciting new role playing adventure in Paper Mario also on the Nintendo 3DS. It will feature frantic, turn-based battles set in a colourful and varied 3D world that takes in weapons, locations and items from Mario past and present,. It will also require clever strategic use of a range of ability-giving stickers, which can be used to carry out attacks on enemies or to fill in missing parts of the levels.
  

  Published: 21/12/2011

• More Mario incoming for 3DS

  If you gorged on the excellent double whammy of Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land over Christmas, rest assured Nintendo has more of the rotund plumber planned for 2012.

  As well as already announced titles such as Luigi's Mansion 2, Mario Tennis and Paper Mario for the 3D-enabled handheld, Nintendo big cheese Satoru Iwata revealed that another Mario game is planned for release sometime between March and early 2013. This game will be a "totally new side-scrolling action Super Mario in 2D" and is described as a "key title" in Nintendo's 3DS strategy.

  The news followed another rousing sales announcement for the 3DS, as Nintendo confirmed it is now the company's fastest selling console of all time, across the world. Over eleven million of the things have been sold in Europe, Japan and the US.

• Mario Tennis Open serves up this May

  Multitalented gaming icon Mario will once again be taking to the tennis courts in Mario Tennis Open for Nintendo 3DS this May.

  The latest entry in the sports series sees Mario and friends engaging in fast-paced 3D tennis action, with intuitive basic controls complemented by special power shots and unique abilities.

  In addition to standard button controls, the 3DS game lets players use the Touch Screen to execute special shots more easily, while optional gyro controls can also be used to control the direction of strokes by tilting the machine.

  Multiplayer will also be as big a part of the experience as ever, as Mario Tennis Open offers four-player local wireless matches using a single copy of the game.

  It will also be the first Mario Tennis title to include online multiplayer, allowing players to compete against others across the world, earn points and move up the global leaderboards.

  The release of Mario Tennis Open comes hot on the heels of the recent 3DS success of Mario Kart 7 and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

  Published: 24/02/2012

• Nintendo 3DS - Great Games Coming Soon

  
  

  The Nintendo 3DS has been with us for just over a year now - where does the time go? - and in that time it's really started to come into its own. With an array of features and controls that can't be found anywhere else, the latest games for this handheld feature some classic Nintendo icons as well as creating some new ones, and show that you can have console-quality gaming on the go, and that 3D is here to stay!

  

  Mario Tennis Open

  Mario once again proves that he's as adept at sports as he is with a plunger in a game that offers tactical tennis fun previous unseen on a handheld. With a choice of traditional controls or the use of touchscreen and gyro sensors, Mario Tennis Open offers players a chance to really maek use of what the 3DS can do. It also takes advantage of Nintendo's StreetPass, letting you play online with friends or with other players in the local area, as well as the chance to upgrade your player. Whether it's a friendly game or a fight to the championship, Mario Tennis Open and 3DS are a perfect match.

  

  Heroes of Ruin

  Heroes of Ruin is the first RPG designed specifically for the 3DS, and takes unique advantage of the handheld's interactive features. You can quest alone or with other players both locally or online using drop-in, drop-out gameplay. There are extra daily challenges online to earn rewards, you can meet and trade with other players using the 3DS social features, and even buy in-game items using StreetPass. And on top of all this, the game itself is fun and immersive, coming from the strong RPG pedigree of Square Enix.

  

  Luigi's Mansion 2

  The original Luigi's Mansion was a launch title for the GameCube back in 2001 and has become something of a cult classic. This follow-up promises more of the same, sending Luigi back into a haunted mansion to capture ghosts using his "Poltergust 5000" vacuum cleaner. Promising a more puzzle-based approach than it's predecessor, Luigi's Mansion 2 also makes use of the gyroscopic controls to move Luigi around the mansion, and will finally deliver the 3D ghost-chasing that they didn't quite manage for the original!

  

  Azada

  There aren't many games that suit a transfer from PC to 3DS, but Azada is just that. Following the misadventures of hapless magician Titus, this is a series of mini-games, hidden object games and escape the room puzzles. This may seem like a simpler, older style of gameplay, but it's one that suits the on-the-go nature of the 3DS and seems a suitable follow-up title for fans of Professor Layton and other puzzle games.

  

  Animal Crossing

  Another Nintendo franchise gets a 3D facelift as Animal Crossing arrives on the 3DS. The use of 3D is said to be subtle, giving a new depth and detail to the animal village, with the bigger changes coming in the form of how much more you can do within the game itself. Customisation has been enhanced for both your player and your home, allowing for more choice in type of house, furniture and clothing. For fans of the series looking to move from DS to 3DS, this "a bit more of everything" approach is really all the reason you need!

  Published: 08/05/2012

• Mario Tennis Open - Review

  
  

  

  Lets'a Go!

  Mario Tennis Open is just what 3DS owners need, even if they don't know it yet. Developed by the Mario Tennis savvy folks over at Camelot, Open drops the over-the-top nature of its Power Tennis days and instead opts for a simpler strategic approach. Mario Tennis Open has the trademark Nintendo charm lathered all over it, from retro nods to gorgeous character models and addictive gameplay.

  
  

  Making a Racket

  Mario Tennis Open isn't about super-mega-powerful shots and power-ups, it's about the sport of tennis. The subtle strategy of knowing when to use the Slice, Backhand and Lobs to your advantage. Shots still leave a colourful trail behind them, and you can now use 'Chance Shots' which blast explosions of colour, and which can be achieved when you step into the coloured squares that appear during a rally. Press the right button you will perform a shot that will blast over or around your opponent, and while these can be countered and returned, failure to do so using the right shot will leave you stunned for a moment, leaving your court wide open to your opponent.

  

  There's plenty of content for you to get your teeth into with Open. The main chunk of the single player mode is taken up by tournaments, which hitch up in difficulty as you go and become a fairly decent challenge early on. However, if you want a real challenge then you will want to hop online and take on your friends - or the masses - in the Online and Local Multiplayer modes.

  Mario Tennis Open also includes some very addictive mini games. our favourite was Ring Shot, which challenges you to get a high score hitting your ball through growing rings on the tennis court. The bigger the rings grow, the less points you will ear and not only that, if you hit your ball through several rings you will earn more points with a multiplier of sorts - which we certainly needed as the difficulty increased.

  
  

  What the Deuce?

  Mii Customisation plays a big part in this game. As you conquer tournaments - and other players - you will start to unlock clothing and equipment in the Item Shop which you can use your hard earned gold coins to equip your character. Different items will allow you to upgrade your Mii's Power, Spin and Move skills. There are some items you can only unlock by completing certain tasks within the game, such as earning a certain amount of coins during the retro Mario 1-4 level, offering a real sense of reward which you wouldn't receive from an Achievement or Trophy.

  

  Brilliant use of the addictive StreetPass functionality allows you to challenge the Miis you have met while out-and-about to a heated rally. It records your StreetPass match-winning streak which could become competitive around the office or playground. You can also take part in the addictive Ring Shot mode with StreetPassed Mii's and access a handy list of all the Mario Tennis Open 3DS StreetPass players you have encountered.

  Mario Tennis Open also provides some of the best use of Download Play in a Nintendo title yet. It allows up to 4 players to download the game from one 3DS to their own system, letting you all play singles or doubles, tackle several mini games together, and you can even pick which character you can play as (including your own Mii) without being restricted to a generic coloured Shy Guy like in Mario Kart 7.

  Mario Tennis Open is a title worthy of being in all 3DS owners collections no matter what age or gender. It's a blast to play and provides hours of fun. Some of the challenges in the game are pretty tough and will even have the most hardened gamers retrying again and again. Serve up your copy of Mario Tennis Open right now!

  GAME's Verdict

  
  

  The Good

  • Seamless online play
    
  • Charming ensemble of characters
    
  • Most robust use of Download Play yet!

  The Bad

  • Gyro controls can get in the way if you don't turn them off
    
  • The mini games might make you forget you have a life to be getting on with...

  We can't wait to take you folks on the court! Drop your 3DS friend code to us on Twitter (@Gamedigital) or email it to us on twitter@game.co.uk with the subject line 'Mario Tennis Open' to take us on!

  Published: 18/05/2012

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