Wii Sports Tennis was revolutionary and helped solidify the Wii as a venerable and enjoyable console. A decade later, D3 Publisher’s Tennis doesn’t do exactly the same thing, but it is a quick and steady game that is bolstered by an economically friendly price tag and visuals that harken to Nintendo’s original. Regardless, the similar coat of paint isn’t enough to make the game truly special, as a lack of replayability and originally hurt its ability to return a few power serves.
Visually, Tennis looks a lot like Wii Sports, but adds in an anime aesthetic that serves it well. Simply put, it’s a good fit on the Switch and doesn’t take away from the fun. Away from the visuals, the sense of speed in joy con mode is easily the game’s most redeemable quality. Playing with the controllers attached is fun, but predictable, while swinging or flicking the joy con is the closest thing you’ll get to Wii Sports Tennis on the Switch. At times, the game will get so speedy that you’ll feel like you’re about to go Super Saiyan.
A lack of modes and originality is what hurts this game the most. As noted earlier, the sense of speed makes it unique, but away from Exhibition and Tournament mode, the Rally Mode is the only thing to come back for. And even runs it’s course after a few playthroughs. Multiplayer is fun as well, but even that doesn’t compare to Tennis offers on other consoles. Even with the multiple characters and courts, the playability is lacking. All in all, the game is in need of a bit more depth.
In the end, in spite, charming visuals, fun joy con controls and a wild sense of speed, Tennis from D3 Publisher on the Switch ends up as a mediocre game mired by a lack of purposeful and engrossing gameplay modes.
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports.
Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders.
His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023.
Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief.
Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale.
Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.
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