Previews

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

Forget Wimbledon's stuffy rules - real tennis is played by anyone, anywhere and anyhow

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

You want to be a champion on the court? Then you need to enrol in the Royal Tennis Academy. You'll train hard, gain experience and improve your skills through a relentless programme of lessons and tough tournaments.

By the time you realise you're in a role-playing tennis adventure, you might be ready to take on Mario and aim to assume your place at the top of the rankings

As you might imagine, Mario's version of tennis hasn't exactly got the backing of the Lawn Tennis Association. For a start he's brought his friends along, meaning you can play as a princess or a gorilla, to name but two of the few characters available at the start of the game (more are unlocked as you progress). And each character is allowed to rely on unique 'power shots' to maximise their advantage on the court and adding a wild element into an otherwise controlled sport.

But don't let the radical nature of the players fool you - this promises to remain a highly playable tennis game at heart, with a control system to rival that of serious simulations. Ultimately the focus remains on fun - a philosophy you'll be able to put to the test once you link up with three other friends for a spot of multiplayer action.

Joao Diniz Sanches
Joao Diniz Sanches
With three boys under the age of 10, former Edge editor Joao has given up his dream of making it to F1 and instead spends his time being shot at with Nerf darts. When in work mode, he looks after editorial projects associated with the Pocket Gamer and Steel Media brands.