This is a great example what happens when you have the structure of a good game but your publisher really wants a release for the holidays.

While the core tennis mechanics are as solid as ever and the character graphics delight, there is very little to Ultra Smash. No tournament mode, replaced by a simple knockout challenge. Only one simplistic mini game. Unlockable courts are here, but they're just swaps of the same basic arena instead of truly unique locales. The online is barebones, with no proper options to play with friends. Perhaps some more interesting original mechanics would have pushed this game forward, but the jump shot and Mega Mushroom add very little. Ultra Smash is a hollow experience. It is not bad on a technical level and the base tennis game play is still fun, but too much feels missing to make this one worthwhile.

I do find it cute that the green Sprixie Princess from 3D World was an unlockable character, though. A shame she's stuck in this game and not included in Aces.