 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Grand Slam Tennis
- Nintendo Wii
- Price: $50 or $60
- Genre: Sports
Common Sense Media says
All-ages tennis game makes good use of Wii Motion Plus.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this game is just fine for players of all ages who are old enough to play tennis. There is no controversial content in this game other than exposure to branded products displayed as advertisements in the playing forums. And though it stars John McEnroe, you need not worry about profanity. You can purchase the game for $50, but the bundle with the Wii MotionPlus it is only $60 -- a steal.
What's it about?
Nintendo Wii owners got a taste of motion-controlled tennis with Wii Sports, one of the five games bundled with the console. But those who crave a deeper experience on the virtual court won't be disappointed with EA Sports' GRAND SLAM TENNIS. While the game is hardly a grand slam when it comes to graphics, this Wii exclusive feels terrific thanks to authentic tennis motions aided by Nintendo's new Wii MotionPlus peripheral, an add-on that attaches to the Wii remote). This tennis game lets you play as or against some of the most famous tennis pros in recent memory -- including John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker and Maria Sharapova -- in both single-player and multiplayer modes (including supporting online play for head-to-head matches over the Internet). Grand Slam Tennis is the only video game where users can play at Wimbledon, plus the U.S. Open., Australian Open and other coveted events.
Is it any good?
What this game lacks in graphics, it makes up for in feel. By holding the Wii Remote (with the Wii MotionPlus attached) like a tennis racket, players can perform real life tennis strokes in front of the TV -- including forehands, backhands, topspins, slices, lobs and slams -- and the motions are mirrored in the game in real-time. When plugged into the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk controller moves the player around the court, but younger or more novice players can unplug it and have the game's A.I. handle player movement -- a very nice feature. Between its many game modes, multiple tennis players and locations, and intuitive motion control, Grand Slam Tennis is worth making a racket over.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether the gratuitous company or product logos in the game takes away from the experience or adds to it? Is it fair for video game companies to sell ads in games or do you feel that your $50 or $60 spent on the product should be without advertisements?
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AGE
Fine Game
Great game. The cartoony graphics concentrates the attention of the player to the game itself- instead of minor details. The game is truly representative of the actual sport. Most player show great sportsmanship almost all the time; even McEnroe claps when his opponent makes a fine shot. The most violent portion might be the racquet slam, but only a handful of players do this, infrequently. The graphics might make it even more appealing to children. Rather, the product logos makes the game more realistic, but they do not interfere gameplay.
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| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Sports |
| Developer: | EA Sports |
| Release date: | June 10, 2009 |
| Price: | $50 or $60 |
| ESRB rating: | E for (No Descriptors) |
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