Update News
Mario Tennis Ultra Smash Releases
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 19, in the year of our Lord 2015
– In the Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash game, launching for the Wii U
console on Nov. 20, up to four players of all skill levels will
be able to volley, slice and lob with some of Nintendo’s most
classic characters using some outrageous powered-up moves. Jump
high into the air and send the ball screaming down the court
with the new Jump Shot, grab a Mega Mushroom to gain a HUGE
advantage over opponents in Mega Battle (a mode new to the
series) or execute an Ultra Smash, a devastating volley that can
be difficult to return. You can even take your skills online and
partner up with one of many compatible amiibo in online doubles
matches.
Let’s look in on a match in progress between Mario & Luigi and
Princess Peach & Toad…
Love – Love: The match begins with a powerful serve from Mario,
which is quickly returned by Princess Peach. Since the players
chose to play this doubles match in Mega Battle mode, a new mode
in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, the familiar Mega Mushroom
power-up appears on the court. AND TOAD JUST PICKED IT UP! This
match just got even more exciting! After grabbing the Mega
Mushroom, Toad grew to gigantic proportions and now has some
added benefits like upgraded swing power and the ability to
cover more ground. Mario and Luigi had better watch out with
this Mega Toad on the court.
Love – 15: Well, that Mega Mushroom paid off, as Toad and
Princess Peach scored the first point. Now the match is
continuing, with Mario and Luigi volleying back and forth with
Toad and Princess Peach. Uh oh. It looks like a glowing circle
just appeared on the court. That’s a Chance Area, which allows
players to dish out even more powerful swings. Actually, this
looks like an Ultra Smash Point, a large Chance Area that lets
players activate a powerful Ultra Smash. Luigi stands on this
Ultra Smash Point and CONNECTS! Ultra Smash unleashed! Point for
Mario and Luigi.
15 – 15: Instead of Mario & Luigi vs. Toad & Princess Peach,
many other fan-favorite characters from the Mushroom Kingdom
could have been a part of this match, since Mario Tennis: Ultra
Smash features a large cast of playable tennis stars, including
three who are new to the series. Classic mainstays Mario, Luigi,
Toad, Princess Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Boo, Bowser, Wario, Waluigi,
Donkey Kong, Bowser Jr. (for the first time in his Junior Clown
Car) and Dry Bowser are joined by newcomers Sprixie Princess
from Super Mario 3D World, Rosalina and Toadette. Oh, look,
while giving you background on all the classic playable
characters, Mario and Luigi just scored another point with a
clean shot right over the net! Nice job, Mario and Luigi!
30 – 15: While this match continues to heat up, it might be a
good time to quickly talk about the amazing amiibo functionality
in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash. (Nice return by Princess Peach!)
Using a compatible amiibo figure, players can partner with their
figure in an online doubles match! (Wow, look at Mario’s
backhand form!) In Knockout Challenge, another new mode in Mario
Tennis: Ultra Smash, players team up with a compatible amiibo to
get the longest winning streak against progressively tougher
opponents. After five wins in this mode, the amiibo earns a
Perk, which can be saved to the amiibo figure. More Perks make
the amiibo even more powerful on the court. (And with that lob,
Mario and Luigi score again!)
40 – 15: Here it is. Game, set, match point. Can Mario and Luigi
pull it off? Leading up to this intense final, Mario and Luigi
trained in many different modes in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash. In
addition to Mega Battle mode, they trained in Classic Tennis in
Standard and Simple modes, two modes that remove the Mega
Mushroom and offer a more traditional tennis experience. When
playing Mega Ball Rally mode, they honed their skills by
rallying back and forth as many times as possible as the huge
Mega Ball got faster and faster. And of course there were a
series of fun challenges that unlocked hidden content in the
game. So Mario and Luigi had plenty of singles and doubles modes
to practice their skills in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash leading up
to this moment. But the question is: As the match continues with
the formidable Toad and Princess Peach, will all their training
pay off? The crowd goes wild (well, as wild as crowds get at a
tennis match), as Princess Peach picks up a Mega Mushroom. It
looks like she and Toad are about to extend this match into at
least one more point … BUT NO! Luigi once again stands on a
Chance Area and launches a drop shot back to Toad and Princess
Peach, who miss the shot mid-dive! Mario and Luigi win! Game.
Set. Match!
Thank you so much for joining us today, ladies and gentlemen
(and Yoshis). This tennis match was a real corker. If you want
to duplicate the action you witnessed on the courts today, you
can get Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash when it launches in stores, in
the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and at Nintendo.com on Nov. 20 at a
suggested retail price of $49.99. You can even take your skills
online with players who also have an Internet connection. What
an exciting day and what a glorious match. Congratulations to
Mario and Luigi and an amazing effort from Toad and Princess
Peach.