As far as I’m concerned, the N64 is all about multiplayer games, particularly those that take advantage of the systems four controller sockets by allowing four players to compete simultaneously. Goldeneye, Super Smash Brothers, Gauntlet Legends, Perfect Dark, and NFL Blitz all supported four players, and now Nintendo is serving up another great four-player party game in Mario Tennis.

I dislike sports. I dislike most sports video games. But there are a few that are such pure fun to play that I can cross the line and really get into them. Blitz is one such game, and now so is Mario Tennis.

Nintendo practically has a license to print money by releasing games that feature their large cast of familiar characters, and Mario Tennis is no exception to this rule. In fact, this game has the biggest ensemble of characters from the Mario stable, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Boo, Toad, Koopa Paratroopa, Donkey Kong, Wario and the brand new "evil" Luigi, Waluigi to name a few. Even better, all but two characters (DK Jr. and Shy Guy) are available from the start, with the majority of hidden stuff in the game being special themed courts.

Mario Tennis, like all video tennis games, is at its heart a souped up version of Pong. The rules are simple, the gameplay is simple and yet it is so purely fun that you’ll keep coming back to it for just one more try.

The controls are so simple that anyone can pick it up and play immediately – you move via the analog stick and use the A and B buttons to hit the ball. You can use the stick to control which direction the ball goes when you hit it. It’s that easy. The first time my wife (a self-proclaimed horrible gamer) played the game with me she was surprised at how well she played. Serious gamers, take note. Although the controls are simple, there are advanced techniques like lobs and short volleys, as well as a power hit (called a Smash, what else?) which make use of different combinations of A and B button presses. It’s still easy enough that a beginner will be playing like a pro in no time.

The game offers plain vanilla tennis in the form of both singles and doubles matches, as well as the obligatory smattering of special games, like Ring Shot, where you must play the game and hit the ball through hovering rings, or Bowsers Castle, a wobbling, suspended court complete with power-ups.

The multiplayer options, as I mentioned, are really where the longevity of Mario Tennis come into play. Four people can play doubles matches, and this is truly a blast. The insane volleys and back-and-forth action, as well as team strategy that comes into play (will you play left/right coverage or short/deep) makes this one of the best party games in years.

For single player fun, there are three tournaments to win (Mushroom, Flower and Star) and there are the aforementioned hidden characters and courts to unlock. The AI is surprisingly well balanced, and you’ll catch them making mistakes like fault serves and net hits even at the harder stages of the game. It’s good that Camelot, the programmers responsible for the game, chose to make competitive yet defeatable opponents instead of taking the seemingly more common route of allowing the computer to CHEAT LIKE A MAD BASTARD (!!!) that so many other game designers favor… cough, hack, MARIO KART, cough… excuse me.

The bottom line is that Mario Tennis is a great game, period. Even if you don’t like sports games… or games in general, you’ll probably still like this very likable title.

Graphics: 9 (Nice and crisp, with great animation and color)

Control: 10 (Camelot nailed this category perfectly. Two buttons but with incredible technique and depth)

Sound: 9 (Also great – especially the voice work on the different characters… and what’s this? A subdued announcer that doesn’t interfere with the fun of the game?)

Replay: 9 (Tons of stuff to unlock, plus the multiplayer modes will keep the game fresh for a long, long time)

Overall: 9 out of 10 (The best in four player sports action on the N64… unless you’re into wrestling, but that’s another story)