The Nintendo athletic roster is set for a significant expansion this February with the arrival of Mario Tennis Fever, headlined by the long-awaited debut of a new infant icon: Baby Waluigi. During a comprehensive overview presentation, Nintendo confirmed that this diminutive incarnation of the franchise’s favorite troublemaker will join a massive playable roster of 38 characters—a landmark moment for the Mario canon’s most mischievous anti-hero.
If you are feeling an inexplicable sense of excitement, you likely have a localized case of “Baby Waluigi Fever.” Unfortunately for fans, there is no known remedy for this level of hype.
While Nintendo previously hinted at the character’s arrival, his status as a fully playable athlete is now official. He joins other series newcomers, including Goomba and Nabbit, in this upcoming title developed for the Nintendo Switch 2.
This “de-aging” is a milestone decades in the making. The tradition of nursery-aged Mario stars began over 30 years ago with the introduction of Baby Mario and Baby Luigi in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. Waluigi himself didn’t join the fray until five years later in the original Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64. Originally conceived as Wario’s doubles partner, he has spent years in the shadow of other legends. Now, with Mario Tennis Fever, Waluigi is finally ascending by shrinking, joining the ranks of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Rosalina, Daisy, Bowser, and Wario in achieving his “cursed” yet undeniably adorable baby form.
Beyond the introduction of Baby Waluigi, Nintendo’s latest deep dive showcased the game’s core innovation: Fever Rackets. These specialized tools introduce game-changing mechanics to the court, such as:
- The Ice Racket: Transforms the court into a slippery, frozen tundra.
- The Mini Mushroom Racket: Shrinks your opponent down to a manageable, bite-sized scale.
- The Shadow Racket: Creates a ghostly duplicate of your character to keep your rival guessing.
Additional previews highlighted the Golden Dash, Pokey, Bullet Bill, and Thwomp rackets, ensuring that no two matches feel identical.
Nintendo and developer Camelot are aiming to redefine the arcade sports experience with several new gameplay modes:
- Trial Towers: A progressive challenge mode where players climb to the summit through increasingly difficult matches.
- Mix It Up: A collection of unconventional rules, including Ring Shot and the Forest Court, where players must “feed” Piranha Plants to expand the playing field.
- Wonder Court Matches: Special stages featuring unpredictable “Wonder Effects” inspired by Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
- Tournament Mode: A classic bracket experience featuring live play-by-play commentary from the Talking Flower.
- Swing Mode: An immersive motion-control option designed specifically for the Joy-Con 2.
Prepare for center court when Mario Tennis Fever launches on the Nintendo Switch 2 on February 12.
Source: Polygon
