It's a great time to be a video game reviewer. This holiday season is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever had, with some great titles eating up hours of time. And while a game may not have the name recognition of a GTA or Halo 2, it can still make a name for itself purely based on the game's quality. While Mario Power Tennis hasn't had the huge level of hype as those other games, it has shaped up to be one of the best games this year. And that's no surprise to those of us who have been anticipating it ever since we put down the Nintendo 64 classic, Mario Tennis.

The formula is simple. Take some of the most beloved characters in video game history, put them in a sports setting, get a talented developer, and you have a winner. Mario Power Tennis starts it right, bringing together a cast of characters that includes Mario, Wario, Bowser, Koopa Troopa, and more, giving fans their choice of who to take onto the court. Characters are varied, with styles that range from "all around" to "tricky" and "power," and it pays off to experiment with each one.

The gameplay is as smooth as can be, and Nintendo has once again created a game that is easy to pick up and play, but has enough depth to keep hardcore gamers interested for a long time to come. The variety of shots in your arsenal include top spins, slices, lobs, and drop shots, in addition to all-new character-specific offensive and defensive power shots. These moves are pretty sweet, and no ball is ever out of your reach as long as you're charged up.

For example, if a ball is screaming down the other side of the court and you think it's out of reach, just execute the special move. Luigi, in this case, will whip out his vacuum, suck the ball towards him, and thwack it back at the opposing side. Meanwhile, offensive power shots, such as Peach's Super Peach Spin, will blast the ball back at your opponent at such a speed or with such a spin that the other player will definitely feel it.

The game modes themselves also see additions. While there are multiple tennis tournaments that pit all of the characters against each other, modes such as Ring Shot and Item Battle take some of the coolest parts of other Mario sports games into this title. Ring Shot will be mighty familiar to those of us who have played Mario Golf, as you have to hit the ball through a number of rings to gain points and eventually win the game.

Another Mario game, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, shows its influence in Item Battle. When you hit a ball towards an item block, you'll randomly acquire an item with your next return. These range from banana peels to those infamous red shells and even lightening bolts that shrink your opponents, and it makes for a pretty raucous time.

If that wasn't enough, the courts themselves show off some new options. Gimmick Courts add environments that affect the game, and it allows for a nice change of pace from the standard grass and clay courts. Luigi's Mansion has a court where ghosts will terrify your character, sometimes to the point of not allowing your guy to make the return. For shame, Bowser, I thought you were bigger than that.

Meanwhile, the Wario Factory Court is full of treadmills that can change direction based on your volleys, and the Delfino Plaza Court is plagued by mud-spewing Piranha Plants that make an awful mess. These courts are very different from the standard game, and while they're mostly cool they can also lead to some confusion. Just wait until you have ten or so multi-colored ghosts scaring the heck out of your guy and obscuring the ball. Then again, that's the point!

There are also a ton of mini-games, and they're somewhat of a mixed bag. While games like the Chain-Chomp Challenge (where you have to feed Chain-Chomps tennis balls or face their wrath) can be a lot of fun, Artist on the Court is just plain aggravating! One thing's for sure: you better know your shots before you try and take this on!

As for the visuals and sound, Mario Power Tennis exudes the style Nintendo has been very successful with for all Mario titles since Super Mario 64. Very colorful graphics and fantastic animation keep everything light-hearted, and the music has a few jazzy takes on Mario's classic themes. From the very funny opening CG movie to the multiple endings that use in-game graphics, Mario Power Tennis has a striking presentation that helps keep things extremely fun throughout.

The real fun starts when you have up to four controllers plugged in and playing singles or doubles matches. The points can go on for a long time, especially with the power shots making sure that you always have a shot at a great return. With each return, the speed of the game seems to get faster and faster, and it's only a matter of time before everyone cracks up when DK whips out the banana boomerang to win the point.

Multiple players can also enjoy the mini-games and different modes of play (like the Ring Shot), and the action can move very quickly without a hint of slowdown or choppiness. And that's what makes Mario Power Tennis so good. The action is fast-paced, a lot of fun, and there's nothing that hinders its pacing and humor.

Overall, Mario Power Tennis is one of the best games you can get this holiday season. The amount of tourneys and modes, the cast of characters, and the great gameplay makes it one of the GameCube's most impressive games this year. Grab that racket, get a few friends together, and have a (wait for it) smashing good time with Mario Power Tennis.