The Greatest Multiplayer Video Games: Mario Tennis

I'm doing a new segment on video games starting with this. I want to focus on multi player video games, because that's where the real fun is at. Social Gaming! Where else would I begin?

Mario Tennis for the N64 is one of the most fun and intense multi player games I've ever played. In my college tenure friends and I would play many many nights and we even had a room tournament. I live off-campus and I get guys telling me all the time how we should play Mario Tennis.

Anyone can pretty much pick up this game and play with it's two button and one control stick simplicity. Many may say it's Pong and well, tennis is pretty much that. Add in drop shots, lob shots, serves, and such and you've got tennis. But this is no ordinary tennis, this is Mario Tennis. Enter the characters of the Mushroom Kingdom, from Nintendo's Mario games and even a new character in Waluigi (the evil side of Luigi!). Think arcade tennis.

There are several classes of characters: All-Around, Power (serves in the 100mph plus), Speed (Quick character), Technique (Not quite sure...), and Tricky (the ability to put ridiculous curves on serves)

1 - 4 players are possible, but you really need 4 for the ultimate fun. I can crush you in one-on-one, but a doubles match takes great teamwork and timing on everyones part.

There are several ways to play multi player. One is the traditional court where things are normal for the game. The next way of play is "Rings." You play as individuals to attain a set number of rings by having shots go through the rings and the winner of that point collects all the rings the ball passed through. The other option is the "Bowser Court." This is a mode of play where power-ups exist for shots and the court actually moves and will make you slide since it is suspended form above.

Are you competitive? Do you want to win? There are so many "agh, oh man, what? that was amazing!" moments when you play. New phrases were associated with this game to describe a well played return that was difficult ("Good Get!").

One thing is, the drop shot *stars* lie!

Several Words to describe playing multi player: Frustrating and Amazing.

Too bad this isn't for more then 4 people. How could tennis pull that off anyway? For more then 4, go for Halo.

Buy a Nintendo 64 for this game alone and you won't be disappointed.