Sega Superstars Tennis
{{Short description|2008 sports video game}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Sega Superstars Tennis
|image=SEGA Superstars Tennis.jpg
|caption=
|developer=Sumo Digital
Feral Interactive (OS X){{cite web |url=http://www.feralinteractive.com/en/news/386/ |title=Game, set and Mac! SEGA Superstars Tennis out on October 17 |publisher=Feral Interactive |date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=October 3, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215735/http://www.feralinteractive.com/en/news/386/ |url-status=live }}
|publisher=Sega
Feral Interactive (OS X)
|composer=Richard Jacques
|designer=
|series=Sega All-Stars
|released={{vgrelease|NA|March 18, 2008|EU|March 20, 2008|AUS|March 27, 2008}}Mac OS X
{{vgrelease|WW|October 17, 2013}}
|genre=Sports game
|platforms={{ubl|PlayStation 3|PlayStation 2|Wii|Xbox 360|Nintendo DS|Mac OS X}}
|modes=Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Sega Superstars Tennis is a sports video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega.{{cite magazine |title=Sega Superstars Tennis: Sega serves up fan love |last=Nelson |first=Randy |magazine=PlayStation: The Official Magazine |issue=3 |date=February 2008 |page=36}} It is the second title in the Sega All-Stars series, preceded by Sega Superstars (2004), and crosses over characters, locations, and soundtracks from several Sega franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Channel 5, and Super Monkey Ball.
The game was originally released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and Wii, followed by releases for Mac OS X and multiple mobile versions. Upon release, the game received mixed reviews from critics, with reviewers praising the game's Sega-theming and variety of content but criticizing the core gameplay.
The game was followed up by two racing game entries, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010) and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (2012).
Gameplay
File:Sega Superstars Tennis Puyo Pop gameplay.jpeg gameplay during one of the minigames]]
The gameplay in Sega Superstars Tennis is similar to Sega's Virtua Tennis series, with characters able to perform techniques such as lob shots and drop shots. Characters each have different statistics and proficiency in specific areas, such as power or control. Each character also has their own unique "Superstar State", a special ability that can be activated once an accompanying meter is filled. The effects of a Superstar State vary depending on the character; for example, Sonic transforms to Super Sonic and causes the ball to zig-zag when hit, while Gilius summons thunderbolts that can temporarily stun opponents. The game features ten courts themed after various Sega games, such as Green Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog and Shibuya Downtown from Jet Set Radio.
Sega Superstars Tennis features several gameplay modes. Superstars mode allows the player to complete various missions themed around a specific Sega games, which take the form of exhibition matches, tournaments and minigame score challenges; completing these missions will unlock new areas based on other games with additional sets of missions to complete. Players will unlock new additional characters, courts, and music for use in gameplay as they progress through Superstars. Match mode offers standard tennis gameplay in singles or doubles matches for up to four players locally, while Tournament mode allows a single player to compete in a series of five sequential matches against random computer opponents. There are also several playable minigames that feature alternate gameplay styles inspired by other Sega games, including Space Harrier, Puyo Pop Fever, ChuChu Rocket!, and Virtua Cop. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions also support online multiplayer.
The Wii version features support for three different control schemes: the Wii Remote with Nunchuk, the Wii Remote sideways, and the Classic Controller. The Nintendo DS version of the game can be played with the standard control pad or the touch screen.
= Playable characters =
Sega Superstars Tennis features 16 playable characters originating from eight different Sega franchises. Eight characters are available from the start, while the remaining eight must be unlocked through Superstars mode. The game marks the first 3D appearances of both Alex Kidd{{Cite web|last=Buchanan|first=Levi|date=2021-11-01|title=Alex Kidd Retrospective|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/06/alex-kidd-retrospective|access-date=2021-12-18|website=IGN|language=en|archive-date=December 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218180440/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/06/alex-kidd-retrospective|url-status=live}} and Gilius Thunderhead (Golden Axe) in a video game, and marks Alex Kidd's first playable appearance in eighteen years following the 1990 release of Alex Kidd in Shinobi World.
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
- AiAi
- Alex Kidd
- Amigo
- Amy
- Beat
- Dr. Eggman
- Gilius
- Gum
- MeeMee
- NiGHTS
- Pudding
- Reala
- Shadow
- Sonic
- Tails
- Ulala
}}
{{clear}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| DS = true
| PS2 = true
| PS3 = true
| WII = true
| X360 = true
| na = true
| Destruct_X360 = 7/10{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-sega-superstars-tennis-80866.phtml |title=Destructoid review: Sega Superstars Tennis (X360) |last=Sterling |first=Jim |authorlink=Jim Sterling |date=April 10, 2008 |website=Destructoid |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=September 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917080414/https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-sega-superstars-tennis-80866.phtml |url-status=live }}
| Edge_X360 = 7/10{{cite magazine |title=Sega Superstars Tennis (X360) |author=Edge staff |magazine=Edge |issue=187 |date=April 2008 |page=97}}
| EuroG_X360 = 7/10{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sega-superstars-tennis-review |title=SEGA Superstars Tennis (Xbox 360) |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=March 18, 2008 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919164451/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sega-superstars-tennis-review |url-status=live }}
| GI_PS3 = 7.25/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/F9646B42-6C96-4A97-A37E-2158D2DFB122.htm |title=Sega Superstars Tennis (PS3, X360) |last=Vore |first=Bryan |magazine=Game Informer |issue=181 |date=May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501190049/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/F9646B42-6C96-4A97-A37E-2158D2DFB122.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2016}}
| GamePro_DS = 2.25/5{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/ds/games/reviews/170208.shtml |title=Review: SEGA Superstars Tennis (DS) |last=Balistrieri |first=Emily |date=March 18, 2008 |magazine=GamePro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320202411/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/ds/games/reviews/170208.shtml |archive-date=March 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 17, 2016}}
| GameRev_DS = C−{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/ds/sega_superstars_tennis |title=Sega Superstars Tennis - DS Review |last=Rowe |first=Brian |date=June 2, 2008 |publisher=Game Revolution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916203633/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/ds/sega_superstars_tennis |archive-date=September 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 17, 2016}}
| GSpot_DS = 6.5/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sega-superstars-tennis-review/1900-6188308/ |title=Sega Superstars Tennis Review (DS) |last=Thomas |first=Aaron |date=March 25, 2008 |website=GameSpot |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=February 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219120346/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sega-superstars-tennis-review/1900-6188308/ |url-status=live }}
| GSpy_X360 = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sega-superstars-tennis/862998p1.html |title=GameSpy: Sega Superstars Tennis (X360) |last=Graziani |first=Gabe |date=March 28, 2008 |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920055056/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sega-superstars-tennis/862998p1.html |url-status=live }}
| GT_X360 = 6.5/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/gamereview.php?id=5679 |title=Sega Superstars Tennis Review (X360) |publisher=GameTrailers |date=April 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407131554/http://www.gametrailers.com/gamereview.php?id=5679 |archive-date=April 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2016}}
| IGN_DS = 6.9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/18/sega-superstars-tennis-review-2 |title=SEGA Superstars Tennis Review (NDS) |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=March 18, 2008 |website=IGN |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025105108/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/18/sega-superstars-tennis-review-2 |url-status=live }}
| IGN_PS3 = (US) 6.4/10
(AU) 6/10{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/28/sega-superstars-tennis-au-review |title=SEGA Superstars Tennis AU Review (PS3) |author=IGN AU staff |date=March 27, 2008 |website=IGN |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=September 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925204700/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/28/sega-superstars-tennis-au-review |url-status=live }}
| NP_DS = 8/10{{cite magazine |title=Sega Superstars Tennis (DS) |magazine=Nintendo Power |volume=227 |date=April 2008 |page=89}}
| NP_WII = 8/10{{cite magazine |title=Sega Superstars Tennis (Wii) |magazine=Nintendo Power |volume=227 |date=April 2008 |page=85}}
| OXM_X360 = 6/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-360/s-z/sega-superstars-tennis |title=Sega Superstars Tennis |last=McCaffrey |first=Ryan |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |date=May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314164137/http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-360/s-z/sega-superstars-tennis |archive-date=March 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2016}}
| PSM_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Review: Sega Superstars Tennis (PS2) |magazine=PlayStation: The Official Magazine |issue=7 |date=June 2008 |page=81}}
| rev1 = Wired
| rev1_PS3 = 6/10{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/03/review-sega-sup |title=Review: Sega Superstars Tennis Is Not Quite Super (PS3, Wii, X360) |last=Cavalli |first=Earnest |date=March 26, 2008 |magazine=Wired |access-date=September 16, 2016}}
| MC_DS = 65/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sega-superstars-tennis/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |title=Sega Superstars Tennis for DS Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114082517/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/sega-superstars-tennis |url-status=live }}
}}{{Expand section|date=May 2023}}
Sega Superstars Tennis received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
Though it was praised for its multiplayer and enjoyable gameplay, the lack of graphical detail and online support was criticized. Eurogamer praised the Xbox 360 version for its fan service. Official Nintendo Magazine reviewed the Wii version, saying that it had great gameplay and fun minigames and was enjoyable in multiplayer. However, the game just missed out on a Gold Award (which is given to games that score 90% or higher in their reviews) due to the lack to Nintendo Wi-Fi support and blasted Sega for the omission due to Wi-Fi being supported on the Xbox and PS3, commenting that as Nintendo Wi-Fi had already proven its capabilities with other games, it appeared that Sega simply couldn't be bothered to include it.{{cite journal |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/3810/reviews/sega-superstars-tennis-review/ |title=Sega Superstars Tennis Review (Wii) |last=Scullion |first=Chris |journal=Official Nintendo Magazine |date=April 2008 |page=70 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011220053/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/3810/reviews/sega-superstars-tennis-review/ |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2016}} IGN called the Wii version "a tennis game that should have been better than it is." They criticized the lack of detail in the graphics, the muffled sound effects, simplistic gameplay, and the lack of an online mode, which is present in the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.
{{clear}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/sega-superstars-tennis}}
{{Sega Superstars Series}}
{{Jet Set Radio}}{{Space Channel 5}}{{Sonic the Hedgehog}}{{Super Monkey Ball series}}{{Portal bar|Video games}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Crossover video games
Category:Sonic the Hedgehog video games
Category:Feral Interactive games
Category:Video games scored by Richard Jacques