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Grand Slam Tennis & Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 Hands On
Wii Hands On by Martin Korda
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With the footy season racing towards a climactic finale and the first shoots of spring poking out of the frosty soil like a puppy peeking through a letterbox, it won't be long before we're dusting off grandpa's old wooden tennis racket and golf clubs and heading out to thwack a few balls around (badly), then retreating home to nurse chapped hands and tennis elbow. This year, however, we're going to have a couple of home-based alternatives to choose from thanks to EA's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and the publisher's first foray into the world of Henman Hill, Grand Slam Tennis. With both games employing MotionPlus for extra control, we could be in for the most realistic sporting experiences ever witnessed on Wii.
First up is Grand Slam Tennis. Featuring all the Grand Slams replete with faithfully recreated courts and a wealth of pros both current (e.g. Federer) and legendary (e.g. Sampras), Grand Slam Tennis attempts to faithfully emulate its real-life counterpart while remaining accessible to everyone. Courts and players have received the now-obligatory Wii cartoon-style makeover, with courts considerably narrower than in real life and players more squat than the finely tuned athletes they're based on. Each pro has been lovingly recreated and possesses many of the mannerisms of his or her real-world counterpart, such as Nadal yanking his pants out of his arse crack and pumping his fist victoriously. [Is this right? - Ed]
Flick the Wiimote above your head then slam it down to serve.
While the presentation may be looking solid, the true test comes on court, and in this department, Grand Slam Tennis teems with promise. Using the new MotionPlus mode the action is certainly realistic. With the Wiimote representing your racket you must accurately time shots to make the best possible connection with the ball. Swing too early or late and the shot is weak or misplaced, while missing the ball is all too easy if you flap the Wiimote like you're trying to swat a pigeon that's mistaken your head for a giant breadcrumb.
The key innovation here is the ability to rotate the Wiimote in order to pull off different shot types. Twist the controller forward and you'll apply topspin, while rotating backwards enables you to slice. Keeping the remote central executes a flat shot. The strength with which you swing and how far you pull the controller sideways also influences the flight of the ball, allowing you to genuinely aim for the court's corners and pull your opponent out of position. With your thumb over the A button and your index finger poised above B, you can further mix up your shot types, with A allowing you to lob and B executing a drop-shot. Your player's movements are either automatically controlled or, if you're feeling brave, there's an option to navigate your player with the nunchuk control stick. And for advanced players, the d-pad can be used to rush the net - a particularly useful trick on grass.
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Related Games
EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
Latest Features
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EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis Review [62]
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EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis Review [101]
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EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis Hands On [30]
Latest Videos
The Eurogamer TV Show: EA Sports Roundup [9] 22 May, 2009
Grand Slam Tennis - Multiplayer [0] 13 May, 2009
Latest News
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Grand Slam PS3/360 delayed indefinitely [4]
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UK charts: suburb week for Sims 3 [31]
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Moore: EA is under-performing on Wii [7]
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More details of MotionPlus in EA Tennis [19]
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EA games to bundle Wii MotionPlus [19]
Latest Screenshots
4 June, 2009 [1]
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Comments: 1-44 of 44 in total
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neonemesis
01/04/09 @ 08:48
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Just a observation but this isn't the first EA tennis game as the article says at the beginning. There was also IMG International Tour Tennis for the Mega Drive, a US only game with very expensive rights involved. Didn't do very well so EA didn't do any more.
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"After a couple of rounds with the latest code the portents are encouraging, with the added sensitivity of MotionPlus providing an unprecedented level of control."
Sorry, got to call you out on this one as the above quote suggests you played the M+ version of Tiger. Which hasn't been demonstrated to UK press, as far as I'm aware, and won't be until late April. If you mean you watched a video demo, you should probably disclose that. My apologies if I am incorrect. |
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DonnieDarko333
01/04/09 @ 09:52
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Grand Slam Tennis is scheduled for June 19th but NOE wont announce a date for MotionPlus...just tell us god damn it!
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lol, simon cant you see that the m+ is turning the "waggle stick" into something a lot lot more. Give me that level of control over 360 or PS3 graphics anyday of the week.
and you know this because you actually tried this? all the promises for M+ nintendo made before - right before the wii launched. and i for one am not gonna buy into their marketing promises until i see it work with my own eyes |
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I will be purchasing TW10 on Wii and PS3 the graphics on the last version were massively better on the PS3 versus Wii but I still enjoy the motion capture. There is apparently a wiggle stick coming out for 360 and PS3 this year,
but to be honest the motion games are still a bit like pong in their depth, but fun none the less. I really hate that they are anouncing these games so early, why don't they just do a DLC wankers. The physics is off the scale to model what a real club does (so is basic, how far you swing how much you twist), but the Wii version will probably be a lot faster to play. |
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Pac-man ate my wife
01/04/09 @ 12:08
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For someone who hates waggle so much, it seems that it's all you ever post about.
Anyhow, I really enjoyed my brief spell with Tiger Woods 09 despite not liking golf and 10 looks like it addresses a number of the problems it had. It has the potential to be the best golf game this generation. |
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FiveManArmy
01/04/09 @ 13:17
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I've got high hopes that Grand Slam Tennis will be the expanded Wii Tennis that I so desire!
I'm a bit worried about still having to press a button for lobs and drop shots though. Why can't a combination of speed and angle of shot determine this? Does this still show a limitation of M+? |
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Pac-man ate my wife
01/04/09 @ 13:28
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It might be because a too accurate 1:1 style tracking would mean that people that are rubbish at tennis - i.e. me - would just make crap shots all the time. It sounds like they are trying to get a balance of strength, direction and spin without worrying too much about the type of shot.
Or it might be that M+ isn't up to the job as you said! |
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Can't wait for Tiger Woods 2010, and glad they''e sorted out the putting as the putting on 2009 wasn't too great. It's games like this that really showcase the Wii. Despite the dodgy putting Tiger Woods 2009 for the Wii was the best SKU of the lot.
There's one thing that has really annoyed me with regards to EA Sports - WHY THE BLOODY HELL HAVEN'T THEY ANNOUNCED A WII FIGHT NIGHT YET..?!!? |
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malteaserhead
01/04/09 @ 14:44
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Personally, I find it more lolsome that people keep parroting the 'wave arms about/waggle' line that is largely irrelevant to the games we are talking about. Sure call out waggle for the sake of it when applicable but relying on it all the time sounds a little underdeveloped.
Yeah, I was a little concerned by the use of the a & b buttons for lobs etc. too. Could well be a hint at the new glass ceiling but I suppose it's better to have solid workarounds (like additional buttons) than leaving it vague/wooly or hit and miss controls though. |
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malteaserhead
01/04/09 @ 14:58
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simon0044
01-Apr-09 15:49:28 Or you could go down the park Arbuckle _______________ Are you a pull-string doll of some sort? What's your next illuminating burn phrase? Although I don't think I'm strong enough to take another one of your 'too close to the bone' jibes on the internet. I might cry, once I've stopped reeling from your first punch. I'm telling my mom. |
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"I've got high hopes that Grand Slam Tennis will be the expanded Wii Tennis that I so desire!
I'm a bit worried about still having to press a button for lobs and drop shots though. Why can't a combination of speed and angle of shot determine this? Does this still show a limitation of M+?" What the preview should have mentioned is that if you use M+ the buttons on the remote are disabled. The buttons are only used when you don't have M+ plugged in. |
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malteaserhead
01/04/09 @ 15:24
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Ah. Now that's different. I think the recent IGN hands-on failed to mention that too.
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New rule: "lol waggle" is no more a rebuttal of the existence of the Wii than "lol buttonzz" is a rebuttal of console gaming in general. If you are arguing playing a tennis game using a joypad is better than playing it by simulating the movements using motion sensors, then you need to explain your derisory comments with more than a 'lol'.
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http://prismwarden.blogspot.com/2005/09/...
With a dialing code added on...... No wonder the ladies stay clear. |
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To the guy who questions the authors use of the new M+ controller...EA has them so he certainly was able to use one.
I got to try TW10 with the M+ controller in Feb at the TW Community Day in Feb at the Tiburon studios in Orlando. I must say that while I own a Wii, I've always stuck with playing my 360 because of the graphics, features, and online. I tried the Wii versions of TW08 and TW09 and wasn't impressed as each had some real control issues and you could cheat the system with the waggle of the controller. But the new M+ controller is the real deal. It's not a wild waggle, you feel in complete control of your shots and putts with the ability to alter distance with swing length and swing speed. In fact, I am a bit more excited for the Wii version of TW10 than I am for the 360/PS3 version. And that is saying ALOT if you knew me. My sole goal right now is to secure a M+ controller as soon as they become available. |
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It is quite obvious Simon0044 is simply jealous he no longer has, or no longer uses his wii so he can troll about his other beloved console which actually, is more back ni the dark ages than supposed "PS2 graphics".
I have a 360, PS3, wii, DS and PSP but I unlike some, can appreciate each for its merrits. I will get grand slam on the wii, and the Motion Plus "should" be a lot of fun, but then I shall also get Virtua Tennis 09 on the PS3 to go back to the dark ages with by pressing buttons to do simple motions - simply to play those neanderthol friends who are brainwashed into trolling about their one prefered machine and not accepting the merrits of any others. As for saying you prefer games like Vitua Tennis with their adcanced physics - hahah are you having a laugh!! Virtua Tennis is pants for that - that isnt saying its bad cos i have it as the Mrs likes to play it, but then I also have TopSpin 3 - so if you are on about advanced physics shouldnt you be quoting that game over Virtua Cartoon World Tennis? Maybe, when you have tried motion plus, and compared it with dark age Joypad Analogue stick waggling and button pressing you can then moan and bitch and actually have some valid conviction of experience behind your comments worth listening to, until then - whats the point in dissing something you havnt even tried? That is obviously the mentality of the "little kids" you think play wii's.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 16/04/09 @ 10:15
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Comments: 1-44 of 44 in total
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