If you like the looks of this try: Virtua Tennis 3, Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Sumo Digital approached Sega with an idea to modify the Virtua Tennis engine and add a Sega theme to it, but it would be unfair to call this game Virtua Tennis: Sega Edition. They have fiddled with the controls and the gameplay enough to make it the game unique in its own right.
However, if you are playing this game straight after a session of Virtua Tennis, then expect a degree of unresponsiveness compared to that game. But you should get used to the game quickly, and this gives Sega Superstar Tennis an advantage over its cousin: rather than constantly diving towards the ball, you have to genuinely prepare for the shot!
There are two basic buttons, “Top Spin” and “Slice”, but on top of that they have added two extra shots that require you pressing one button to the other. If you press “Top Spin” then “Slice” before the ball hits, you will perform a “Lob”; if you press “Slice” then “Top Spin” before the ball hits, you will perform a “Drop Shot”. For the most part this system works well.
Another new addition over Virtua Tennis 3 is the addition of “Superstar States”. As you make shots, you will notice a yellow star fill up underneath your character. When this fills up completely you will be able to enter the “Superstar State”. This will allow your character to perform special shots. This is where the game does run into some balancing issues, as some character’s special shots are a lot more effective than others.
Now, its time for information on the Sega-ry goodness that is lurking with in the disc. The game initially disappoints with a limited roster and court selection, but as you play the Superstar mode, you’ll be able to unlock more and more. It’s then that the game begins to sparkle. Recreations of classic Sega games with the tennis gimmick works well. Though some missions will make you tear your hair out in frustration, there is always a belief that there will be something good at the end of it such as new characters, party games or some of Richard Jacques’ remastered classic Sega tunes.
As a side note, it is a shame that some of the music is directly lifted from older Sega games (Sonic and Super Monkey Ball are the most obvious culprits of this) with no attempt to re-master or remix the music to make it fit better within the game. This includes Green Hill Zone and Scrap Brain Zone, both of which sound like they have been directly lifted from Sonic the Hedgehog from the Mega Drive era. But those that have been re-mastered are instantly recognisable as the classic tunes you will remember. Factor in the faithful recreated sound effects, and you have something to hum and effects to try and imitate when you are outside. Or is that just me?
Again as a side note, Curien Mansion and Virtua Squad are renames of House of the Dead and Virtua Cop respectively, due to vague censorship issues. Keith Vaz strikes again! Seriously though, I think it was due to those games not being released in Germany.
As for graphics, they generally impress without amazing the gamer, but then again I can’t imagine what more they could have done to improve the experience. For the most part, the graphics are vibrant, faithful to the original setting and don’t interfere with the game play.
Just before my conclusion, I’m going to mention the party games. Most of these are score attacks and they are brilliant. Sumo Digital have justifiably managed to shoehorn tennis into some of Sega’s arcade hits, somewhat reminiscent of Typing of the Dead, and makes you yearn for some updates to Sega’s back catalogue.
But still, it is curious that Sumo Digital avoided adding in representation from Virtua Fighter, Rez, Shenmue, Panzer Dragoon and Phantasy Star among others. All of these games don’t feature a style entirely different from those included in Sega Superstars Tennis. Plus a few too many Sonic characters and some pointless roster additions which makes you scratch your head, and again makes you wonder about what could have been. Honey, Ristar, Hornet… Oh well.
In conclusion then, this is a good value package for Sega fans that manages to dust off some of Sega’s classic franchises and makes you wonder if Sega will be revisiting these games again. But despite all of the joy the game does provide, it never truly satisfied me in the way Super Smash Bros. manages to for Nintendo fans. I guess it’s a case of the mind salivating over what could have been. Roll on Sega Superstars Golf!
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Console - Wii, Nintendo DS, PS3, Xbox 360 (Xbox version reviewed) Game Type - Tennis Players - 1-4 Publisher - SEGA Developer - Sumo Digital Price - RRP £39.99 Reviewer - John Taylor |
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STC's Rating System: Under 40 = Yawnsville 40-70 = Normalsville 70-80 = Fun City 80-90 = Big Time City 90+ = Mega City |
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