Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Mario Tennis: Power Tour brings the fast‐paced court action of its GameCube cousin to the Game Boy Advance with impressive depth for a handheld. At its core you have all the standard tennis moves—spins, drop shots, lobs, and smashes—each mapped intuitively to the GBA’s buttons and D‐pad. What really sets Power Tour apart, however, is the introduction of power shots. Offensive power shots let you unleash a crushing blow to end rallies, while defensive power shots give you that last‐ditch save when you’re cornered on the baseline.

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The real twist comes from its RPG‐style progression system. You choose between two rookie protagonists—Max or Tina—and guide them through the rigorous curriculum of the Royal Tennis Academy. Winning matches earns you Skill Points, which you can allocate to stats like Power, Control, Speed, and Stamina. As you pump up these attributes, you’ll notice your character’s serve speed skyrocketing, your slice shots hugging the lines better, and those all‐important defensive dives reaching farther.

Between tournament matches you’re free to explore the academy grounds, unlocking side‐quests and mini‐games to hone your abilities. The weight‐lifting room boosts Power, agility exercises increase Speed, and target‐practice challenges refine your Control. These bite‐sized diversions add a rewarding layer of strategy: decide whether to grind out extra stat boosts or push straight into the next academy class.

Graphics

For a Game Boy Advance title, Mario Tennis: Power Tour looks spectacular. Characters are rendered as crisp, colorful sprites that pop vividly against a diverse roster of courts—everything from the sun‐splashed island beaches to the polished indoor academy gym. Court surfaces and backgrounds carry enough detail to keep each environment feeling unique, from tropical palms swaying in the breeze to banners fluttering in the indoor arenas.

Animations are fluid and expressive, with each character boasting their own signature victory pose and power‐shot animation. The camera zooms dynamically during lobs and smashes, accentuating the drama of every point. Special effects like the glowing aura around a charged power shot or the dust clouds kicked up during a sliding volley underscore the high‐energy feel of matches.

Menus and HUD elements maintain that classic Mario charm—bright icons, clear typography, and a user‐friendly interface. Stat screens, training menus, and match status bars are all easy to read on the GBA’s compact screen. While it can’t rival its console cousin in sheer polygon count, Power Tour’s art direction more than compensates, delivering a vibrant presentation that feels perfectly at home in Mario’s world.

Story

Mario Tennis: Power Tour weaves a lighthearted, RPG‐inspired narrative around the familiar tennis action. You start as a raw recruit at Royal Tennis Academy, choosing to play as either plucky Max or spirited Tina. Your ultimate goal is to earn a spot at the prestigious Island Open Championships, but first you’ll have to impress your peers, defeat rival classmates, and rise through the academy’s tiered class system.

Along the way you’ll meet quirky NPCs—coaches who dish out training advice, classmates who challenge you to impromptu matches, and even Toadsworth, who oversees the academy’s operations. Dialogue is kept snappy and upbeat, with charming character portraits adding personality to each exchange. Story mode also allows you to recruit an AI partner for doubles matches, whose own growth follows a smaller progression curve.

The narrative structure does an excellent job of motivating you to grind stats without ever feeling like busywork. Every victory not only boosts your Skill Points but also unlocks new tournaments, fresh rivalries, and hidden mini‐quests. By the time you reach the Island Open, you’ll feel emotionally invested in your avatar’s journey and eager to showcase all the skills you’ve developed.

Overall Experience

Mario Tennis: Power Tour succeeds brilliantly as both a pick‐up‐and‐play sports title and a surprisingly deep RPG hybrid. Casual players can jump into exhibition matches for quick points, while completionists will find hours of engaging progression in story mode. The pacing is spot‐on: you rarely feel discouraged by repeated losses because each match, win or lose, still nets valuable training points.

Multiplayer adds further replay value. Link-up support lets you trade in hand‐to‐hand rivalries, whether you’re facing off in Singles or teaming up for Doubles. You can even pit your fully powered‐up protagonists against friends’ custom characters, turning your earsplitting rallies into bragging rights on the playground.

Between its accessible controls, charming presentation, and cleverly balanced progression system, Mario Tennis: Power Tour remains one of the GBA’s shining gems. Whether you’re a tennis enthusiast or a Mario aficionado, this portable spin on the franchise offers enough depth and personality to keep you rallying for hours on end. It’s a must-have for any handheld sports collection.

Retro Replay Score

8.2/10