The saga All Star Tennis was founded in (?) 1999: almost landed with simultaneous PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color and was a success not exactly striking. Basically for four reasons: it was quite playable, funny enough, varied enough, enough adrenaline. Not bad, in fact, but with too much "enough" to really break through
For a year after quenching and altogether frustrating experience on consoles, Ubi Soft will try again, this time approaching a PC version to the, now familiar, for PSX, N64 and GBC. A difficult task, then, because - as taught by the mediocre (but fun, of course) precursors Roland Garros, and Actua Tennis Ace Tennis - the combination tennis-PC has rarely proved successful. That times have changed? Go on the pitch to find out
Kuerten NOT SWAP, FOR 'MORE' FORTE ..
As expected, the first step is the selection of players: that, although thoroughly characterized, are not many. Among these litotici "not many", comprise eight players that actually exist: Richard Krajicek, Lleyton Hewitt, Guga Kuerten, Amelie Mauresmo, Conchita Martinez ... And any number of players absolutely invented. That are the fruit of the imagination of the developers of the license or official, however, it does not matter: all the players present in AST2000 are characterized by a style of play at all staff. Not only that, the movements, the reactions in case of victory or defeat, the speed, the way to run: Ubi Soft to have cured with a maniacal attention to the behavioral aspect of the various players. And the results are obvious: You can - if tennisticamente shod - recognize the real-life counterparts of the players only by observing the style of play
PERFORMANCE, Tournament, Season: RULES '
Following the choice of game modes. All Star Tennis it offers essentially three: Exhibition, Tournament and Season
Exhibition mode offers the chance to take in a single match an opponent whatsoever. On the ground, on grass, on concrete or synthetic surface: If a field in AST2000 is available, you can select it in exhibition mode. Without the need for symbolic "unlocking" (typical of arcade games that All Star Tennis 2000 does not belong, but from which it draws inspiration). It 'also contemplated (and God forbid!) The opportunity of a contest between human beings, who, as usual, proved by far the best guarantee for longevity. But is not this a surprise
Tournament Mode does is write the name of your characters brilliant player on the board (there is nothing metaphorical names actually shine on the board) of one of the ten available evidence, then leaving him at the mercy of his own, more or less fearsome opponents. The imagination suggests that triumph in France or England (no license, no real names: ergo nothing Wimbledon, Roland Garros, Australian Open, etc ...) is more difficult than in Italy or Germany, but suggests evil: the 'small number of players (sixteen men and sixteen women) causes the same to attend all tournaments exist, thereby drastically reducing the chances of winning "surprise" of unexpected outsider
The same players win both in Rome and in Paris. Without distinction. Clearly the negative (and not at all realistic) result: the prestige of the four races of the Grand Slam stupid surely. The third and final mode in the name sums up its essence. Season, or a full year in the ATP circuit (which, to tell the truth, you do not call Atp as AST2000 no homonymous officially licensed); season, which is the heart of All Star Tennis 2000 ... Through a journey of ten tennis tournaments, the player must reach the top of the world rankings, indeed, not very long (only sixteen positions, such as the number of players). Nothing else, but not cheap. Challenge, excitement, competition, sweat is in this mode, no less, that All Star Tennis 2000 is the best of his best. As far as possible, of course
THE GAMEPLAY
Four keys are used for control of shots: one to smash, volley, service and roll standard, one for the top-spin, one for the back-spin, and one for the lob (very useful when your opponent plays a network) . The variety of shots Did not incredible, but it certainly is - especially remembering the only two keys Roland Garros 99 - more than enough. Depending on your style, of course, some will play any preference over other: and the attacker s'avvarr? almost exclusively smash and volley, and the pallettaro s'esibir? in daring rejected, and the terraiolo find the right groundstrokes the its perfect shot ... In All Star Tennis 2000 style is crucial. Even and especially in the players handled by computer
The change of the surface of fields actually affect the game (attack on the ground is not as successful on grass, etc ...), a matter which makes it less trivial mechanic and the transition from one tournament to another. E 'therefore probable, as is the case in reality, a player has more arduous triumph at Roland Garros Wimbledon. We said a few lines up: a question of style. Surprisingly, however, during the games, the almost total lack of balls smashed against the network, perhaps daughter on the "simulativamente arcade" of AST2000. An approach that, however, it certainly does not guarantee great depth, it ensures at least a good deal of immediacy
A WORD FROM YOU "NN" ICO
We close the review with the technical aspect of the title Ubi Soft, which certainly does not shine for accuracy. Indeed. The animations are fluctuating quality: some good, some painful. Those of good service, volley and post-game reactions (anger or of euphoria that may be); painful, for example, those of the diagonal stroke of slow steps. The public is poorly carried out, and unworthy is the static nature of the judges. There is no ball boys, but the balls mysteriously disappear from the field. The network and the field itself suffer from a lack of anti-aliasing ... Well, technically AST2000 is not exactly a wonderfull place ...
comment
All Star Tennis 2000 is a decent title in terms of gameplay, enough of the technical implementation, and more convincingly, from sports title that he is, on that of longevity. Lacks the official license, the matches are not as realistic as you could hope for, players are few and very few game modes. Yet ATS2000 is fun, even engaging in Season Play mode. To buy only if actually tennis fans.
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