____ ____ _____ _____ ___ ______ / \/ \ / \ | \ | | / __ \ | \ / ^ \ | |\ \ | | / / \ \ | |\ /| | | / \ \ | |/ / | | | | | | | | \ / | | | --- | | / | | | | | | | | \/ | | | _____ | | \ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |\ \ | | \ \__/ / |__| |__| |__| |__| |__| \__\ |___| \______/ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_ \_ \_\_ \_ \_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_\_\_\_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_ \_\_ \_ \_\_ \_ \_\_\_\_\_ ____ / / / / ____ / / __| | / \ / /| | / /\ \ / / | | \ \/ / / |_| |__ \____/ |____ __| | | |__| A FAQ written and created by Paul Schlabach, a.k.a. sndgarden69 on 8/22/00 ____ __ _ __ __ __ ___ __ ____ __ _ __ __ / __// \///_ \ /__\ / _\ /___\ /_ \ / __// \// / / / \ / /_ / /\ /// \ \// /// /// //__//// \ \/ /_ / /\ / / / / /\ \ /__ // / //// / //__ / /// / _/// / / __// / // / \ \ \/ / __/// / ////__/ /// // _ / / /\ \//__/ / /__/ / // / /\ \ \ / /__//_/ ///_____/\__//_/// /_/ \/_____/____/_/ // \ \/ / / / \__/ / / Thanks for checking out my FAQ. If you liked Mario Golf, play this game. It features some of the same features that made it fun, and a better multiplayer mode. This is my first FAQ, so don’t critique me too harshly. Version History 8/22/00 V1.0-Created FAQ 8/24/00 V1.1-Created Title art and few minor corrections 8/25/00 V1.11-Fixed title art ‘cause of screwy spacing things 8/28/00 V1.2-Created players ranks and a team 8/31/00 V1.8-Added a few teams and courts and fixed small things 9/12/00 V2.2-Created numbered stats and teams and logos 10/2/00 V2.5-Added my logo and fixed minor things people have been griping about 11/7/00 V2.6-Added a few doubles teams after a major break-mostly for writing Fallout 2 FAQ 12/10/00 V2.99-Finished everything except whenever I find time to beat the star tournaments to confirm max difficulty cheat 12/29/00 VFinal-Finished everything in this thing! I have freed myself from the shackles of the beast! Contents I. Disclaimer II. How to Contact Me III. Modes of Play IV. Court Design V. Court Surfaces VI. Controls VII. Basic Strategies VIII. Tournaments IX. Bowser Stage Items X. Original Characters XI. Hidden Characters XII. Good Doubles Teams XIII. Ranking List XIV. Cheats XV. Special Thanks ********** Disclaimer ********** Do not attempt to copy or recreate this document for anything. So far this FAQ has been posted on: www.gamefaqs.com www.cheatcc.com www.gameadvice.com (linked from gamewinners.com) www.gamingplanet.com www.cheatplanet.com www.cheatcity.com www.gamecenter.com www.mariotennisFAQ.homestead.com/index.html If you see this on any other web sites, let me know, and it will be greatly appreciated. This FAQ is copyright 2000 by Paul Schlabach. How to Contact Me Please e-mail your constructive criticism, corrections (yes, even I can be wrong from time to time!) and/or suggestions to sndgarden69@hotmail.com. If I include something from you in this FAQ, it will be noted at the bottom. Please put a subject name on it and I will respond as fast as I can. Also, I would like to present this one quote to you: ‘great guide it helped me at this game when I rented it I liked it so much I am gonna buy the game thanks 4 making such a wicked guide!’ (By the way, this was emailed to me from PatG758@aol.com. Thanks!) I was just pointing that out because all good emails that aren’t about corrections or problems should be like that. Time for the FAQ! ************* Modes of Play ************* There are a couple different modes of play in Mario Tennis, all of which I will explain. Singles Matches- A one on one match between you and your opponent. Doubles Matches- A two on two match between 2 teams of players. Tournaments- There are three tournaments available when you start the game. You proceed through the rankings, in either doubles or singles matches. If you win, you get a trophy and move on to the next highest tournament. Piranha Challenge- Several piranha plants spit balls at you and you must hit them past your rival more often than the plants spit them past you. Ring Shot- While volleying with your opponent, you must hit the ball through target rings and win the point to get credit for the rings. Bowser Stage- While playing on Bowser’s court, aim for the power-up boxes which can be used by hitting R. These items can stun your opponent, which usually wins a point. However, the court also tips where the most weight is located, so don’t run too far. ************ Court Design ************ _________________ | | 4 | 4 | | | |<5 |<3 5>| | | |_____|_____| | 6>| | 1 | 1 | |<6 | | | | | | | | | | |_|_____|_____|_| | | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 6>| |_____|_____| |<6 | | 1 | 1 | | | |<5 |<3 5>| | |_|_____|_____|_| 4 4 NOTE: Numbers represent the line above them except 3,5, and 6 which all have an arrow 1-Service return line Don’t go past this before the opponent’s serve gets returned, or they get the point. Behind these lines is what is known as the backcourt. 2-Net Hit it over this every time. If you hit the net when serving, it’s known as a fault unless it dribbles onto your opponents court in which case it’s a let, which has no penalty. After two faults, your opponent wins the point. 3-Center Line This line represents the center of the court. Stay at the T of the service return line and center line while waiting for a return unless you’re rushing the net. 4-Serving Line You have to serve from behind this line. Also, if you hit past this line, it is out of play and your opponent gets the point. 5-Baseline Alternate hitting to these to keep your opponent on the run, but if you hit it over them, it is also out in singles play. 6-Sideline When playing a doubles match, this is out from side to side. ************** Court Surfaces ************** There are many different court surfaces in Mario Tennis, offering a great variety of gameplay. These courts are rated by the ball speed and amount of bounce on each court. Try to use a slice on a weak bounce court, as it will hardly bounce at all, while you should try to use a topspin on a strong bounce court to force your foe to hurry a shot. Open Ball Speed Normal Bounce Strong This is the most neutral court you’ll play on, it is only available for special matches. Hard Ball Speed Normal Bounce Strong The surface used in the Mushroom Cup, this court has a higher bounce than most courts. This court favors all-around players. Clay Ball Speed Slow Bounce Weak The surface used in the Flower Cup, the clay court favors technique players with a shallow bounce and a slower ball speed. Grass Ball Speed Fast Bounce Weak The surface used in the Star Cup, this is Mario Tennis’ Wimbledon. This court will slightly favor power players. Composition Ball Speed Fastest Bounce Normal This surface is not available in any tournament. The ball speed being so high, technique players will have a field day. Mario Brothers Court Ball Speed Fast Bounce Weak A grass court with Mario and Luigi on it, the Mario Brothers Court will slightly favor the famous plumber brothers themselves. Donkey Kong Court Ball Speed Fast Bounce Strongest This court favors apes like DK or other power players. Watch out for wide shots, as they are harder than ever to return on this court. Wario and Waluigi Court Ball Speed Slow Bounce Strongest This court benefits quicker and taller players like Waluigi and Peach. Birdo and Yoshi Court Ball Speed Slow Bounce Strong Again, being a slow and bouncy court, it favors players such as Waluigi. Mario and Luigi Court Ball Speed Fast Bounce Normal This court is great for a match against friends, with fast paced action being the standard. Use all-around or power players to your advantage. Baby Mario and Yoshi Court Ball Speed Fastest Bounce Weak Like the mascots themselves, this is a fast court with weak bounce, favoring the speedy players who can get to mostly everything. Pirahna Court Ball Speed Normal Bounce Normal Only available in Pirahna Plant Challenge, it serves to remind you of the test you passed by getting a perfect. ******** Controls ******** Alright, thankfully these controls are easy to learn and not numerous in count, but also take a degree of talent to master. A Topspin shot B Slice A, then B Lob B, then A Drop Shot A, then A Topspin power shot (orange trail) B, then B Slice power shot (blue trail) A or B, then A+B power smash (purple trail) On the power shots, get in place and tap the button and you’ll start to charge up your shot. When the ball comes to you hit the desired shot combination and it will be powered up. However, placement comes before power, so be careful. **************** Basic Strategies **************** Serving When serving, you can serve it down the middle or ram it up the corner. Hitting it to the corner almost guarantees a point when you send the return to the opposite side. However, this is risky, as your serve may go out or it will go right to the opponent and they’ll blast one down the line. By hitting it to the middle, your going to be in for a longer volley than if you hit wide. Basically, high risk, high return. There is one shot that will almost guarantee you an ace, though. If you hit a power serve (A+B) at the point of the T of the serving line and center line. This is the hardest serve to accomplish, so it’s really up to you. Baseline Without baseline play, you won’t have a successful net game, and without a net or baseline game, you’ll lose. If you stay in the center of the court your opponent will have a hard time hitting it by you. Also, mix it up when hitting to the baseline to keep your opponent guessing. Sometimes, it helps to hit one right back at an opponent in the corner when they’ve been on the run, because they’ll be scrambling to get to the other side of the court. Net If you’re at the net, you have a good chance to win the point, or you’re in a defensive mode attempting to stay alive. There isn’t much strategy once you get to the net, unless there is a star on your side of the net near the net. Use an overhead smash (A+B) to bash it down. You must time the hit right, or you’ll tap it in the net and the neighbors will wonder why you’re yelling at your controller. Serve Returning You have to be able to react quickly when players like Bowser are bashing serves at you at speeds up to 108 mph! Also Boo’s tricky serve will leave you on your ass if you’re not careful, as he can steer it through the air. This part is VERY important! DO NOT CHEAT! Do not take a step to the middle if that’s where Bowser has been serving all game because chances are he’ll serve it wide and ace you. *********** Tournaments *********** NORMAL TOURNAMENTS Mushroom Cup Court: Hard Court Description: Way too easy. I certainly hope this is an easy one, as I’m afraid I can’t help you if you can’t get past this tourney. My grandmother can beat this one in her sleep. Flower Cup Court: Clay Court Description: A bit tougher than Mushroom, Flower is still pretty easy. Don’t be fooled when charging up shots as the clay court can force less bounce and speed, throwing off your timing. Again, shouldn’t be a tough one. Star Cup Court: Grass Court Description: This is the toughest of the Normal Tournaments, this can be a killer with the crappy players. For example, if you wish to proceed to the Star Tournaments, this is where you may get stuck. The last one is especially tough, as it will occasionally be Bowser, a pain in the ace (That’s a pun, get it? It’s funny) anyways. STAR TOURNAMENTS Rainbow Cup Court: Hard Court Description: This is again an easy one. Much like the Mushroom Cup, but with the Handicap/Star feature enabled. Hopefully, this will not be a challenge to those who can reach the Star Tournaments. Moonlight Cup Court: Clay Court Description: Be careful with the charging up again. Also, the second match is a 3 set match as well as the final, I believe. Planet Cup Court: Grass Court Description: The highly prestigous Planet Cup is coveted by all those who obtain it. Or I think so, anyway. This is definitely the hardest Mario Tennis tournament. The final match is a grueling five sets! ****************** Bowser Stage Items ****************** Much like in Mariokart games, items can be used in the Bowser stage to hobble your opponents. Banana When a player steps on a banana peel, they will slip on their butts and be stunned for 4-5 seconds. However, with my luck, they dodge through five bananas and return everything I hit at them and then I’ll smoke it by them and they’ll take out a couple even though they won’t get there. Koopa Shell Three green shells shoot out in three trajectories: straight ahead, and to 45 degrees to either side. They stun players for 4-5 seconds and are stunningly easy to dodge. Paratroopa Shell The red shell curves toward its target and stuns them for the standard 4-5 seconds. These are also remarkably easy to dodge, althought the CPU occasionally has problems with it. Lightning This bolt of lightning weakens everyone but you. This can be good or bad, depending on the situation, as it also hurts you partner. Just be careful when using this, and you’ll be okay. Star While you are glowing, your character will hit harder and more powerful shots. This is a good thing and is probably one of the best items. Mushroom Supposedly this item speeds up your character for a short amount of time, although a great speed increase is only evident in the chubby characters, DK, Wario, and Bowser. ******************* Original Characters ******************* In this section, I will explain the character’s playing style, and strategies to use when using the character or playing against the character. I will also rate the players in different categories with 1 being the best and 10 the worst. I will also attempt to recreate the logo on the players racket. Mario Style: All-Around /\ /\ / \/ \ / /\ /\ \ \/ \/ \/ Like always, Mario is one of the well rounded characters in the game. Use baseline shots to make your opponent mess up. When playing against Mario, he usually won’t hit with much power, so rush the net and smash it in his face. Speed: 6 He’s not too slow but he often gets caught off balance. Power: 4 His serve can get in triple digits, but he can’t power it past speedy players. Accuracy: 5 It’s hard to hit the baselines with Mario, and I hit it out more than with most people. Net play: 3 This is where Mario is better than the average player, so he can reach a good amount of balls and hit it with respectable power. Overall: 4 His net play is what boosts him slightly above average. Wario Style: Power /\ /\ /\ \ \/ \/ / \ /\ / \/ \/ As Mario’s stronger and chubbier other half, Wario has the strength but not the speed. If you can anticipate shots, then truck Wario into position and charge for a power shot, but always return to the center ‘T’ of the court. Watch Wario cheating to one side or the other and blast a shot to the other side of the court to smoke it by him. Speed: 8 Obviously, Wario isn’t speedy, because he is a power player. Power: 2 Now, I’m not the master at getting high speed serves, but I’ve got Wario’s serves up to 108 mph, second only to Bowser. Accuracy: 3 Wario is a good baseline player, but doesn’t have the speed necessary to be the best. Net play: 5 Obviously, the power gives Wario and advantage in this category, however, it takes a while to actually GET to the net, so use caution. Overall: 3 Wario’s a good baseline hitter and a great power player, however he is not the best in either category. Luigi Style: All-Around __ | | | | | |___ |______| Of course he’s practically the same as Mario, with their being brothers and all, although he has a bit more of a reach and a tad slower. However, since he is good at everything, he is a good beginners choice and easy to win with. Just keep your foes on their toes and they’ll eventually be worn down to the point where they hit a crappy shot. However, he can also be a very challenging opponent, so choose your strong shots wisely. Speed: 5 Luigi is just as speedy as Mario, but he has better balance, so he can get to more. Plus he has a reach advantange. Power: 5 Not the most powerful, but just a smidge less than Mario. Accuracy: 4 Luigi isn’t bad at anything, nor is he great at anything. Net play: 4 Decent reach gives Luigi an okay net game. Overall: 4 Sensing a recurring theme with Luigi? Again, not the worst nor the best. Waluigi Style: Technique ______ | ____| | | | | |_| The newest addition to the Mario family is Waluigi, Luigi’s evil cousin. Because of his long reach, technical skills, and his speed, he is one of my favorite characters. When using him, force the baseline shots and rush the net. With Waluigi’s long reach, it’s easy to smash one down the opposing player’s throat. Speed is of the essence when playing against Waluigi. The key to beating him is keeping him away from the net, so use your character’s strong suit. Speed: 3 Waluigi isn’t the speediest character, but one of the fastest technique players, and also he has a great reach. Power: 9 Waluigi is definitely NOT powerful, but if you rush the net, it isn’t a problem. However, I have heard from flawless73@hotmail.com that Waluigi can serve up to speeds of 117 (Perhaps this was in Star Mode)! I have only gotten it up to like 101, so it goes to show how much I suck at serving. Accuracy: 2 Waluigi IS a technique player, and does not lack in this category. Net play: 1 Definitely the best net player in the game, rush the net ALWAYS!!! Overall: 2 Awesome accuracy, net play, and better than average speed, lack of power is what holds Waluigi down from being rated a one. Peach Style: Technique |\ /\ /| | \/ \/ | |) () (| |________| Peach is better than you might think in this game. With good speed, decent power, and good net play, she rocks the party. Head for the net, because not much will get by Peach. This also means she is a challenging opponent. She lacks the aggressiveness most players have, though, so counter with a lob if she pins you in the corners. Speed: 3 Peach is another speedy technique player. Power: 9 Peach is very lacking in the power department. Accuracy: 1 Peach can rock the baselines like you wouldn’t believe. Net play: 6 She can get to the net, but doesn’t have enough power to get it by most people. Overall: 4 Peach is great if you’re a baseline maniac, however, if you’re not, don’t use her unless forced. Toad Style: Technique ___ / \ /) 0 (\ /_______\ | | | | |___| Finally, Toad is playable again! Anyway, Toad’s serve is better than most technique players, so use that to your advantage. Toad is easily taken care of with plenty of topspin shots and a rush to the net. One kiss from the net and this Toad will dead in the water. Speed: 5 Not fast, not slow is a perfect description of Toad. Power: 4 Pretty average, but a much better serve than other technique players. Accuracy: 4 Being a technique player, Toad is accurate, but not as much as other technique players. Net play: 7 Lack of reach keeps Toad from being good at the net. Overall: 6 Don’t like him much, but he’s decent. Baby Mario Style: Speed _ ___ ___ | |/ \/ \ | /\ /\ | | || || | |___||___||_| Thanks to a convenient rip in the fabric of time and space, Baby Mario can actually be on the same court as Mario. Baby Mario is a speed demon, and he is one of the few characters who can play well between the baseline and the net. With this advantage, you can easily out-hit your opponents with quick returns. Thankfully, he has weaknesses, and they are his reach and stature. A cross-court lob should rock this baby to sleep. Speed: 2 Holy cow Baby Mario is fast. However, on a grass court, Yoshi is faster, so no number one for him. Power: 4 Speed players are consistently lacking in this department, and Baby Mario is no exception. However, if you are perceptive, he is more powerful than DK Jr., who is a power player. Hmmm... how fishy Accuracy: 4 Baby Mario is rather accurate, although he is by far not the best. Net play: 6 Baby Mario has NO reach, yet has developed jumping skills rather early in life. However, Baby Mario is better suited to wait for a star and charge up behind it rather than rushing the net. Overall: 3 My appreciation for Baby Mario rapidly increases. The only major problem I have with him is in Star mode he will consistently serve faults by not getting it over the net. Daisy Style: Technique ___ ___ / \/ \ | /\ | \ / \ / \/ \/ /\ /\ / \ / \ | \/ | \___/\___/ Who the hell is Daisy, you ask? Well, she is Luigi’s mixed doubles partner and the damsel in distress in Super Mario Land (Thanks MAR10@aol.com). She also makes a partner comparable to Peach, so follow the strategies to take out the trash. Her reach is shorter than most characters, so it is relatively easy to hit one past her, though. Speed: 3 Rather speedy, but not the best. Power: 6 Daisy is the best technique player with power, but that’s still not saying much. Accuracy: 2 Daisy is second only to Peach in accuracy. Net play: 2 Second only to Waluigi, Daisy is speedy enough to get to the net in time to hit it hard. Overall: 3 Daisy is one of the better players, being in higher than average in almost everything. Yoshi Style: Speed ___ /0 \ / 0 \ \ / \0__/ Yoshi has speed like no other when playing on grass. He lacks in the power department, though, so make sure your hits count. To get Yoshi to bite the big one, get him going back and forth and he will eventually commit to the net. Give him a lob or topspin shot to take him out. Speed: 1 On grass courts, Yoshi is the fastest, bar none. Power: 8 Yoshi cannot hit it with any type of velocity at all. Accuracy: 3 He can hit the baselines with regularity, but not the extreme baseline shots like Peach. Net play: 7 Generally speaking, Yoshi is good at the net because he can get there fast, but I usually go to far and miss completely. Also he has and extreme lack of power. Overall: 4 Yoshi’s good, but not powerful enough to get it by opponents. However, his speed helps him get to most shots. Birdo Style: Speed __ __ / \ / \ | \_/ | | \/ \/ | | /\_/\ | | / \ | \__/ \__/ Speedy dinosaurs must be the rage at tennis courts, because their ranks have doubled from previous games. As with all speedy characters, chase down every ball, and opponents will start to get sloppy. Once Birdo gives you a lollipop serve, smash it down the opposite line. Once she gets to that, you should have time to get to the net and slap it to the court. Speed: 2 Obviously, there are a few speedy players, and Birdo is more of the same. Power: 7 Slightly more powerful than Yoshi, Birdo still is no good with power. Accuracy: 3 Birdo is quite accurate, but doesn’t hit it hard enough to be effective. Net play: 4 Can get to the net in a hurry, but won’t do much when she gets there. Overall: 5 Birdo is just not good for me. Speed, but no power, like the rest of them. Bowser Style: Power (\ /) ( \/\/\/ ) / \ | | | | \ / \__/\__/ Bowser packs quite the wallop, but is somewhat slow, so you’ll have to anticipate shot placement. Once he gets set, charge up, and smash it back over the net. Just stay in the center of the court when playing Bowser, and wait for his first mediocre shot to blast it by him. Speed: 10 Bowser is the slowest guy in the game and it shows. Power: 1 Bowser is also the most powerful player, so it balances out. I’m not the best server ever, but I’ve gotten his up to 109 mph! Accuracy: 6 Bowser can’t really hit baselines with efficiency and I regularly hit it out, partially because of his power and partially because I stink when returning after I serve it. But Bowser hits it WAY out, so I think it’s more his fault. Net play: 7 The only reason it isn’t a ten is because when Bowser occasionally gets to the net in time, he slams it. However, usually he won’t make it in time for a decent smash. Overall: 5 This is a semi decent score because of Bowser’s reach, but he is a definite powerhouse if you can learn to wield his power well. If you can’t, however, you’re screwed. Donkey Kong Style: Power __ __ __ | \ | | / / | |\\ | |/ / | || \ | / | || / | \ | |// | |\ \ |__/ |__| \_\ Donkey is a menace in this game. His reach is phenomenal (obviously, with those simian arms) and has some solid power. He can’t get around laterally too well, so keep your opponent at bay with solid slice and topspin shots. To beat the big ape, make him truck across the court and he’ll be toast. Speed: 8 Being a power player, DK is slow, but I think its so annoying to watch him lumber across the court. Power: 2 DK rocks in this category, and he is a power player, so it should make sense it is 2. Accuracy: 5 DK’s accuracy could be worse, but then, it could be much better, too. Net play: 6 His power is the only thing that makes this a six, because he is SO slow at the net it’s hard to believe. Overall: 4 DK is the second best power player, so he gets a respectable score here. Paratroopa Style: Trickery __ / | / /\ | / | /\ | / \ / \ / \ Paratroopa is a blast to play as, because his movement around the course is strange at best, and feathers fly when he hits the ball, disguising his shot. He also is rather speedy, so use that to your advantage. Send Troopa scurrying for wider shots to keep his tricks at bay, and you’ll have an easy time. Speed: 4 Good speed for a non-speed character, Paratroopa would’ve got higher if he didn’t keep going after he stops. That factor has made me miss innumerable amounts of shots. Power: 7 This is not a tricky player’s department, and it shows. Accuracy: 2 Definitely shows some promise here. On serves, you can make slices go every which way, and shake opponents out of their boots. Net play: 7 Easily needs work here, Troopa can just not seem to hit the ball with any sort of authority. Overall: 4 Tricky characters aren’t my bag, and he is so hard to control. However, once you master Troopa’s steep learning curve, domination is possible. Boo Style: Tricky /| / ( ( ) \_/ I have to say, it isn’t too soon to see Boo is a major player in a multiplayer game. Boo has one of the best serves, which you can steer in the air when the technique is mastered. Stay near the serving line to track down shots, and everything should be ok. When Boo is serving at you, move closer to the service return line. Then, the ball can’t move away from you. Speed: 4 Obviously Boo is not a speed player, but quick. Would be higher, but Boo doesn’t stand still when charging. This can be bad or good, depending on if you are used to it. Power: 8 Definitely not a power player and it shows. His serve is mild at best and this is obviously not Boo’s strong suit. Accuracy: 3 For a non-technique player, Boo rocks at accuracy. This may be part of the requirements for a tricky player, but who knows. Net play: 7 Again, the sliding around while charging is a detriment to Boo’s skill. He is much better than this rating, but not in this category. Overall: 4 Boo’s sliding is the only bad point, except for power, which is rather rank. He is fun to screw with when friends are over, though. ***************** Hidden Characters ***************** Again, ratings, strategy, etc. Donkey Kong Jr. Style: Power (Actually I consider him speed since he is much faster than other power players and is weaker than Baby Mario) ______ |__ _| | | _ | | / \| / \___/ It may seem hard to believe that a Kong with a first name of Donkey is speedy, but I wouldn’t trust a monkey with a racket anyway. This also means DK Jr. won’t overpower anyone with his young, yet slightly underdeveloped muscles. Just run all shots down and take care of your monkey business. Speed: 4 Speedier than power and technique players, DK Jr. still has that apish lope. Power: 6 Much too weak for a power player, especially when Baby Mario hits it harder. Accuracy: 5 He’s extremely accurate occasionally, and other times he will barely hit it to one side, so DK Jr. is rather iffy in this category. Net play: 4 A good jump and slight speed give him the tiniest edge over other characters. Overall: 5 He’s good, but not good enough nor is he good at anything in particular to stand out. However, some people say DK Jr. is their favorite character. I assume that whatever character works for you is best. Shy Guy Style: Technique _____ / \ / O O \ | __ | | / \ | \ \__/ / \_____/ Shy Guy is not necessarily the best player on the courts, but he does make a deserving appearance as a kick-ass player in this game. Shy Guy does everything better than average, and, like Baby Mario, he can thrive between the backcourt and the net. Shy Guy is one tough player to beat. He does return almost everything you hit at him, but he doesn’t have much zip on it. You can rush the net and hit it down unless he has worked his way past the baseline, in which case, he’ll hit right by you. Speed: 4 Not one of the fastest characters, Shy Guy is still slightly speedy. Power: 5 He’s not a power player, so this is his worst category. It is only a 5 because he is dominant. Accuracy: 2 He is one of the most accurate players on the court. Net play: 3 The only reason this category is a three is his somewhat small reach. Overall: 2 What can I say other than Shy Guy rocks the tazbah. ****************** Good Doubles Teams ****************** Wario and Waluigi With Wario’s superior power and Waluigi’s superior reach, they make a great team. Waluigi can reach almost anything from the back row, and any shot Wario can reach will be smoking. Also, these two can be switched, with Wario in back and Waluigi in front. That way Wario can reach almost anything and blast it back in time, and Waluigi can dominate at the net. Mario and Peach These two are good as a team as they rock by themselves, and together they’re even better. You can use either as back row or front row and they’ll do great. Luigi and Daisy Daisy was included just so Luigi would have a Peach. See above, just switch Mario with Luigi and Peach with Daisy. Birdo and Toad I’m not sure how good of a tennis team they are, but these two win the prize for the strangest looking team. Actually, I’ve found this team to suck on their own, so I don’t recommend using these two. Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. These two compliment each other well, and go together, like Wario and Waluigi. DK’s power will destroy any shot he gets to, and DK Jr. can back him up. Two generations of Kongs, playing together. Amazing what a game of tennis can do for a family. Yoshi and Baby Mario These two are both speedy and together they have decent power so they can catch up to almost any ball. Also, you can run more powerful opponents into the ground by making them run around more than they can handle and you should have no problem. (Thanks Blake Zahari) DK Jr. and Yoshi A great team with all three attributes in place. Yoshi has huge amounts of speed, and DK Jr. has good speed and power. It's best to put Yoshi in front, although it wouldn’t make much difference in the back. (Thanks VGMaster96@aol.com) Mario and Luigi If the other team is serving and your character is closer to the net, wait till the other team serves, and your partner hits it back, then when the other team hits it, hug the net, hit the ball (B is most effective), and move the control stick where you want it to go. It's hard to get, but you'll get used to it. If your team is serving and your character is closer to the net, just wait for your partner to serve then when the other team hits it do the same as above. If you’re serving, serve the ball. Then just try to keep it away from the back of the court. Eventually your partner will hit a Purple Shot and knock it out. If you’re far from the net and the other team is serving, just do the same as above. (Thanks packerfan162@aol.com) Paratroopa and Boo Paratroopa and Boo are a tricky combo for opponents. With pretty good speed and power along with two good serves they do well. With trick shots and a mediocre reach they dazzle the court. To counter this dynamic duo, go to the net because this team isn't very tall. (Thanks SpeedyM1317@aol.com) Boo and Bowser With Boo’s hitting skills and speed, he makes a perfect compliment to Bowser, a slow powerhouse. Playing against them is hard, so I’d have to imagine most people could dominate rather easily with them. I’ve played 66 percent of the time I play doubles in the Star Cup. (Thanks thextremeonex@hotmail.com) Shy Guy and Boo Shy Guy can cover the back court really well and as the computer will practically be unstoppable! Boo is good for the net because his flying makes him sort of "taller" and you can maneuver smashes between opponents. (Thanks ElGato349@aol.com) Shy Guy and Waluigi Shy Guy is just plain good, while Waluigi makes up for his lack of reach. Make sure you put Waluigi up front, though, as Shy Guy doesn't exactly dominate the net. (Thanks FLkewlkid00@aol.com) Paratroopa and Bowser With Bowser’s power and Paratroopa’s speed and trickiness, these two are unstoppable. That’s about all I need to say! (Thanks couchtomato@hotmail.com) Waluigi and Donkey Kong OK, I think every power player and Waluigi is a good team, such as Wario, Bowser or Donkey Kong, but not quite so much DK JR, because he has less than great power. Anyway, same deal, pure domination. (Thanks Bronkod@earthlink.net) Peach and Daisy I have found a team of Peach and Daisy is excellent. With their techniques combined, they cover the court like a blanket, not letting anything through. A good strategy while playing as Peach is to rush the net right away, and let Daisy clean up what might get though in the back court. While playing as Daisy in this team it is a good idea to stay a little in the back and in the middle, Daisy has a little more speed than Peach. (Thanks Shane) Toad & Bowser If you put Toad in front he is rather fast and he can get to almost any shot in time in which case him being a technique player comes in handy. Any shot he misses can be slammed back by Bowser on the back line. I advise Toad stays in the front rectangle and Bowser in the back it always worked for me and my brother and we never lost! My brother is also only 7 and he got the routine down pretty quickly I advise this double team for anyone from beginners to experts. (Thanks fox_ram@hotmail.com) Shy Guy and Bowser Shy Guy’s speed and Bowser’s power complement each other well. Shy Guy or Bowser will be decent at the net, as well. Other than that, same strategies as other speed or technique/power teams. (Thanks zdferguson@hotmail.com) Yoshi and Shy Guy Keep Yoshi in the back and charge up as much as you can every time to get as much power as you can. Up front, Shy Guy has awesome smashes and is dominant in back as well. Also, Paratroopa can be substituted for Shy Guy if you haven’t gotten him yet. (Thanks Gugs973@aol.com) Bowser and Baby Mario Bowser: Stays at the base line and hammers back anything that comes in his way. His is so slow, but seeing as Baby Mario is the fastest, he doesn't need to worry. Baby Mario: Stays at the net and covers anything between there and the end of the service squares (Bowser has the rest). Despite his size, Baby Mario can jump real high, so smash everything, and because he is so small, he can smash lower shots that others can't. Overall: Baby Mario does most of the work at the net and Bowser backs him up. The serving isn't bad either, because both can serve 100mph+. PS Try not to play on DK's court. The bounce can ruin B mario's day (Thanks jaydbee89@hotmail.com) ********* Rank List ********* In this section I will rank the players in Mario Tennis to my **OPINION**, if they are not your opinions, too bad! I will first make the list and then explain my reasons. Waluigi Shy Guy Baby Mario Boo Paratroopa Mario Luigi Wario Bowser Donkey Kong Daisy Peach Toad Yoshi DK Jr. Birdo Waluigi Waluigi’s speed, combined with his long reach and great net play make him a favorite. Plus that weird sounding cackle always amuses me as does his victory strut. Shy Guy Shy Guy has the best all-around game. Plus, his shot arsenal is so vast, opponents will have a hard time finding their groove. Baby Mario His skills are becoming in higher regard from me with each passing day. He has enough speed to get to most shots, while enough power to hit it past out-of-position players. Boo Even if you are not a beginner, Boo is fun to use, especially against friends. You can control his serve to get quite a few aces. Also, it’s just fun to use a ghost with a racket. Paratroopa It’s too much fun to fly around the court and disguise your shots with this little fella. Mario Using Mario is just easy. It’s easy to win in a vast number of ways. Luigi Luigi has a dumber winning stance than Mario, so I like Mario slightly more, but Luigi is still very easy to use. Wario Wario is a power player who is one of the better of the slow characters. Just like Waluigi, his cackle is amusing, if not annoying. Bowser Bowser is a beast, literally and metaphorically. With all that wallop packed behind his shots, it’s fun to pound the ball past to your opponent and roar in triumph. Donkey Kong While DK has a better reach than other power players, I don’t like him quite as much. He’s still a fun guy to mess around with though. Daisy Daisy is ok, but not the best. Using her isn’t as easy as Waluigi, but she is better than Peach. Peach Same as Daisy, but Daisy is higher because she is a much needed change in the women’s division. Toad Toad doesn’t have enough power to rank higher, but his serve is better than Daisy and Peach’s serves. Yoshi As you can probably tell, the speedy ones don’t do it for me. Too often I’ve been in a long volley only to not get it over the net. Frustrating as hell, I might add. Anyway Yoshi is the best speed player. DK Jr. As babies go, DK Jr. is much worse than Baby Mario. He’s speedy but has too weird a swing to do it for me. Birdo Ah, at last we come to the cream of the crap. Birdo is the most annoying of the speed players and isn’t quite as good as the others. ****** Cheats ****** Use a left-handed player: Hold L when choosing your character Have handicaps: Hold R when choosing your character. You have to have beaten the Star Cup with that character unless it is DK Jr. or Shy Guy. (Thanks Ksven006@mediaone.net) Get Shy Guy: Win the Star Cup Singles Tournament Get Donkey Kong Jr.: Win the Star Cup Doubles Tournament Donkey Kong Court: Win the Mushroom Cup Singles with DK Yoshi and Baby Mario Court: Win the Mushroom Cup Singles with Yoshi Mario Bros. Court: Win the Mushroom Cup Singles with Mario Mario and Luigi Court: Win the Star Cup Doubles with Mario (Many people have had problems with this, but I got it to work, so if you have info, let me know!) Mario/Luigi Castle Court: Win both the Singles and Doubles Tournaments in the Star Cup with Mario. Wario Brothers Court: Win Star Cup Doubles with Wario Birdo Court: Win the Star Cup Doubles with Birdo (Thanks NTAl53086@aol.com for the info) Piranha Plant Court: Complete any court perfectly in Piranha Plant Challenge with any character (The court can only be used in Piranha Plant Challenge) Star Tournaments: Win all the Singles Tournaments with everyone, even Shy Guy and DK Jr. Press R while choosing your player to access the special cup screen. (Thanks x1372@juno.com for the correction) Play in Promotional Tournament: If you type A3W5KQA3C in ring tournament section of special games you can play a special promotional tournament (Thanks WiseGuy11501@aol.com) Get Max Difficulty: This cheat is only for the hardcore. Beat the Planet Cup (the hardest Special Cup) with ALL 16 characters to play against a MAX difficulty CPU in Exhibition Mode ********** Thanks to: ********** Expert Gamer, for information Nintendo Power, for getting me hooked on the game and for info Camelot, for making such a kick ass game You, for reading this cheat code central(www.cheatcc.com), for cheats Everyone who contributed teams/cheats, your name should be mentioned above, but if not, thanks anyways! Ign.com, for court info and a cheat The people who noticed my stupidity and told me to finish this damn thing! _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com