- Not to be confused with the game Mario Tennis for Game Boy Color.
| Mario Tennis | |
 North American boxart of the game Mario Tennis for Nintendo 64. | |
| Developer(s) | Camelot Software Planning[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Main Development Staff | Director: Haruki Kodera Producers: Hiroyuki Takahashi[2] Shinji Hatano Designers: Hiroshima Takahashi Shugo Takahashi Composer: Motoi Sakuraba[3] |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch |
| Release Date(s) | Nintendo 64  July 21, 2000  August 28, 2000  November 3, 2000 Nintendo Wii Virtual Console June 18, 2010 June 28, 2010 August 31, 2010 Nintendo Wii U Virtual Console July 9, 2015 December 17, 2015 July 20, 2016 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Online[4] October 25, 2021 |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Ratings | ESRB:  Everyone
|
| Mode(s) | 1-4 players |
| Media(s) | Nintendo 64 Game Pak |
| Input(s) | Nintendo 64 Controller |
Mario Tennis, also called Mario Tennis 64, is a tennis game developed by Camelot Software Planning[1] and released for the Nintendo 64 by Nintendo in 2000. It is the first game in the Mario Tennis series.
The game was re-released on the Nintendo Wii via the Virtual Console in Europe on June 18, 2010, in North America on June 28, 2010, and in Japan on August 31, 2010. However, the service was discontinued for Wii in January 2019.
The same game was also re-released on the Nintendo Wii U through the Virtual Console in North America on July 9, 2015, in Europe on December 17, 2015, and in Japan on July 20, 2016. Additionally, in Europe, the game was available via a free download code for the purchase of the game Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash for Wii U from the Nintendo eShop[5] between November 20, 2015 and December 17, 2015.
The game was also re-released worldwide on the Nintendo Switch and exclusively via the online subscription service Nintendo Switch Online[4] on October 25, 2021.
Playable Characters[]
The game has a total of sixteen playable characters, including two characters from the Donkey Kong series. Each character has a special strength that they use in gameplay.
Starter[]
- Mario (All-Around)
- Luigi (All-Around)
- Peach (Technique)
- Baby Mario (Speed)
- Yoshi (Speed)
- Donkey Kong (Power)
- Paratroopa (Tricky)
- Wario (Power)
- Waluigi (Technique)
- Daisy (Technique)
- Toad (Technique)
- Birdo (Speed)
- Bowser (Power)
- Boo (Tricky)
Unlockable[]
- Donkey Kong Jr. (Power)
- Shy Guy (Technique)
- Alex & Harry*
- Nina & Kate*
Notes:
* = Transferable character duos only via a Transfer Pak[6]
Courts[]
Starter[]
- Hard Court (Ball Speed: Normal / Bounce: Strong)
- Clay Court (Ball Speed: Slow / Bounce: Weak)
- Grass Court (Ball Speed: Fast / Bounce: Weak)
- Composition Court (Ball Speed: Fastest / Bounce: Normal)
- Open Court (Ball Speed: Normal / Bounce: Normal)**
Unlockable[]
- Mario Bros. Court (Ball Speed: Fast / Bounce: Weak)
- Baby Mario & Yoshi Court (Ball Speed: Fastest / Bounce: Weak)
- Wario & Waluigi Court (Ball Speed: Slow / Bounce: Strongest)
- Donkey Kong Court (Ball Speed: Fast / Bounce: Strongest)
- Mario & Luigi Court (Ball Speed: Fast / Bounce: Normal)
- Birdo & Yoshi Court (Ball Speed: Slow / Bounce: Strong)
- Piranha Court (Ball Speed: Normal / Bounce: Normal)***
Notes:
** = Only available in special game mode
*** = Only available in the Piranha Challenge
Transfering data between the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color versions[]
It is possible for the player to transfer data between the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color versions of Mario Tennis by using a Transfer Pak[6]. Therefore, the player can transfer original character duos from Mario Tennis for GBC, such as Alex & Harry, and Nina & Kate.
In the GBC version, Bowser, Yoshi, Waluigi and Wario can also be unlocked as playable characters via the Transfer Pak.
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first Mario Tennis series game to feature Donkey Kong as a playable character.
- It is the only game in the Mario Tennis series where Donkey Kong Jr. is a playable character.