The New Play Control range is a bit of a cash-in for Nintendo - All those games you used to play (Or didn't) with all new semi-responsive control system!

Now Mario Power Tennis on the Gamecube wasn't the best of the bunch, but what it did do was provide a Tennis game with all the typical Mario charm. Nintendo sports games are often deviated by luck of the draw where power ups are concerned, and you're love/hate relationship with this wonderful/annoying trend will no doubt make your mind up for you when playing the game. If you're up for an out-n-out Tennis game, you're looking at the wrong review, go seek out Virtua Tennis or something of similar ilk. If you're looking for something that's designed with a party atmosphere in mind... Well... Prepare to probably look elsewhere again.

The new play control, as mentioned, is not what it's cracked up to be. As Pikmin was equally hammed up with "improvements", so too is Mario Tennis. Where a simple button press would do with the Gamecube title, here you're left swinging your right arm like you're spanking a slow mule - But the damn thing just trots on when it feels like it. There's no nuance here, no flair, it's just a repackaged game that was done better in the iteration previous (The N64 version still stands as the best Mario Tennis in the series).

Nintendo love to add feature upon feature in their games. It's just a shame that more doesn't necessarily mean better.