Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar San Diego
System: Nintendo Wii
Genre: Sports
Release date: Available now
Review by: G. Scott Taulbee

In the early 1900′s, refined gentlemen played tennis outdoors. On days where the weather was not conducive to running around outside, these gentlemen would sulk indoors, unhappy that they were unable to engage in their preferred pastime. One day, a few of these gentlemen began using household items to bring their fun inside. A few decades later, the official sport of Table Tennis was born. It has been known under many names, the most popular of which is the brand-name, Ping Pong, and was the inspiration for the first commercially successful arcade game, Pong. In a somewhat strange twist, the simplistic nature of these early games is reflected in Rockstar Games’ motion-sensing title for the Nintendo Wii.

Minimalistic elegance is the focus of the title, and the design philosophy extends to every facet of the experience. Two opponents face off using a ball and a paddle in an attempt to score points in a battle of reflexes, dexterity and a fair bit of snap-decision strategy. The title introduces new players to the techniques of table tennis through a series of playable tutorials. Each of the tutorials focuses on a different aspect of play, from ball control, to charging shots, to spin and counter spin. These skills are used to beat computer opponents in a series of tournaments. Winning games and tournaments unlocks additional characters to play, outfits to wear and venues for matches.

Characters are depicted realistically, not as cartoony representations, and remain in line with the title’s simplicity. There are about a dozen characters, of both genders and hailing from many nations, but only a few are available at the onset of the game. Each one varies in their abilities of Accuracy, Spin, Power, and Serving.

The character’s abilities differ enough to make all of them feel unique. Characters with higher Accuracy can more precisely control the direction of the ball, while characters with a higher Spin ability can cause the ball to curve more in flight. The Serve ability enables a player to deliver the opening ball with control and force, while the Power attribute assists when aggressively smashing the ball onto the opponent’s half of the court.