Mario Tennis Advance on GBA, Japanese version of portable Mario tennis. Same gameplay quality as international editions, texts in Japanese. Arcade Mario tennis in its original version.
Your verdict
Category
Sports2 players3+
Description
Nintendo tennis simulation with RPG elements, developed by Camelot and published in Japan in January 2005. Alex and Kate train on Mario's courts to develop their talents and face Nintendo characters. Activatable power special shots, RPG level progression, solo, tournament and link cable multiplayer modes. Japanese version known in the West as Mario Power Tennis or Mario Tennis: Power Tour.
Mario Tennis Advance review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The Japanese edition foregrounds the special shots: each triggers a dedicated animation, with a trail effect, deformation of the ball and a tight frame on the player for a few frames. These sequences, particular to each guest character, briefly interrupt the rally and work as so many visual calling cards.
This version presents the compositions in their original state: cheerful melodies on bright timbres, synthetic brass for the moments of bravado, short motifs assigned to each opponent met. The writing owns its kinship with the house's other sports games, right down to the entry fanfares that reuse familiar turns of phrase.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Trading shots with tight timing, unleashing devastating special moves and climbing the ranks of a real career: arcade tennis here gains a surprisingly gripping RPG-style progression. The handling stays clear, but tactics hide in every spin. Snappy, generous and addictive, a pocket sport with irresistible charm.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
Original Japanese edition of the GBA Mario Tennis, distributed by Nintendo in January 2005 under the Mario Tennis Advance title, the third identification in the Power Tennis, Power Tour and Advance triad that makes the regional tracking particularly meticulous. Nintendo rigid case with intact obi, brighter cover than the PAL version. Japan run was sized normally, and a copy with intact Mario Tennis Advance obi remains a precise piece for Camelot tennis completists.
Better with friends
Tennis crossed with an RPG whose two-player matches, over a cable link, blend net skill with characters you've leveled to your liking. The competition stays readable and snappy, each rally rewarding positioning and the right spin. Facing someone needs two units and the cable, but pitting your long-trained players feeds a hungry rivalry, ideal among friends.
Is Mario Tennis Advance still worth playing in 2026?
The portable Mario tennis of the GBA era, released as Mario Power Tennis, Mario Tennis Power Tour or Mario Tennis Advance, picks up the Camelot arcade plus RPG formula from the Game Boy Color and fleshes it out. The academy adventure mode lets the player raise a human character, unlock shots and climb tournaments brimming with personality. Connecting with the GameCube version expands the ecosystem further. Probably one of the most complete portable tennis games, recommended to fans of the genre.
