In general, I absolute *love* Wii Sports Tennis. Addictive as hell. I play it mostly by myself, but I love being able to play with two people on the same team, against the computer. This way my wife can play and enjoy the game, without me beating the tar out of her. I'm over 1700 now. And it's a truly great party game with 4 people playing.

There's a bunch of other little things I like about the game. The characters make me laugh with the way they leap or stretch for things. The way you almost never hit it long, so that's never an issue. I still don't understand why I hit it into the net sometimes, but whatever...

Oh, and probably the biggest thing I like is how the controller works. Swinging the controller swings the racquet, the "whoosh" sound it makes, etc. Way cool, and I think I'm actually getting tennis elbow!

Now for a few minor dislikes. They mostly involve the computer opponents. I don't like how often they play a ball that would be "out" if they let it go. Even the ones with a 2000 rating do this. Come on -- if I hit it out, it should stay out.

I don't like how the computer opponents seem to just get tired if a rally goes on too long, and they just miss an easy return, or hit one out or into the net for no good reason. It really spoils a good long rally when they just seem to give up.

I think my biggest dislike is the fact that there's not enough options for how long you can play. Best 3 of 5 games is the longest? How about a full 6 game set with tiebreaker? And best 2 out of 3 sets, and best 3 out of 5 sets? Can you imagine how long that would take? it would be a total blast, and take as long as an actualy tennis match.

Anyway, glad I got that off my chest. I'm interested to hear other people's opinions.

-Dan

Let me first say that, surprisingly, one thing I *dont* dislike is the fact that you dont move the characters. I dont think the game suffers one bit for it. Future tennis games could possibly incorporate movement but if they didnt I would certainly give them a chance.

Mainly, my only dislike is that once you are good enough (1700 points or so) you end up playing the same 2 characters over and over and they arent nearly tough enough. (Like you say, they often return clearly out of bounds shots).

Thats why I've switched to the training games. Try getting platinum rank on them - its bloody hard! :)

Andy K.

thats my biggest dislike...the fact that you cant move the characters. otherwise...i love it! :)

Let me first say that, surprisingly, one thing I *dont* dislike is the fact that you dont move the characters. I dont think the game suffers one bit for it.
Good point, and I completely agree with you. That reminds me of one thing I wish I could control -- hitting forehand vs. backhand. When I'm controlling the guy at the net, it makes a big difference whether he hits it forehand or backhand. It would seem to me that this could be easily controlled based on which direction I swing the remote.

-Dan

When you are at the net you cant control forhand vs backhand but you can hit and overhead return (when your character is lined up properly), and by twisting your remote in one direction or the other you can control the direction to a surprising degree.

When you are at the net you cant control forhand vs backhand but you can hit and overhead return (when your character is lined up properly), and by twisting your remote in one direction or the other you can control the direction to a surprising degree.
I'll have to try this. Thanks.

Also, I'm not very good at spinning the ball. I don't quite get how this works yet.

-Dan

I played for several hours with a friend yesterday, we have never had so much fun in a game before, I think it works perfectly, and its really rewarding beating the higher ranked opponents

I'll have to try this. Thanks.

Also, I'm not very good at spinning the ball. I don't quite get how this works yet.

-Dan

Left/Right spin or Top/Bottom spin? The latter is easy - just twist the remote when you are swinging.

I am 99% convinced the latter is not possible. The more advanced computer opponents can put left/right spin on the ball but I dont think its possible to return the favor :(

Left/Right spin or Top/Bottom spin? The latter is easy - just twist the remote when you are swinging.

I am 99% convinced the latter is not possible. The more advanced computer opponents can put left/right spin on the ball but I dont think its possible to return the favor :(


Also, it works better with slower strokes, and also seems to work better for backhand as well when I play.

Left/Right spin or Top/Bottom spin? The latter is easy - just twist the remote when you are swinging.

I am 99% convinced the latter is not possible. The more advanced computer opponents can put left/right spin on the ball but I dont think its possible to return the favor :(
It *is* possible because I did it a few times. I read on some forum somewhere how to do it, but I've since forgotten. All I remember is that it requires twisting your hand into very uncomfortable positions.

If I come across it again, I'll post.

[time passes...]

OK, I decided to go searching for it. Here's what I found, and I remember that I tried one of these and they worked:

It is not really like real tennis. I play real tennis and some of the strokes are similar, but are done a little differently.

in this game
(all of these motions are performed while swinging)
forehand topsin: twist the wiimote from the buttons facing up to the buttons facing down.
forehand slice: start with the buttons facing away, then swing up and twist the buttons toward you(this may feel awkward)
lob: swing from low to high
flat shot: swing high to low
backhand topsin: forgot...
backhand slice: buttons start facing towards you, swing up and out and twist wiimote so buttons face the floor first and then face away from you.

to add side spin, do a slice and and (backhand) swing a little right, (forehand) swing a little left

that is assuming you are right handed for the sidespin. opposite ways for lefty.

-Dan

Yes, I like the tennis game a lot. My only gripe is sometimes my back character misses a shot that I think I clearly should have hit, usually it says I had a late swing.

I have only had the computer play one shot that I hit out of bounds so far.

It makes me laugh when I hit a bad shot up in the stands and peg one of the weeble spectators :D

How do you do the power serve? Anyone figure this out? I can only pull it off once in a while.

Hit the ball at the very peak of the lob. I wait approx 1/2 a second until I hit the ball and it usually works 75% of the time.

Perhaps Nintendo will enhance the Wii with a belt sensor. That way they can tell how far you are.

Then add virtual glasses..and be completely immersed in a virtual world.

Hit the ball at the very peak of the lob. I wait approx 1/2 a second until I hit the ball and it usually works 75% of the time.

Yeah, it's a timing thing. My brother and I have it down pretty much every time (well, 90% or so). Keep practicing and you'll get it.

Have you noticed you can hit the ball back with the same repetitive move? I dont like that.

That's how my 5 year old plays. She just goes ballistic on the wiimote and can be competitive against the rest of us in the family when we actually time our swings, etc.

Well how realistic is that? I wish there was a setting to get it more realistic. The tennis player doesnt even hit the ball in the same way as I did with the wiimote.

Just to add one of my major dislikes - can't play singles.

I wish it kept track of wins and losses.