Great balls of fire! In Mario Tennis Fever your service return can be scorching – literally. Our Games critic Peter Hoskin checks it out…

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Mario Tennis Fever (Nintendo Switch 2, £58.99)

Verdict: Feeling hot

A squat plumber isn’t necessarily well suited to tennis — but Mario keeps on trying, bless him.

Depending on how you look at it, Mario Tennis Fever is either the eighth or ninth major installment in the Mario Tennis series, which first started in 2000.

So, what makes this game different? Thankfully, it has a unique feature: ‘fever’ rackets. These special rackets have powerful abilities – think fireballs or lightning strikes, just like in Mario games! Simply charge them up and unleash the power.

It’s a great addition, even if it’s kind of surprising that it’s not been done before.

These rackets make the game more unpredictable and exciting, while also opening up new ways to play. For example, would you try to force your opponent into the muddy area you’ve made on their side of the court? Or would you avoid it altogether, hoping to catch them off guard?

Let me tell you, things get really interesting when you’re facing off against someone skilled! If they’re quick enough, they can actually turn your own abilities against you – deflect your energy right back where it came from. It definitely keeps you on your toes and forces you to think strategically!

The experience is much better when you play against other people, especially if you’re playing with someone in person. Online play is also great! This version of Mario Tennis is more accessible and easier to pick up than the 2018 game, Mario Tennis Aces, though experienced players might notice it’s a little less complex.

However, the game’s single-player features, particularly the story mode, are quite limited and probably won’t keep players engaged for very long – maybe just a couple of hours.

But whoever wanted to play tennis by themselves anyway? Certainly not me. And certainly not Mario.

 

Romeo Is A Dead Man (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £41.99)

Verdict: Let’s leave him that way

Romeo Is A Dead Man doesn’t rely on symbolism or nuance. The title itself is straightforward – it simply states that the main character is dead. He doesn’t die as part of a plot or threat, but is immediately killed by a zombie at the very beginning of the game.

Okay, so get this – Romeo Stargazer, yes, that’s his full name, and it’s admittedly a bit much, but still! – he’s back! Like, actually brought back to life! And not just chilling, either. He’s working with these intergalactic police to fight crime and, seriously, zombies! It’s amazing, honestly. I knew he was the only one who could handle it!

Get ready for a wild, fast-paced action movie filled with over-the-top violence and plenty of humor. It definitely doesn’t hold back!

It’s not surprising to see the latest from Japanese game designer Suda51. His games are known for being over-the-top – past titles have included characters like a laser-sword-wielding anime fan and a chainsaw-carrying cheerleader.

While previous games like No More Heroes (2007) and Lollipop Chainsaw (2012) felt sharp and fast-paced, Romeo Is A Dead Man feels a bit empty. Despite its flashy presentation, it’s ultimately a fairly typical action game that relies on throwing a lot of enemies at you instead of offering truly engaging gameplay.

The game’s flashy presentation doesn’t quite hit the mark this time. Romeo Is A Dead Man constantly changes its visual style, jumping between graphics reminiscent of different gaming eras – including retro pixel art, early 2000s 3D models, and anime aesthetics.

It ought to be fun. And sometimes it is. But more often it just leaves you thinking: why?

This game is a complete disaster, falling apart right from the start. It’s fundamentally broken and unplayable.

 

Code Vein II (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £54.99)

Verdict: Bloody complicated

Wow, where do I even begin? Well, Code Vein II is the follow-up to a 2019 game that didn’t initially make a big splash, but surprisingly gained a dedicated fanbase over time.

Because everything else about this one is extremely tricky to explain.

You play a somewhat decent vampire in a futuristic world that’s survived seventeen different end-of-the-world events. While there are other vampires who aren’t so good, everyone is loosely working together because something much worse is emerging, and it requires you to travel through time to stop it.

Oh, I give up! What about the gameplay?

This game blends the style of classic Final Fantasy RPGs with the challenging, action-focused gameplay of Dark Souls. A unique feature is the ability to absorb the abilities of your companion character, letting you customize your own powers.

I’m giving up on trying to overthink this game! If you just relax and enjoy the overall feeling of Code Vein II, you’ll find it’s actually quite fun. The ability to travel through time is really cool because your choices in the past actually change things in the future. Plus, the fighting is often fantastic.

Code Vein II doesn’t make it easy to avoid getting bogged down in its complicated systems. Even creating your character requires managing several different elements like Blood Codes, Traits, Jails, and Formae.

Every menu screen has more numbers on it than a NASA spreadsheet.

Honestly, it was a lot to take in. I’m completely drained. You know what? Those sparkly… things? They can have their endless teenage angst and dramatic endings. I’m good. Let them deal with the world ending… again. I just need a nap.

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2026-02-16 12:56