Camelot Software Planning’s upcoming ball whacking title Mario Tennis Aces was announced back in January, and various gameplay videos teasing the game were shown at this years E3 to show off the title as it approaches launch this week.
The two trailers that you can find below introduce Koopa Troopa and Bloopa after originally being announced on Twitter. They won’t be available at launch, but they’ll be arriving in a Mario Tennis Aces content update that will be available when a free software update in July launches for the title. More details on the specific dates for these characters are below.
Koopa Troopa shows off a shiny shell in this latest video that introduces some of the characters skills that can be used in-game. To start with we’re shown Koopa Troopa’s standard shots showing the turtle moving around the court by going into the shell and spinning around. Trick shots seem to show off a similar process but with a flourish as the ball is hit.
It wouldn’t be a Mario title if we didn’t see crazy skill shots, so we’re introduced to Koopa Troopa’s special shot that finds the turtle spinning, launching into the air, and then smashing the ball down onto the opponent’s side of the court. Everyone will be able to play as Koopa Troopa in Mario Tennis Aces after the 1st of August but can receive the character earlier by playing in the online tournament from the 1st July until the 31st July.
Being carried onto the court via a water-filled bucket is Blooper, the squid-like creature I used to think was an underwater ghost. Blooper’s standard shots are fairly normal, but the trick shots allow the character to jump towards the ball with precision, or even slide over to it. The special shot unleashes a water tornado beneath Blooper, carrying and flinging the character up high and towards the ball.
Blooper will be available for everyone in Mario Tennis Aces after 1st September but can be unlocked through the online tournament between August 1st and August 31st.
Mario Tennis Aces will release on June 22nd, 2018 and will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch.