Original Nintendo 64 Mario Tennis out now on Wii U Virtual Console

By Danny Cowan July 9, 2015

mario tennis n64 out on wiiu vc mariotennis header — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Retrogamers and Waluigi fans take note: Nintendo’s classic N64 sports game Mario Tennis is now available via the Wii U’s Virtual Console service as part of this week’s eShop update.

Mario Tennis features an all-star Nintendo cast, offering a variety of single-player and multiplayer modes in addition to minigames that challenge players to hone their tennis skills while dodging incoming projectiles and Koopa Troopa shells. Mario Tennis is also known for introducing Luigi’s alternate-universe rival Waluigi, who went on to plague the Mario brothers — alongside his Mario analog, Wario — in many subsequent sports-themed Nintendo games.

Mario Tennis spawned many sequels in the years following its original 2000 release, including 2012’s Mario Tennis Open for the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo announced last month at E3 that the latest series entry, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, is due to hit the Wii U later this year.

This week’s eShop update additionally hosts Hero Work Studios’ interstellar mining sim Asteroid Quarry and Be Studios’ wingsuit flight game Dare Up Adrenaline, along with the retro-styled racer Don’t Crash.

Other games premiering digitally via the Wii U eShop this week include KEYTARI: 8-Bit Music Maker, Land it Rocket, Neon Battle, and Santa Factory. The Nintendo 3DS eShop comes up empty this week, with no new games on offer.

Nintendo additionally notes that several eShop indie games are on sale this week as part of the Epic Indie Sale. Featured games include WayForward’s Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse ($8), Guacamelee Super Turbo Championship Edition ($6), and Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams ($6). A selection of Two Tribes-published Wii U games such as Edge, Rush, and Toki Tori are also on sale for $.79 apiece.

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