Game Reviews: June Issue

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Sports Gamer
Posted by: Scott Jones
May 26, 2009, 10:10 AM

These three games will all be hitting stores in June. Keep reading for a preview and check back in when the game is released for a full review...

Grand Slam Tennis (Wii; $49.99; Release Date: June 8)

Preview: Tennis great John McEnroe makes his video-game debut, believe it or not, in this new tennis title exclusively developed for the Wii (and the WiiMotion Plus). The game includes all four of the Grand Slams: the Australian Open, the U.S. Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon.

Click "More" below to see a full review.

Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream (Wii, $39.99; Release Date: July 21)

Preview: With more than 40 different kinds of fresh and saltwater fish, as well as a variety fishing environments, this could be the last fishing sim you'll ever need to own. And, once you're done for the day, dock your boat and head back to the lodge where you can listen to advice from the Fishing Master and even raise your most prized catches in aquariums.

Pangya: Fantasy Golf (CLICK HERE FOR REVIEW!)

Preview: Golf video games don't always need to feature real-world physics or pixel-perfect recreations of the back nine at Pebble Beach to be great. This little UMD takes more than a few liberties with the sport by featuring colorful characters and colorful environments.

Here's the first review of the month: Grand Slam Tennis

Dust off the Wii, people. The Wii Motion Plus has arrived. And, like the sun coming out from behind a bank of clouds, suddenly the Wii is relevant again.

I have to say, I was skeptical about Nintendo's newest peripheral. The Wii Motion Plus plugs into the base of your Wii Remote. And once you've plugged it in, it's official: Waggle R.I.P.

The first game to really showcase the add-on is not Wii Sports Resort (we'll have to wait until next month for that game; check back to the splogs for my full review), but EA's Grand Slam Tennis, a slightly cartoon-ish take on the sport. Sure, you can play the game the old way, wiggling and waggling your Wii Remote, trying to time your shots. Or you can play it the way it was meant to be played: with 100-percent shot-placement support. Once you place a ball just inside the chalk in the far corner of your opponent's court, you'll never go back to waggle again, trust me.

It'll take around half an hour or so for the controls to feel natural. And there are still some hiccups now and then, when the Wii Motion Plus falls out of synch with Wii. But during match play, when you scorch a serve, you get a sense of satisfaction unlike anything you've ever felt in a sports gamer before.

And that's saying something.

With a full-on Career mode, a fairly deep Character Creator, tons of Mini-games and Party modes, and yes—online play—this is simply the best tennis video game I have ever seen.