Overview: Gameplay on the professional PC tennis tour is
as rich as the green grass of Wimbledon--too bad the somewhat stale graphics force the
announcer in me to call "out!"
| ... |
 |
|
| ....... |
... |
Genre:
Tennis sim
System Requirements:
•133 MHz Pentium (166 recommended)
•16MB RAM (32 MB recommended)
•2MB DirectX-compatible graphics card
•100MB disk space
•4x CD-ROM
•DirectX 5.0
Supports:
3Dfx; Direct 3D; internet and LAN play
ESRB Rating:
Everyone
The Good Press:
The gameplay makes it feel like you have a backyard tennis court stocked with some of the
world's best pros. Tremendous gameplay and Blue Byte's dedicated online server will make
even John McEnroe smile.
The Bad Press:
Even though the graphics are 3D-accelerator supported, they leave a lot to be desired.
Our Ratings:
Graphics: 6/10
Sound: 7/10
Getting Started: 8/10
Documentation: 7/10
Value: 8/10 |
|
 |
Sports sims are, and should be, all about gameplay. While good
graphics, flashy interfaces and dynamic packaging can make a sim look good, when it comes
down to it, the gameplay is what makes or breaks the sim. Distributed by Blue Byte
Software, a tennis-sim originator, Game, Net & Match! represents a giant leap
in PC tennis play (not that there was much competition out there to begin with). Featuring
the same graphics engine used for Extreme Assault, and a revamped AI for superior and
realistic gameplay, Game, Net & Match! offers singles and doubles action both offline
and on. From one-on-one matches to a complete season, Game, Net & Match! serves
up a true ace.
The sim's biggest asset is its gameplay. After spending some time on
the practice mode getting proficient at lobs, ground strokes, topspin shots, slices, drop
shots, and serves (yep, they're all in there and easy to figure out--but not necessarily
easy to hit well), it is time to join the action courtside.
If you're expecting to step on the court and start taking the
seasoned pros to school, forget about it. Going head to head against one of the 12 default
players that represent some of the best in the world (six male and six female) is no easy
task. In fact, Game, Net & Match! is refreshing because it's really
challenging. Practice is essential, and if you decide to face the computer to get this
practice, you'll soon find (as I did) that humility is something that you get used to
quickly. The service, in particular, can be a bear to learn initially because the service
cursor is hard to gauge and requires a delicate touch. If you're off even a fraction of an
inch, your ball will slap into the net or bullet over the service line. As always,
practice makes perfect.
As soon as you get a firm grasp of the different shots, the gameplay
really starts to shine. You'll soon find yourself streaking around the court while firing
wicked backhand crosscourt shots or floating straight-as-an-arrow cuts (a ball's direction
can be influenced greatly with the touch of the gamepad--my preferred controller for this
game). Beware, however: getting to a ball too late causes it to flare wide or careen into
the net--just like real tennis.
For tournament and season play, you create an original player based
on a number of characteristics that are spread across categories such as strength,
forehand and serve. There are 169 real tournaments to choose from and 200 players to
compete against. Playing in tournaments and the season is highly recommended, because the
more you play, the better you'll get. If you get good enough and start winning matches,
you'll be able to increase the strength of your characteristics.
The sounds in the game are solid, from the realistic
"thwack" of the ball hitting the cat-gut to the oohs and aahs of the crowd after
a particularly stirring play at the net. However, as is the case with so many sport sims
these days, the commentary will have you reaching for the earmuffs. How many times do I
have to hear the same comment again and again? Reflecting the mind-numbing commentary in Game,
Net & Match!, I'm going to keep saying this until I'm heard by software
companies--sometimes it's better to say nothing than to repeat the same thing again and
again (of course, I'm particularly touchy regarding the many times I had to endure the
"it's looking pretty bleak for a comeback" line!).
The graphics, unfortunately, are where Game, Net & Match!
leave me underwhelmed. While there are 3D support and five different views to choose from,
everything lacks any real pizzazz outside of the deeply textured courts (featuring all
four surfaces: clay, grass, carpet and concrete) and the ball's shadow (so you can see the
shots you'll want to argue with quite clearly). In fact, it gets tiresome smacking the
ball around on the same old courts again and again while being cheered by a crowd that
looks like they just stepped out of a five-hour speech by Al Bore.
The polygon players are hardly what you'd expect from a game that
features a realistic-playing Peter Sammer scampering for dear life against the likes of
the Lara Croft-endowed Steffi Barilla (guess who those players represent!). In particular,
the close-up expressions (that the accompanying booklet and website hype to no end) are
really lame. In addition, watching the players walk back to their spots before taking or
returning a serve will give you arthritis because they look so stiff. Still, the stirring
gameplay overshadows the game's graphical shortcomings.
One of the real bright spots for Game, Net & Match! is the fact
that Blue Byte has wholeheartedly tackled online gaming. They've constructed a dedicated
server that provides registered users the chance to play with anymore from around the
world 24/7. Even more exciting is that the server was designed to formulate and
continuously update a world-rankings list based on the results of online matches and
player profiles for 100 male and 100 female players.
From the single-player matches to the online melees, Game, Net
& Match! accomplished what all good games do best--it grabbed me, sucked me onto
the court and kept me coming back for more. This sim comes as close to real tennis as
you'll find out there. I really want to get better and better, and with the world rankings
on the line, you can bet I'll be hitting those practice balls fast and furious.
Tips:
- Anticipate where your opponent's next shot will end up to give you
the most time to wind up and stick the next shot. This will give you the most accuracy and
power, as well as the upper hand in court control.
- Mix up your shot selection. Sprinkle some deep slices in with your
long topspin shots to keep your opponent off balance. However, any weak shot will be
pulverized after it skips across the net--so be careful!
- Don't be afraid to charge the net and exchange some volleys with your
opponent, and don't forget to use the lob if your opponent's got you running scared up
there.
- Don't overrun the ball--try to stay on the middle of the court as
much as possible. Your player has a much longer reach than you'll expect (especially at
the net).
Limitations in downloadable version:
You can select either the training mode, or you can play a single match against the computer or another human player. Each match is limited to 25 minutes. You can choose from two characters and can play only at Centre Court at Wimbledon.
|
