Best Tennis Game Ever
Modes:
The amount of modes in Grand Slam tennis is incredible, especially for a Wii game. The game has many modes. First I'll start with the career mode call Grand Slam. This will take your created player through all the majour Grand Slams, and exhibition matches to gain better status for you character. It's load of fun and there are many unlockable clothes and options to make you character look more like you. It's a very fun mode and has loads of depth. Now on to the online mode. The online mode is incredible for the Wii. Using EA nation servers, EA managed to get rid of friend codes and you make your own seperate account. The online has leaderboards, and you can play singles and doubles matches. There is text communications using EA's preset messages which are great and you can add friends. There are leaderboards for both singles and doubles matches and you can play ranked and unranked matches for both. A great thing about the online as well is that if you have 2 Wii-motes then you can have a friend play with you online as well for doubles, which is great. The online itself will have a bit of lag, but it is still fun. There is also a large variety of party modes, which I tend to ignore, but if your into that kind of stuff these games will be fun, and the exhibition mode where you can go against A.I or up to 3 of your friends. Both the online and exhibition have all you favorite tennis legends such as John Mcenroe, your favorite stars today like Federer and Nadal, and your created characters.
Gameplay+Controls:
The gameplay is just fantastic. With the Wii remote by itself it isn't quite as good as it with the Wii motion plus, but it still works quite well, although motion plus and nunchuk is definitely the way to go. Although the computer controlled movement is good for beginners, once you get the hang of swinging you will want to move by yourself with the nunchuk. The Wii remote by itself does do a good job of sensing top spin, slice and normal shots, but it doesn't give the precision motion plus does. Motion plus makes you able to aim like in real tennis. Although for newbies it will have a learning curve, if you know how to swing a racket, you will know how to aim and swing based on timing. The only real problem is that sometimes the motion plus is a bit to sensitive and you have random swings before the ball comes to you which will mostly likely cost you the point, it is very rare, but it happens. Also when your up at the net volleying, you have no control where you want to deflect the ball, and it automatically hits it cross court, so often you might be volleying it straight back at you opponent many times. Although this is a little bit realistic that you not gonna have much time to aim where you want to place it when a speeding balls heading right for you, it would be better if it was real time physics for volleying and let you have some control on where the ball goes. The serves feel good, by flicking the Wii-mote up as a gesture to throw up the ball, and swing where you characters sweat spot is. The game has great controls and gameplay besides a few hiccups.
Graphics: The graphics are pretty good. Although the cartoony graphics might set off some people, especially for a hardcore fan. The graphics work though, the framerate is steady and smooth, and the animation is good. Although a realistic approach might attract more people, the cartoony graphics work well, and it does work well with the Wii's limitations.
Conclusion:
Grand Slam Tennis is definetely the best tennis game out there. There is no tennis game that controls this well, and has this many modes a long with it. Although the cartoony approach might turn some people off, don't let it fool you, this game is as realistic as any.
Modes: 9
Gameplay:9.5
Graphics: 7.5
Overall: 8.5