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This game is great for the kind of player that is willing to spend weeks perfecting their swing but for a couple friends or a casual player it’s just a bit too complex.
Since the release of Wii’s Motion Control Plus in late 2008 critics have been hitting it hard for oversensitivity and unpredictability issues when it should, in fact, have been making an improvement.
EA’s recently released ‘Grand Slam Tennis’ may be the first title out there to effectively harness the potential of the motion plus technology to give the feeling of more realistic gameplay. Unfortunately it’s just too difficult.
How does it work?
At base level the game operates very similarly to Wii Sports Tennis. Players hit the ball back and forth over a net until someone makes a mistake, with the added benefits of being able to serve and add a little spin to the ball now and then.
Running around the court is taken care of by the game unless you want to use the d-pad or attach the Nunchuck to use its scroll button to get around the court. We found the automatic placing unreliable and moved in favour of the Nunchuck which, after a little practice, seemed to give better results.
There is a lot of emphasis put on shot type and placement in Grand Slam Tennis. This is when things tend to get tricky. Flat shots are produced with a level swing, a slice by swinging from high to low and a top spin by swinging from low to high. Pressing A with a swing produces a lob while pressing B produces a drop shot.
Additionally players have to keep in mind that ball placement is all about timing. The later or earlier a ball is hit the closer it will land to the edge of the court and the harder the swing the further the ball goes.
The angle that the player hits the ball at will also affect its trajectory. If a player swings up the ball will travel high and vice versa.
Game Modes
Grand Slam Tennis features a number of game modes. Players begin by sharpening their skills against a ball machine on a test court. They can then move onto a choice of multiplayer, single game or Grand Slam Career modes.
The choice of several major players, male and female from the courts of today and yesteryear adds an interesting element to the game. Tennis fans will be pleased with the fact that they can pit Roger Federer against the likes of John McEnroe.
All major venues featuring grass, clay or hardcourt are also included.
Visuals and Sound
In comparison to other Wii titles Grand Slam Tennis performs admirably in terms of visuals although there is a hint of the bobble-headedness of the characters found in Wii Sports. Despite this the venues, players and physics are rendered well.
In terms of sound you simply can’t beat a tennis match. EA has captured the commentary and most notably the exasperated groans of the players perfectly.
Originality and Longevity
Being that they are all based on the same basic premise, sports titles are never going to be the most original ones out there. Grand Slam Tennis does however do a good job of highlighting itself in amongst the vast collection of tennis titles available.
Owing to its varied game modes and difficulty levels Grand Slam Tennis guarantees players a reasonably long lifespan.
Conclusion
Despite all the good points Grand Slam Tennis is just a bit too difficult for most players. The advanced motion control, shot variety and timing sensitivity can be frustratingly difficult to master for a first time player. Even on easy we found the game frustrating and without considerable practice any other difficulty level was laughably tough.
This game is great for the kind of player that is willing to spend weeks perfecting their swing but for a couple friends or a casual player it’s just a bit too complex.
Since the release of Wii’s Motion Control Plus in late 2008 critics have been hitting it hard for oversensitivity and unpredictability issues when it should, in fact, have been making an improvement.
EA’s recently released ‘Grand Slam Tennis’ may be the first title out there to effectively harness the potential of the motion plus technology to give the feeling of more realistic gameplay. Unfortunately it’s just too difficult.
How does it work?
At base level the game operates very similarly to Wii Sports Tennis. Players hit the ball back and forth over a net until someone makes a mistake, with the added benefits of being able to serve and add a little spin to the ball now and then.
Running around the court is taken care of by the game unless you want to use the d-pad or attach the Nunchuck to use its scroll button to get around the court. We found the automatic placing unreliable and moved in favour of the Nunchuck which, after a little practice, seemed to give better results.
There is a lot of emphasis put on shot type and placement in Grand Slam Tennis. This is when things tend to get tricky. Flat shots are produced with a level swing, a slice by swinging from high to low and a top spin by swinging from low to high. Pressing A with a swing produces a lob while pressing B produces a drop shot.
Additionally players have to keep in mind that ball placement is all about timing. The later or earlier a ball is hit the closer it will land to the edge of the court and the harder the swing the further the ball goes.
The angle that the player hits the ball at will also affect its trajectory. If a player swings up the ball will travel high and vice versa.
Game Modes
Grand Slam Tennis features a number of game modes. Players begin by sharpening their skills against a ball machine on a test court. They can then move onto a choice of multiplayer, single game or Grand Slam Career modes.
The choice of several major players, male and female from the courts of today and yesteryear adds an interesting element to the game. Tennis fans will be pleased with the fact that they can pit Roger Federer against the likes of John McEnroe.
All major venues featuring grass, clay or hardcourt are also included.
Visuals and Sound
In comparison to other Wii titles Grand Slam Tennis performs admirably in terms of visuals although there is a hint of the bobble-headedness of the characters found in Wii Sports. Despite this the venues, players and physics are rendered well.
In terms of sound you simply can’t beat a tennis match. EA has captured the commentary and most notably the exasperated groans of the players perfectly.
Originality and Longevity
Being that they are all based on the same basic premise, sports titles are never going to be the most original ones out there. Grand Slam Tennis does however do a good job of highlighting itself in amongst the vast collection of tennis titles available.
Owing to its varied game modes and difficulty levels Grand Slam Tennis guarantees players a reasonably long lifespan.
Conclusion
Despite all the good points Grand Slam Tennis is just a bit too difficult for most players. The advanced motion control, shot variety and timing sensitivity can be frustratingly difficult to master for a first time player. Even on easy we found the game frustrating and without considerable practice any other difficulty level was laughably tough.
This game is great for the kind of player that is willing to spend weeks perfecting their swing but for a couple friends or a casual player it’s just a bit too complex.