Tennis 2K2

"A sweet Game, but is it better than VT1?"

Background=
I should probably give some background so you know where i'm coming from when i review it the way that i do. I played Virtua Tennis to death. i have no qualms about saying that it was one of the most addicting games that i've ever played. The gameplay was so simple, you really only used 1 shot button, but for some reason i'd play it all night until the early hours in the morning. One fateful day, i was playing the final Level 4 doubles match vs. King and Master. I was ahead 5 games to 2 and i it was at match point. King and Master started cheating all to hell and came back to win the game. i chucked the game across the room and broke the hell out of the CD. This left me with no Tennis game, so I bought Tennis 2K2.

Menu/Control Setup= 8
The Menus are set up simple enough to not get lost in. Everything is set up to be as easy and efficient as possible. On to the controls. The Controls handle like a dream. Gone is the A button only gameplay. Sure, there was a lob shot, but I've never been able to get that to work versus the CPU. Anywho, this year they added a slice shot. i gotta say that this adds immesurable depth to the game. I would have liked it if the controls were configurable, i'd like the lob to be B and slice to be X. I got used to the controls set up the way they are, but it would have been a nice addition so that's why it gets an 8.

Graphics= 9
Well, i gotta say that the game looks really really sweet. the players are a little small and so is the ball (i have a 25'' tv), but if you don't mind leaning forward to stare at the TV it should be fine. I should mention that the view is the same as last year, i had the same gripe with the last game, maybe because i'm going blind... Another Gripe i have with it is that the players' shoulders look kinda blocky. it's fine when you have someone who has a T-shirt on, but if you get someone with a sleeveless shirt, their shoulders look like something out of Virtua Fighter 2. Other than blocky shoulders and a lack of a configurable Zoom, i'd gotta say that there's nothing really wrong with the Graphics of the game.

Music/Sound Effects= 10
Nothing Wrong here. I kinda like the change to electronica for the soundtrack. If it had the same happy, guitar-oriented Japanese Rock everyone would have complained that there was nothing really done to improve this area of the game. I think Hitmaker took a chance and messed with something that didn't need fixing, but it doesn't change my opinion of the game at all. it's just something different, not better, not worse. The Sound Effects are crisp, i have a home stereo and i annoy the hell out of my Girlfriend with the grunting noises. The sound is an intregal part of the game, each shot has a different sound, so you know what's coming at you depending on what sound you hear. Simple stuff, but it's nice.

Gameplay (singles)= 10
I'm taking a bit of liberty and talking about the gameplay of the singles and doubles matches seperately, simply because it's completely different. The singles matches handle so smoothly that it's incredible. If you played last year's edition, you'll have a few hours' work cut out for you learning the new feel of the game. the pace is faster, the weight shifts are more realistic, you actually have a chance of hitting the ball as you run to the backcourt to hit a lob ball. Everything that annoyed the hell out of me in the first game is gone. The game, i'd say, isn't any harder but the players seem smarter and the volleys last much longer. This is, in part, because of the fact that a stumble animation has been added. So now you don't have to dive for everything that isn't in your immediate reach. you kinda just hit it off balance and there's not much power. I haven't seen any women dive yet, i don't think that they do, that's the only thing that i thought was weird about the gameplay mechanics. Another Thing i think i should mention is serving and well, boundary shots in general. Serves (and all other shots for that matter) no longer stick to the line as they did in the first game. if you smash your serve hard right, chances are really good that it'll fault. just like if you hit a shot down the line, it won't always stay in. you have to pay more attention to where you are on the court and where you're aiming your shots.

Gameplay (Doubles)=8
Well, it's better than last year's version. Last year, your partner acted like he didn't know how to play tennis. As well, whenever you switched sides during a volley he didn't know what was going on and messed everything up. When he played the net game, he really didn't do that good a job on offense. This year, however, it's the opposite. your partner is really quite talented at offense but it clueless when it comes to playing in sync with a partner. He'll run over to your side and poach your shots the whole game, and then when something goes down the centre line, he just stands still and makes no attempt to get the shot. It's a pain in the bum, but if you keep your player on baseline, he'll behave himself somewhat.

Mini Games=8.5
I gotta say, hitmaker has a knack for making really fun minigames. They're basically new approaches at last year's minigames. Still, they're fun and add to the lastability of the game. A nice touch would have been to have the option of playing the minigames out of the World tour mode. This way, people can play them without messing up your game. It's a small complaint, but the bottom line is that the games are solid and they really improve your skill.

Lastability=10
Pong has been around for god-knows how long, and i think that this game as that potential as well. It's got minigames, an enthralling World Tour Tennis RPG, an Exhibition mode pregnant with options, and an Arcade mode that's more challenging than last years'. I haven't unlocked everything in this game yet, or atleast i don't think i have. There might not be unlockable players, but i really like playing as myself, so i don't care.

Conclusion=
Is it better than last years' version? Yes and No. If you want really really simple, easy gameplay that's an arcade game at heart, stick to the old game. If you want a more enthralling, challenging game that has more simulation elements than last years, then go ahead and pay the mad cash to get the game.

BOTTOM LINE=
If you're a casual gamer, stick to the original.
If you have some gameplaying skill, and want a more realistic representation of the game of tennis, get Tennis 2K2.

Buy or Rent?=

I'd say Rent it first to see if you like the feel of this game 30 dollars more than last years' version.

Overview=
Menu/Control Setup= 8
Graphics= 9
Music/Sound Effects= 10
Gameplay (singles)= 10
Gameplay (doubles)= 8
Minigames= 8.5
Lastability=10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/29/01, Updated 10/29/01