Super Tennis (SMS)

Super Tennis Box Art

Super Tennis

System: SMS

Release Date: December 1986

Developer: Sega

Publisher: Sega

Genre: Sports

Okay, we’re on to Super Tennis for the Sega Master System. I kind of feel that you can take my review for Tennis on NES and copy and paste it, because that’s what they did with the game. It also makes me realize that I rated Tennis waaaay too highly, but that’s what happens when you’re starting a new project out.

The computer serving to me.

You play against the computer in a Singles Tennis match. The goal is to win 6 games and 2 sets to win the match. In the settings before starting the match, you can set the Speed Level, Control Level, and Player Type. I believe the first three options affect the player, I just went with the middle option of B. Then you set your difficulty, which I also went with the middle option.

About to SMAAAAAASH! the ball back over the net.

Then it was off to the court. Your bread and butter is Button 1. This is your ground stroke, volley, and smash. If the ball comes close to you, hit this button and you’ll try to hit the ball. Button 2 is your lobs hot. I did not have to use this more than once, as I typically use a lob to back the computer off the net, which it didn’t really do at all.

A lob shot coming my way.

If you play two player, you play on the same team in a Doubles Match, but I didn’t have a second player, so… It really just felt like playing Tennis on NES. Except the middle difficulty is easier here on the Master System. I guess I was hoping for something more after a year since the Tennis release.

Graphics: 2.0

The graphics are very slightly better than Tennis, mainly thanks to more colors.

Sound: 1.0

The sounds are Pongy and not very nice.

Gameplay: 2.0

It was easier to hit the ball than in Tennis and I didn’t notice many weird returns.

Difficulty: 2.5

I steamrolled the middle difficulty, I would expect a little more challenge from a normal level.

Fun Factor: 1.5

I got bored while playing Super Tennis because it wasn’t an upgrade of Tennis, which was already on the market.

Overall Grade: 1.8

Super Tennis earns a C. It’s a carbon copy of Tennis on NES, but there really should have been some advances in the gap between release dates of the two games.

Super Tennis Video Review on YouTube