Customer Reviews

Tennis 2K2

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ah, Virtua Tennis. It provided so many hours of fun - and easy-to-learn, hard-to-master pick-up-and-play classic, with amazing graphics and a masterful 4-player mode. And here is the sequel, Tennis 2K2, which takes the basic formula of the first game and expands upon it, and the result is not only an improvement, but an altogether better game.

Sega added the game to its already excellent Sega Sports line, and as a result, the gameplay is more of a simulation than the arcadey Virtua Tennis. In addition, there are now sixteen licensed players, from Patrick Rafter to Jelena Dokic. The players look unbelievably realistic, down to the smallest detail. Monica Seles makes her trademark grunts, Tim Henman hitches his shoulders while he serves, Lindsay Davenport has her familiar racket windup, etc etc. It's almost eerie how true to life the players are - a vast improvement over the rather grotesque characters from the first game. There are now 28 courts, a HUGE addition over Virtua Tennis, and some of them are just gorgeous. The Rio court at dusk is particularly wonderous, giving the court and players a glow that's magnificent to behold.

The gameplay, while similar to VT, has undergone a few changes, making the game much more challenging. You now have three types of shots: topspin, slice, and lob. There is also much more attention paid to how powerful the shots are in relation to how close the player is to the ball, i.e. if the ball is close to you when you swing, you're not going to hit it very hard. Positioning your player in order to get maximum shot power and control is vital, adding a whole layer of strategy to the game. Thankfully, the too-often diving of the first game has been practically eliminated, as players lunge for balls just out of reach. If you should dive, however, you jump back to your feet in no time - a much-welcome improvement. You can also return serves with much more power, if you're in the right place. This makes the game more balanced, as the server was usually victorious in Virtua Tennis. The players have much more range now, which results in longer, more strategic matches. You cannot jump into Tennis 2K2 and expect victory right away if you've mastered VT - it's necessary to learn the subtle details all over again. Despite these new complexities, the game still retains the same charm and playability of the original. Credit Sega for not just re-releasing Virtua Tennis with new graphics - T2K2 is a much different, but no less enjoyable game. The best thing about the improved gameplay is it gives you more control over your player and his/her shots.

Tournament (arcade) and Exhibition modes are, in fact, set up the same as VT: pick a player (or players) and hit the courts. There is a mixed doubles option, as you cannot play two males against two females. However, the World Circuit Mode has seen some pretty drastic changes. You create a male and female player using rather limited options, and start training in your quest to become #1 in the world (you start ranked at 300th). You follow a 12-month calendar, on which different singles and doubles matches are displayed for you to enter. In between matches, you train your players using different trials, much like the first game, but instead of winning money, you improve your player's statistics in various categories (forehand power, foot speed, serve control, etc.). These training matches have the same unusual charm as VT's: you'll try to knock items off a conveyer belt to improve your serve, try to catch flags while avoiding being hit by balls fired from tennis machines, and even play a strange tennis version of Othello. These quirky minigames are just as wonderful and addictive as before, and Bulls' Eye and Pin Crasher make repeat appearances. It's very necessary to train, as your players begin basically at zero and will lose matches immediately unless you train. When you think you're ready, you can enter a match. If you win, you get money, which you can then spend in the various shops for doubles partners, additional outfits, racket upgrades, and more arenas for Exhibition Mode. You also improve your rank, imperative as you must have a certain rank in order to enter higher tournaments. These changes are, again, intended to make the game more of a simulation than an arcade experience, but it's set up in such an intuitive and compelling way that it's more enjoyable. You'll get attached to your created players quickly, and you can even use them in the game's other modes.

Tennis 2K2 is a gorgeous-to-look-at masterpiece that has even deeper gameplay than the original, and is unmatched as a multiplayer party game and as a single-player experience. It is a must-own classic that is the final hurrah for the dying Dreamcast, and is one of the system's top three games. Enthusiastically recommended!

If you loved "Virtua Tennis", picking up "Tennis 2K2" is a no-brainer. This sequel is simply more of what made "Virtua Tennis" a surprise hit. If you have not played the original and are not a tennis enthusiast, consider buying the original....

Reasons why this game does not deserve five stars:
1) The most popular players (Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova) are still not here and most likely will be appearing in a rival tennis game for PS2 in the future.
2) If you played the original "Virtua Tennis", you already know this game -- you will not be getting a substantially different game here.

Reasons why this game deserves better than three stars:
1) Women are here! A not-too-shabby list of women players includes the Williams sisters, Lindsay Davenport, and Monica Seles.
2) Sega still sports the best blend of realism and approachability in a tennis game. Tennis enthusiasts and casual gamers will all enjoy this game.
3) The new create-a-player mode adds a unique RPG element to the game. And if your favorite player is not among the included 16, you can create him or her from scratch.
4) Minor improvements over the original game can be seen throughout this sequel. For example, the graphics are noticeably cleaner (with nice touches such as scuff marks on the court surfaces) and game control now includes slicing.

I had the Virtua Tennis and played it until my thumb cramped and the tour was comleted. Now I get to see Venus and Serina. The addition of women was a plus. Agassi and Sampras would've been a nice addition but Tommy Haas holds his own on this version as well as the last. Gameplay is great on any level. I play only on the top level and seem to have no problem winning. I do lose more than I win, but it increases your skill and causes you to make better shots......hint: work the angles and keep the other guy guessing your shot.

oNe

this game has to be the bomb the first one rocked at first i thought it would be another bad boring tennis game but boy was i wrong i was hooked instantly and i still play sometimes. The new game features women players and uses the same engine as the first one with some minor tweaks so you cant go wrong.

A big improvement over Virtua Tennis. This has smother graphics and better playbility with swinging volleys, and trick shots between the legs. Starting out the world tour has a training mode where you create your own player. You can pick the look, hair style everything. My player looks just like me and I get to name him. You have a calender and you decide whether you play a tournament or train. You have to earn your ranking to get into a tournament. The playing is awesome. The negatives are the women are weak and not as fun to play as men. The whole women side is a waste. The second thing is that the ranking of a man player is based on singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. So You have to play all three to move up in the rankings. Training and playing slow matches with the women is sufferingOther than that the playability is awesome. I can't imagine a better tennis game on any console unless it had a better ranking set up on the world tour mode.

It was so cool! The graphics were incredible!!!!! It's a must buy for kids!!!

Tennis 2k2 is worth every penny of your money!!!! The graphics are unreal and the form on the players is very close to real life. The stadiums are out of this world. They look great!!!!!!!!! Even the training in the world tour is exiting. Seeing your player get better and better with each match keeps you playing and playing. I can't say enough about this game except that if you are going to get a tennis game this is by far the one to get and if you don't well you have made a huge mistake!

I love the Characters, soo much better then the first one...

You can't find a better tennis game. I've played all the ones for the PS2 import and domestic and no one comes close. If you are a tennis fan you have to get this. Much better than Virtual Tennis.

This is a great game that will provide a ton of enjoyment for gamers, even those who aren't avid tennis fans. Hell, even the original Pong was a kickash game that was addictive as all gets out, and Tennis 2K2 simply takes that original classic premise and amplifies it to involve more skill, more complexities, more details, more of everything. The graphics aren't too shabby either. Unfortunate that this game was released so late in the Dreamcast's life cycle.