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Sega Superstars Tennis Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

Sega Superstars Tennis Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

A Few Unforced Errors
Short of the Title

Over the years, Sonic the Hedgehog has experienced his fair share of peaks and valleys. At one time, this hard running rodent was battling Mario tooth and nail for mascot supremacy, but more recently his lackluster efforts have been akin to something you would see in the bargain bin rather than the top of the sales charts. It has been a tough road for the little blue guy, but hey, at least he still has his friends. Even better news is they can all play tennis. Does this translate into good times for all us gamers as well, or is this brand of racket tomfoolery just another disappointing washout? Well, Sega fans can rest easy because Sonic brings his game this time out and delivers a more than comparable sports experience.

Sega Superstars Tennis screenshot

As your journey through the world of Sega Sports, the main road you take is through Superstars mode. In it, players will travel across a variety of classic Sega locales engaging in tournaments, single matches or various mini-games. Each unique setting is accompanied by music from the original game, and is artistically designed to replicate the feel of its inspiration. Sega Superstars Tennis is very similar to most Mario Sports titles in that way, which I guess really should not come as a surprise.

While working your way through the myriad of challenges this mode presents, players will be able to unlock new characters, music tracks for specific courts, and courts themselves. Long time Sega fans will absolutely love the feeling of nostalgia they get playing through this game. Gilius from Golden Axe is a playable character, and if that is not sweet, I don’t know what is. It was surely a welcome feeling progressing through the glory of Sega’s rich history, but there are a few negatives that keep this game from truly being classic. Have no fear; unlike some of Sonic’s checkered past, the positives outweigh them this time.

Sega Superstars Tennis screenshot

On the positive side, Sega Superstars Tennis is a fun title that is easy to pick up and play. Despite the ease of its playability, the tennis offered here is decently deep. Consider it Virtua Tennis light, a little more quirky with a little less depth. It is a well rounded Tennis experience with plenty of fun to be had. Add to that each character’s unique special move, and this game of cat and mouse gets that much more interesting. For example, Dr. Eggman hits balls that disperse bomb clusters; MeeMee from Supermonkey ball dazzles the player while monkey balls slide across the court; and Gilius launches a lightning storm. A decent array of mini-games accompanies the standard singles and doubles matches as well. Aside from the Superstars mode, some of these goofy challenges are also available to enjoy with your friends, giving the game some much needed variety. Lastly, the addition of online play adds to the longevity of the title, although it is tough to say how populated the online pool will be for this one.

The graphics are extremely crisp, using the bright vibrant colors of the Sega world perfectly. The hi-res look of all the characters is excellent, and although it does not fully utilize the horsepower of the PS3, a title like this does not really need to. Along with the characters, each court has a well designed look incorporating plenty of Sega flare into each stage. Zombies roaming around the court, Knuckles as the ball boy, and leopards playing the bongo drums will become familiar sights. Conversely some courts are so aesthetically pleasing, they can be distracting as well.

Sega Superstars Tennis screenshot

The graphical flare is only trumped by the awesome music, which brings in all the familiar tunes from each title represented. The Samba De Amigo court is indescribably cool. There are plenty of tracks to unlock, so the worry of one song getting repetitive fades away. Aside from the music, the on court sounds do their job, and each characters voice sounds exactly as it should.

Sega Superstars Tennis screenshot

As far as the negatives are concerned, there are a few troublesome spots. The control can be a bit sticky at times. Too often you swear you hit the swing button only to see your character run past the ball. Things could have been tightened up just a little bit on this end. The A.I. has its fair share of problems, with doubles partners ranging from Roger Federer to complete idiots. A.I. opponents can also be unbelievably stupid as some matches they fail to even return a serve, while other matches they are stroking balls down the line like a champ.

The aforementioned Superstars mode, while serving as a great trip down memory lane, becomes stale after a short period of time. Playing the same mini-games over and over again can get a bit monotonous. Knocking over zombies is fun at first, but when you have to continually do it, the appeal of it all pretty much fades away. It would have been nice to see more singles matches included. Players of Virtua Tennis 3 will be especially bored with some of the games here, because they are exactly the same challenge with a Sonic and friends makeover. Tasks such as hitting the balls into specific zones are just altered to feature Jet Set Radio spray paint cans. Thus, instead of just hitting to the corresponding sections, you have to mark them the right color as well.

In the end, Sega Superstars Tennis is a pleasant surprise. Those thinking the little blue guy had nothing left are sorely mistaken, as he does serve up a pretty good game of tennis. Fans of either classic Sega or Virtua Tennis will immediately feel comfortable with this title and find more than enough to satisfy them. Others may become bored with the repetitive mini-games. Regardless, Sega Superstars Tennis is worth a look because although for some the fun may not last, there is still a good time to be had.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.2 Graphics
Each Sega favorite looks great, and despite the variety of games they all fit together nicely 3.5 Control
Not as tight a package of Sega Standout Virtua Tennis. 4.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The music is fabulous, bringing all the charm of each represented game. 3.3 Play Value
Yeah, there is online play, but unless you have friends the fun only lasts so long. 3.7 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Take to the courts with several of your favorite classic Sega characters, each stocked with their own unique abilities.
  • Intense Tennis action plays out in classic locales from several Sega classics, including House of the Dead, Sonic, and Nights.
  • Boundless mini-games keep the party rolling, whether you are playing solo or with friends.
  • Engage in single matches, tournaments, online play, and mini-game throw downs, or tour the fabulous world of Sega in the Superstars mode.
  • Plenty to unlock from soundtracks for each stage to additional characters.

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