Tennis

"Game, Set, and Match."

Upon receiving a GameBoy for my 5th birthday back in 1990, the first game I actually purchased was Tennis, and, believe it or not, I still have the game, and play it on my SP. It is, in my opinion, with the exception of Mario Tennis, the best tennis game ever. The game itself is very advanced for the time period, and can please anyone from a casual gamer to a hardcore tennis and GB fan. It's an all around favorite.

Sound 8/10

Well, what can I say. GameBoy sound is GameBoy sound.
The sound of the crowd ''roaring'', the sound of the ball hitting the racket, etc. About what you would expect from a GB game. No complaints, but let's just say there has been major advancements in sound quality since the time this game was out, but up to par with standards.

Graphics 10/10

Considering this is a GameBoy game, the graphics are aesthetically pleasing. Nothing special, but it gets the job done with ease. The tennis court is represented in a proper ratio, and the little animations with the umpire always make me laugh. The characters look like you would expect them to, nothing special, but they certainly get the job done.

Gameplay 10/10

Ahh, the gameplay. It deserves a 20/10, but unfortunately, I can't do that. The gameplay is brilliant. You can perform drop shots, flops, forehand, backhand, and lob shots as well, all by hitting a combmination of buttons. The rules of tennis are applied correctly in this game, from double faults to shots going over the line, etc. No complaints.
The difficulty varies greatly depending on your skill level, but even I am still challenged to this day by some of the opponents I play. The AI is great, and puts up a strong fight. I guess the word that would be most appropriate when describing the AI is challenging.

Replay 10/10

Need I say more? I am still playing this game today. (In fact, I just put it down to write this review). I got the game when I was 5, I am now 18, and I haven't gotten sick of it yet.

Overall 10/10

If you can find this game, or if you have it and haven't played it in years, I say dust it off and play again. It will bring back memories of a simpler time in gaming.
My suggestion: Buy it. Treasure it. I don't think you'll regret it. This game is a classic.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/17/04