Grand Slam Tennis Review - Wii

7.5

Gameplay: 8
Graphics: 6
Audio: 5
Multiplayer: 8
Innovation: 6

Open, French Open, Wimbelton, and the US Open. Each of the courts and sponsorship of each of the tournaments is accurately represented, making them feel like the real thing. Your player first takes part in a number of practice matches to improve your skils on the outer courts, before leading into the centre-court tournament. Here you play the knockout tournament, leading up to hopefully taking out the Grand Slam, and ultimately the goal of "Grand Slam Champion" by winning as many of these Grand Slam's as possible.

Players can be customised just like other EA Sports title, from your facial shape, to hair style, and different clothes from well known brand names. As you progress, further dress options become unlocked. You have the choice of creating your own player, or choosing an existing player. Some 23 of the world's biggest current names are included, such as Hewitt, the Williams sisters, Sharapova, Federer, and Nadal. Old names are also a welcome inclusion, such as Evert, Sampras, Navratilova, McEnroe, Borg, Edberg, and Becker. Each of these has their own manurisms, and appearance, to make them feel the part. Each of these players have their own unique strengths and moves, and Grand Slam builds on this by allowing you to unlock signature moves, and incorporate them into your player via a star system. So for instance, you can add the "Venus Williams Serve", or the "McEnroe Net Play" to you arsenal, improving how you play over time.

To help you improve your game, a Training mode is included, where you face off against the ball machine. This allows you some valuable practice to help you get familiar with the shots now available through the MotionPlus.

For multiple players, this grouped together in what is called Party Mode. This is probably not as exciting as it sounds, and really is just a standard game except you can play against up to three other players. There are a few variations on the basic game, such as double points for a net point, or from the back of court, and the like. What we really would have liked to see some more innovative ones thrown in there. Exploding tennis ball anybody? A warning though - with all the swinging going around, after a game of doubles, your lounge room may never be the same again ! This is a great one when you have a few friends around, and at least they no longer have to groan as you pull out WiiSports Tennis yet again.

Online matches are also included in the game, allowing you (or a friend) to serve it up against another player or three half way across the world. The online matches are a great addition to extend the game once you've tired of playing off against the computer, or have run out of friends locally. The game implements the now familiar EA Online system, allowing you to tie in your Wii ...