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When the Wii was first introduced at E3 in 2006, Nintendo did a whole show and tell using its own Wii Sports tennis game. They had us (the press) swing our arms with the Wii mote, as if it was a tennis racket.   That was then, and this is now. Wii Motion had some great novelty, but it wore off for the gamers who wanted more precision and control over what they were actually doing. Wii Sports tennis was fun, but aside from swinging your arm to hit the ball, there wasn’t a whole lot more to it. A game like Grand Slam Tennis could never have succeeded with the simple limitations of Wii Motion. But with Wii MotionPlus, it gives you some great insight into just how intuitive the extra motion sensitivity can be in a sports game. This isn’t just about swinging a racket aimlessly — it’s equally just as much about shot selection and placement. Make no mistake, Grand Slam Tennis won’t be touted as a visual masterpiece, nor as one of the best games of the year. The graphics are a bit bland and the commentators don’t talk enough during a match, but the rest of the package is worth trying, even if you’re not that much of a tennis fan. Past and present superstars are included, so you get the chance to play as old greats like, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras, as well as the Federers, Nadals and Williams’ of the current pro circuit. Even the grand slam courts are included to help create the right atmosphere (there are 12 in all). Don’t assume that you can just waltz right into a match without practicing first. Swinging a racket may seem simple enough, but EA has designed the MotionPlus system here to be a bit deeper in its execution. Swing the Wii mote along an even plane, and you get a flat shot. Swing it downwards and you slice the ball across. Swing it upwards and you put topspin on the ball. There is even added shot selection in that holding B with a swing will give you a drop shot over the net, while holding A will try a lob when your opponent is at the net. And aside from pulling off these shots, you can also place the shots by directing them with your follow-through. Serving is a bit weird at first, since it requires that you shake the Wii mote above your head and then swing it down to make contact with the ball once it’s in the air. More often than not, you won’t fault on your serve, but you may notice that there isn’t a ton of speed and power on it, either. Figuring out the proper mechanics for serving will take some time, but at least putting the ball in play won’t take you forever. Although you do have the option of playing with just the Wii mote and the nunchuk in standard Wii Motion, it’s just not the same game that way. That said, there are still some moments where MotionPlus can be a little too sensitive. There are times where the Wii mote will go out of sync on occasion, causing you to whiff at a shot or be too late in hitting a ball. By holding it still for a couple seconds, it can recalibrate on its own, but Grand Slam Tennis sometimes makes it tough to do that, given how fast-paced it can be. Not to mention that you may not be aware that there’s a syncing issue in the first place. Luckily, this happens a lot less once you really get accustomed to the game’s controls and the MotionPlus style of play. Getting used to the controls shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes in the Practice Court, but mastering them will take longer for sure. But I have to say, there is so much gratification in controlling where you want the ball to go and slamming a cross-court winner to finish it off. It’s such an interactive experience, and your skill at seeing the match like a tennis player is instrumental in tilting the tide. This is especially true when playing online against others. There are some great players out there that know exactly what to do in any given situation, but tennis is one of those sports where a few big points can really shift the momentum of a match. What impressed me was that Grand Slam plays a lot like that online against other human opponents. Things like unforced errors, poor shot selection and reckless play all play integral roles in how a match shapes up.   Between all the mini-games, the ability to accessorize your own created player and a full-fledged career mode, Grand Slam Tennis is a surprisingly full package. Indeed, this is easily one of the best tennis games ever released for the sheer fact that you actually have to play a little tennis with your arms and the Wii mote in tow. It still needs some work to maintain syncing and add a bit more precision to hand movements, but this game at least takes a big step in the right direction — not just for sports games, but for the Wii as a whole.   Grand Slam Tennis Format: Wii Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada ESRB Rating: E for Everyone Official Site: http://tennis.easports.com/home.action Rating: 9 / 10

 

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About G4 in Canada
G4 Canada (formerly TechTV Canada) launched in September 2001. G4 is the one and only television station that is plugged into every dimension of games, gear, gadgets and gigabytes. Owned Rogers Media Inc., the channel airs more than 24 original series. G4 is available on digital cable and satellite. For more information, see www.g4tv.ca.