Grand Slam Tennis Review for Nintendo Wii

System: Wii	Review Rating Legend
Dev: EA Canada	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Electronic Arts	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Jun. 8, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Local multiplayer has two main components. First are the traditional tennis matches, which support up to four players in a doubles match. The game is lots of fun even by yourself, so it goes without saying that playing with up to three friends is even more exciting. There's also a collection of tennis-related mini-games. These tend to be gimmicky and more of a distraction than anything else, but in Grand Slam Tennis, the mini-games are actually quite engaging thanks to the excellent control scheme.

Grand Slam Tennis screenshot

Grand Slam Tennis' Wi-Fi capabilities make the package even more attractive. I played several matches and they were executed flawlessly. There was no lag at all, and the excitement of playing against another human is elevated in a game that relies so much on skill at making nice shots.

Visually, Grand Slam Tennis takes on a cartoony look. This is probably a good idea, because the super-realistic graphics that are so valued in sports titles on the PS3 and Xbox 360 aren't really possible on the Wii. The visual representations of popular players like Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic are very much recognizable despite not being particularly realistic.

Grand Slam Tennis is one of the most impressive sports games packages that I've seen in a while. EA deserves to be commended for getting on the ball with MotionPlus and offering up a game that provides a compelling reason to purchase the accessory. If you're a tennis fan or are just excited about Wii MotionPlus, then you owe it to yourself to check out Grand Slam Tennis.

By Joseph Catalanotto
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.7

Graphics
They're not technically impressive, but they're cheerful and work well with the game.

4.8

Control
Far and away the best controls of any sports game I've ever played. MotionPlus works phenomenally.

3.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Sound effects are repetitive but somewhat atmospheric; announcing is forgettable.

4.0

Play Value
Lots of game modes, but this needs to be balanced with twenty dollars-a-pop MotionPlus peripherals.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Users feel like they are actually playing tennis as they swing real forehands and backhands. Hit a variety of shots such as top spin, slice, flat, lobs and drop shots.

Create your own player then set off to conquer the various skill and legends challenges to accumulate skills and try to win all four Grand Slam titles.

When Wii MotionPlus is added, the experience is enhanced with added shot depth and precise ball placement. Racket rotation is also recognized so you can spin your stick just like the pros do!

A dozen party games can be played, using seven core Tennis Academy style games with group friendly scoring and presentation.

Play against new opponents online. Every win contributes to your country on the Battle of the Nations leader board.

Hone your skills on the practice courts with controllable ball machines at every venue. Take advantage of the instructional pop-ups to improve your abilities and beat the pros!