Review | Everybody’s Tennis

Sony’s Everybody’s series of games have been designed specifically for pick up and play that everybody can enjoy. Simplistic gameplay elements combined with chirpy characters and colourful graphics take the seriousness out of a sporting challenge with true emphasis on fun but enough subtlety in skill to provide a challenge for those that want it.

As we have seen with Everybody’s Golf (which has been around for about a decade now), the cartoon approach and simple game mechanics have fared well with fans. Everybody’s Tennis has enjoyed the same reception. There have been more serious tennis titles out there such as Smash Court Tennis 3 and Virtua Tennis which have required more strategy in positioning and shot selection than that of Everybody’s Tennis (which takes some of the guesswork out of play). This is what ideally makes the game suitable for the younger audience but still has room for those searching for the perfect game.

As I mentioned, the game is easy to play for all ages; you can quickly develop your own quirky character where there are over 500 customisable items to use. Clap Hanz has added the Advanced Shot System where you can place, volley, drop and smash your way to victory. Each shot type is assigned to different buttons which makes for easy selection; of course you can just stick to the standard shots to get past most opponents but to make the most of the game you will need to come to grips with every option in your arsenal. To get to Pro you must advance in the career mode, climb the ladder as you take out various opponents. As you beat each opponent you will move to other areas that require you to complete tasks which give you the skills to beat the best players in the region. There will also be hidden items to pick up as you go.

As you progress you will obtain a roster of characters each with their own strengths and weaknesses. So although it is not necessary to use one character for the entire game you will be rewarded with a loyalty bonus after repeated use of the same character. As your loyalty meter increases, the character will learn various shot options, and their abilities will increase.

Although ET is at its heart easy to play, it also dishes out plenty of rewards to help you advance your characters skillsets. Experience points allow you to level up, so it’s important to get those aces, and generally spend as much time on the court as you can. As you level your character you also unlock new items, such as clothing, which enhance your attributes. There are plenty of quirky characters to chat to and challenge throughout the many areas you travel, with often hilarious dialogue which helps create an RPG element.

The ET experience offers fast paced action that is robust enough to compete with any other PSP tennis title on the market. The cutesy Japanese graphics take away the seriousness of the sport without harming the tennis experience. Add to the mix a storyline which starts players out in a small time club before progressing to Pro, and there is enough in the game to keep you going for many hours. However if you really want to get serious then the multiplayer option is sure to please, where you can square off with 2-3 other players either via wireless mode or game-share. ET provides a surprising amount of depth for a game that is designed for anyone, allowing for young players and seasoned pros. It’s a great game that you can spend either a few minutes at a time on or go for a marathon effort to climb some ladders.   [8]