Baby Waluigi Cries “Waaaah” and Actually Plays Tennis on Switch 2 — Here’s Why It Matters

Why this actually landed on my radar

Nintendo just dropped an overview trailer for Mario Tennis Fever on Switch 2, and yes: Baby Waluigi is not a joke or a cameo-he’s a fully selectable character with a persistent “Waaaah” cry that shows up in both Adventure mode and regular play. This matters because Nintendo has folded the gag into core systems (character animations, audio cues, and Adventure story beats) instead of leaving it as a throwaway Easter egg. That choice changes how players will experience the roster, both emotionally and mechanically.

• Key takeaways:
• Baby Waluigi is playable on launch (Switch 2) and featured across modes, not locked behind DLC.
• Mario Tennis Fever has a 38-character roster and 30 Fever Rackets – the match tools are wide and influence meta choices.
• Fever Shots can be volley-countered and Fever Rackets can be disabled for purists, creating tactical depth.
• Baby Waluigi’s baby model, smaller hitbox and loud cry give both gameplay implications and meme-rich tilt potential.

Breaking down the reveal: what Nintendo actually showed

The trailer confirms a 38-character roster with newcomers like Goomba, Nabbit, Piranha Plant and Baby Wario alongside the baby forms of major cast members. Crucially for fans, Baby Waluigi is introduced as Waluigi transformed inside Adventure mode’s story beat where mysterious monsters turn several characters into babies. He’s not a background sprite-the “Waaaah” cry is a frequent audio cue tied to point losses, cutscenes and some Adventure events. That’s an intentional design choice that doubles as personality and persistent feedback.

Why this has competitive and casual implications

Mario Tennis Fever is doubling down on systems that encourage deliberate choices. There are 30 unique Fever Rackets, each with game-changing effects (think Pokey hazards, Golden Dash speed boosts, ice surfaces, shrinking opponents, or visual shadow doubles). The Fever Gauge lets players unleash a Fever Shot that applies those effects, but opponents can volley the Fever Shot back to reflect the effect. That counterplay makes timing and court positioning vital—so who you pick matters as much as which racket you bring.

Baby Waluigi’s small model will likely alter reach and timing windows compared to adult Waluigi. Historically, Mario sports titles map model size to hurtboxes and movement quirks, so expect Baby Waluigi to favor precision, angles and deception over raw power or reach. In ranked play that translates to higher skill ceilings: he can punish slow, big-body defenders but will struggle in straight-up reach contests unless paired with mobility-enhancing rackets.

Practical loadouts: how to make the most of the baby

• Golden Dash Racket — mitigates reach issues by boosting mobility; great in singles for recovery and doubles for court coverage.
• Pokey Racket — creates zoning chaos that complements Baby Waluigi’s angle game; excellent for bait-and-run strategies.
• Mini Mushroom Racket — flips the size meta by shrinking opponents, turning big hitters into easy targets for precise shots.
• Shadow Racket — visual deception pairs well with Baby Waluigi’s trickier hitbox to generate unforced errors.

The “Waaaah” factor: more than a meme

The crying isn’t just comedic flavor. As persistent audio feedback it can be used as psychological ammo in couch matches, a baiting tool on stream, and a tilt vector in long Adventure sessions. That will be polarizing: some players will revel in the chaos and content opportunities, while others will find the repetition grating—Nintendo knows how much mileage a little annoyance can get in social play, and that’s part of the design calculus.

There’s also an important competitive balance question. Nintendo says Fever Rackets can be turned off in rulesets, which is smart for purity-focused play, but ranked ladders and tournaments will need strict parameters to avoid gimmick-dependent results. The volley-reflect mechanic gives skilled defenders a powerful tool; the meta will reward players who can control Fever timing and court positioning, not just raw button mashing.

Why now matters

Releasing on Switch 2 on February 12, 2026, Mario Tennis Fever arrives into a landscape hungry for accessible competitive games that still reward mastery. Nintendo’s GameShare feature makes local chaos more contagious, and Swing Mode keeps motion play relevant. Baby Waluigi injects personality into that mix at a moment when streamable moments and viral quirks move player interest more than press releases do.

TL;DR

Baby Waluigi isn’t just a gag — he’s a viable, high-skill character choice with a distinct audio identity that will shape casual matches and offer strategic depth when paired with the right Fever Racket. Expect meme clips, tilt moments, and a meta that rewards timing and positioning more than brute force. Nintendo gave players the tools to disable gimmicks for purists, but for everyone else, the “Waaaah” is here to stay.