“It’s like having Wii Tennis on your iPhone…"
So says mobile developer FinBlade of its recently released iPhone sports title Tennis Slam [App Store] that aspires to bring the award winning gameplay of the Wii favorite to your pocket. So has FinBlade delivered a Grand Slam iPhone event?
Well, Wii Sports tennis, it’s not. But that’s not to say the game should be entirely written off.
Tennis Slam features an over-the-shoulder perspective court, resembling a fixed-camera version of the Wii Sports court, upon which cute bobble-style characters hover around, playing a game of doubles. The graphics are cute and clean and the game features comical flourishes such as fig leaf-wearing spectators streaking the field. Unfortunately, the current version lacks audio of any sort.
Tennis Slam, like Wii Sports tennis, is a simplified take on the game. The player controls the two players on the near side of the court. As is the case on the Wii, the on-screen player position on the court is automatic and only the serve and consecutive returns of the ball are controlled by the player. The serve is performed by either tapping anywhere on the iPhone’s screen or by jerking the iPhone in any direction. Returns are controlled in a similar fashion; a tap or a jerk causes the player closest to the ball to swing. (I found the jerk method to be more satisfying than the tap.) The fact that the iPhone’s screen is part of the device prevents Tennis Slam from exploiting the iPhone’s accelerometers in so effective a way as Nintendo has the Wiimote in Wii Sports.
Three modes of play are offered: single game, best of 3 games, and best of 5 games.
While I found the gameplay to be more or less enjoyable for short periods, there is a constant feeling of claustrophobia that can be frustrating. The court is so small relative to the players that, at times, it can be difficult to even find the ball among the “crowd." While smaller, less detailed graphics might reduce the game’s “comic charm," they would go a long way towards improving gameplay.
Any iPhone gamer who has suffered tennis elbow at the hand of Wii Sports tennis may want to have a look at this App Store offering, but understand that it’s more tied to Wii Sports in spirit than in gameplay.
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Nice puzzling game, worth 1.99 even though I got it for free last week...
oh yeah, and I saw the other youtube video as well, she's definitely someone who works with the developer, for him or his girlfriend.
I'm getting tired of all these price changes ;(
Being an early adopter is terrible.
@sway
would it make you feel better if I reported on price increases as well? :)
Kyodai recently went from $.99 to $1.99
lol @ arn
Mikael is a cheeky bastard for using Kristina to show his game.
Don't expect it free for long. The lite version is out.
Jack, Fuzzle has been free since I reported on it on Sept 14th. A lite version would indeed indicate that limited time may be soon over.
Quote: "We can’t say we’re 100% convinced this is actually the developer since iTunes lists “Mikael Suvi” as the seller, but regardless, it’s a good effort."
A good effort? Hell, I'd say GENIUS effort!
Get a hot, young blonde with an exotic accent to sell a relatively decent puzzle game?
Where do I sign up?!?!
@matt - it was free, but hey raised the price again about a week ago. it just went free again.
arn
So basically this is a "lets get into the top 10 paid apps" and then once we are there - back to $1.99.
Developers that do this aren't very nice.
They actually already did the give it away for then raise the price thing. That's how I got it.
It's an okay puzzle game, nothing too exciting. There are a lot more for the same price or less.
Yeah its a fun little game, whatever the price ends up at, for me it would be fine - anything that keeps me entertained for this many hours is worth paying for imo. Oh yeah, and my girlfriend really loves it too, more than any other game that I can remember, so I can _almost_ believe that this girl was behind the development :P
OMG, I got it while it was free last night, then I played it for about a half hour, then for some reason, I found myself with an undying craving for a bag of skittles. WTF?
@NJPodder
LOL!! if thats the case - better not play the game "All you can eat" lol
free, then not free, then free, now not free... can't wait to see what it will be next week