Grand Slam Tennis

Grand Slam is a content-packed offering that'll satisfy seasoned tennis fans and first-timers alike

GamePro (online)

Grand Slam Tennis goes far beyond a glorified version of Wii Sports' tennis once you plug in the Wii MotionPlus. Learning to control the new-found power takes some time, but the reward of an accurately placed shot will keep you coming back to the virtual court. So lace up your white sneaks, grab a Gatorade, and plug in the Wii MotionPlus for the most realistic living room tennis to date!

Pros

  • Tons of great content supported by amazing Wii MotionPlus controls

Cons

  • Learning curve might be a bit much for Wii Sports's tennis champs

Bottom Line

Grand Slam's a great package, especially for those who've grown bored with Wii Sports's comparatively casual take on tennis. The Wii MotionPlus-assisted play is nearly pitch-perfect, the modes brimming with features, and the visuals — while the weakest aspect of the title — offer some cartoony charm. As a quality tennis title and an impressive showcase of Nintendo's new tech, EA's ambitious first effort easily takes the cup.

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  • Where to buy

    Priced from: $ 79.95
    Selling at 2 stores
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Tennis, anyone?

When Nintendo releases a new game-changing gadget, they generally do it alongside a first-party title; the Balance Board was bundled with Wii Fit and Animal Crossing was supported by Wii Speak right of the box. It's surprising, then, that Mario's handlers allowed Electronic Arts to roll out the red carpet for the precision control-pushing Wii MotionPlus with their untested take on tennis — one of the few sports the publisher's not already dominating with an annual release. Turns out, Nintendo and EA knew exactly what they were doing, as Grand Slam Tennis is not only a fantastic new franchise, but a damn impressive showcase of Wii MotionPlus' promise and potential.

Before you invest in the accuracy-amping device, though, understand that Grand Slam stands on its own as a content-packed offering that'll satisfy seasoned tennis fans and first-timers alike. It supports a robust career mode that'll see Wimbledon champ-wannabes facing current and classic players on an impressive variety of real-world courts, not to mention the ability to create and customise a character, local and lag-free (in my experience) online competitive options, and pick-up-and-play party modes. Players are welcome to enjoy all this content without a Wii MotionPlus plugged in, and can expect an experience that'll be instantly accessible to anyone who's ever picked up a virtual racket in Wii Sports.

Wii Like Wii MotionPlus

While most will find that the old school scheme offers familiar fun, I encourage individuals looking to up their game to spring for the play-enhancing peripheral; supporting an incredible degree of accuracy and precision, Wii MotionPlus brings an unparalleled amount of strategy to the console court. And while the added sensitivity doesn't offer exact 1:1 motion, it far outshines the "waggle" control of previous Wii games. In fact, many might find this new-found freedom frustrating at first, as it'll feel oversensitive to those more accustomed to waving their WiiMotes around like a monkey on a Red Bull bender. There's definitely a learning curve to conquer, but the investment's totally worth it — you'll start to appreciate the power this new peripheral packs the first time you intentionally send a shot hurtling down the line or cross court. And those looking for even more control of their game can add Nunchuck support for additional player movement.

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