David Crane's Amazing Tennis

Last updated
David Crane's Amazing Tennis
David Crane's Amazing Tennis.jpg
Sega Genesis cover art
Developer(s) Absolute Entertainment
Publisher(s) Absolute Entertainment
Designer(s) David Crane
Composer(s) Mark Van Hecke
Platform(s) Arcade, Genesis, Super NES
Release1992
Genre(s) Traditional sports simulation
Mode(s) Single-player
Multiplayer (2 player max.)

David Crane's Amazing Tennis is a tennis simulation video game developed and published by Absolute Entertainment for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis consoles in 1992. The game was also made available for the Nintendo Super System. The SNES version got a worldwide release, while the Genesis version only saw a North American release.

Contents

Gameplay

David Crane's Amazing Tennis simulates the men's singles game across three set matches, the game is viewed from behind the player. Clay, grass and hard courts are available, and the player can specify handedness. There are a selection of fictional computer controlled opponents available, each with different strengths, and a two player local multiplayer option is available. Players can perform various shots, such as topspin, backspin, lob and drop shots. [1]

Reception

The player prepares to serve David Crane's Amazing Tennis - Gameplay.png
The player prepares to serve

The game enjoyed a positive critical reception. The presentation was lauded, Super Play described the impression of a 3D court as "the most realistic yet for this type of game", described the sound effects as tremendous, and praised the inclusion of slow motion replays. [6] Nintendo Power had similar thoughts on the sounds, and found that the "digitized voice of the scorekeeper and excellent sound effects added to the realism". [4] N-Force praised the large and detailed sprites as well as the quality of animation. [1]

Rob Millichamp of N-Force described the perspective as "innovative and awesome", but it was a point of contention between critics. [1] Mega felt the viewpoint made play confusing and difficult, while Super Play felt it made seeing where the ball was being served tricky. Both described it as the biggest detriment to the game. [5] [6] A concern shared by many of the critics, was the difficulty in controlling the player on the far side of the court. Due to the viewpoint and perspective of the game, the far side player sprite is significantly smaller compared to the near side player. N-Force felt this made hitting the ball a nightmare, and Super Play stated that "serving and receiving from that end is far too tricky." [1] [6]

Despite the criticism, reviews generally found the game enjoyable. Ed Semrad of EGM suggested that the game was "easily one of the best" tennis games, and N-Force called it "an amazing leap forward in tennis sims". [1] [3] Super Play concluded that although polished and enjoyable, it was not as good as Super Tennis , a previously released tennis game. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Super Mario World</i> 1990 video game

Super Mario World, known in Japan as Super Mario World: Super Mario Bros. 4, is a platform video game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released in Japan in 1990, North America in 1991 and Europe and Australia in 1992. The player controls Mario on his quest to save Princess Peach and Dinosaur Land from the series' antagonist Bowser and the Koopalings. The gameplay is similar to that of earlier Super Mario games: players control Mario through a series of levels in which the goal is to reach the goalpost at the end.

<i>Battletoads/Double Dragon</i> 1993 video game

Battletoads/Double Dragon is a 1993 beat 'em up developed by Rare and published by Tradewest. It was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System and later ported to the Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy. Retro-bit Publishing has re-released the 8-bit NES version in early 2022 with plans to release the 16-bit versions later this year.

<i>Lethal Enforcers</i> 1992 video game

Lethal Enforcers is a 1992 light gun shooter released as an arcade video game by Konami. The graphics consist entirely of digitized photographs and digitized sprites. Home versions were released for the Super NES, Genesis and Sega CD during the following year and include a revolver-shaped light gun known as The Justifier.

<i>Super Star Wars</i> 1992 video game

Super Star Wars is an action video game developed by LucasArts and Sculptured Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is based on the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. It was released by JVC Musical Industries in Japan and Nintendo in North America in 1992 and Europe in 1993. The game was followed by two sequels based on the subsequent Star Wars films, Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1993) and Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1994). The game was re-released in November 1996 as part of Nintendo's Player's Choice series. It was released on the Wii’s Virtual Console by LucasArts in 2009.

<i>Equinox</i> (1993 video game) 1993 video game

Equinox is an action adventure puzzle video game developed by Software Creations and published by Sony Imagesoft for the Super NES. A sequel to Solstice (1990) for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Equinox depicts Glendaal saving his father, the predecessor's playable character Shadax, from the imprisonment of Sonia, Shadax's apprentice. The player acts as Glendaal, exploring 458 rooms in eight underground dungeons. The player collects 12 blue orb tokens while solving puzzles, killing enemies, collecting keys, navigating platforms and blocks, and battling bosses. It continues Solstice's isometric puzzle game style, with greater emphasis on action adventure and Mode 7 overworld map.

<i>Mega Man X</i> (video game) 1993 video game

Mega Man X is an action-platform video game developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was the first Mega Man game for the 16-bit console and the first game in the Mega Man X series, a spin-off to the original Mega Man series that began on the SNES's predecessor, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Mega Man X was released in Japan on December 17, 1993 and was released in both North America and Europe the following year. Taking place a century after the original Mega Man series, Mega Man X is set in a futuristic world populated by both humans and "Reploids", robots capable of thinking, feeling, and growing like their human creators. Because of these complex attributes, many Reploids are prone to destructive, renegade activity and are thereafter referred to as "Mavericks". The plot of the game follows the protagonist X, an android member of a military task force called the "Maverick Hunters". With the help of his partner Zero, X must thwart the plans of Sigma, a powerful Maverick leader wishing to bring about human extinction.

<i>Dragon View</i> 1994 video game

Dragon View is a side-scrolling role-playing beat 'em up for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Kotobuki System in November 1994 and published by Kemco in North America. Released in Japan as Super Drakkhen and otherwise known as Drakkhen II, it is meant to be a sequel to Drakkhen although it bears little resemblance to its predecessor. It uses the same pseudo-3D overworld system for which the series is most famous. Other features of Dragon View are its side-view action role-playing game (RPG) hybrid gameplay, its well translated first-person storyline, and its emphasis on player-driven undirected exploration. In 2019, the game was re-released through emulation for Windows. In 2022, a reproduction SNES cartridge was released by Limited Run Games.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters</i> 1993 video game

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, or Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Tournament Fighters in Europe, is the title of three different fighting games based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, produced by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, and Super NES and released during a period between 1993 and 1994. Konami produced a different fighting game based on the franchise each featuring a differing cast of characters for the platforms. All three versions of the game were re-released as part of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection in 2022. with online play using rollback netcode for the SNES version of the game.

<i>Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcades Revenge</i> 1992 video game

Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge is a video game released for the Super NES in 1992 by LJN. It was released for the Genesis and Game Gear as well as the Game Boy. The game features Marvel Comics characters Spider-Man and the X-Men as they battle their captor, the villainous Arcade.

<i>American Gladiators</i> (video game) 1991 video game

American Gladiators is a video game developed by Incredible Technologies and released in 1991 by GameTek for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Ports were published in 1992 for Amiga, Genesis, Super NES, and MS-DOS compatible operating systems. It is based on the 1989 television game show American Gladiators.

<i>Troy Aikman NFL Football</i> 1994 video game

Troy Aikman NFL Football is an american football video game originally developed by Leland Interactive Media and published by Tradewest for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System first in North America on August 1994. Officially licensed from the National Football League, it prominently features former NFL player Troy Aikman, who became the first member of the 1993 Dallas Cowboys to have his namesake in a game, followed by his teammate Emmitt Smith in Emmitt Smith Football.

<i>WWF Super WrestleMania</i> 1992 video game

WWF Super WrestleMania is a multiplatform wrestling video game based on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), released in 1992 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Mega Drive/Genesis.

<i>BlaZeon</i> 1992 video game

BlaZeon is a horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released by Atlus in 1992 and was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in the same year. The game's most distinguishable feature is that players come equipped with a device that allows them to freeze and control certain robots.

<i>The Incredible Hulk</i> (1994 video game) 1994 video game

The Incredible Hulk is a 1994 video game released for the Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, and SNES. Developed by Probe Software and published by U.S. Gold, the game is based on the Marvel Comics superhero Hulk and showcases him within the context of a side-scrolling action game with platforming and beat 'em up elements. The narrative involves the Hulk attempting to thwart the world domination bid of his nemesis, the Leader, while engaging in combat with other arch-rivals.

<i>Indiana Jones Greatest Adventures</i> 1994 video game

Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures is a 1994 platform video game released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is a video game adaptation of the Indiana Jones films Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). The game was developed by Factor 5 and published by JVC Musical Industries. The story is told through cutscenes and text and is mostly faithful to the movies. Its release coincided with that of Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, also released by JVC and LucasArts and in the same platform style as the Super Star Wars trilogy.

<i>Battle Grand Prix</i> 1992 video game

Battle Grand Prix is a 1992 Formula One racing video game developed by KID. One or two players can pit themselves in three Grand Prix races. Each of the different team cars have different color schemes. The courses vary from blacktop to concrete, and rain is also included and is implemented in the game.

<i>Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel</i> 1994 video game

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel is a video game developed by Iguana Entertainment, and published by Sunsoft in 1994. It is a spin-off/sequel of the Aero the Acro-Bat series and was released for the Sega Genesis in October 1994 and for the Super NES in November 1994, along with the release of Aero the Acro-Bat 2.

<i>FIFA Soccer 96</i> 1995 video game

FIFA Soccer 96 is a football simulation video game developed by Extended Play Productions and released by Electronic Arts in 1995. It was released for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sega 32X, Game Gear, PlayStation, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and MS-DOS compatible operating systems.

<i>Contra III: The Alien Wars</i> 1992 video game

Contra III: The Alien Wars is a 1992 run and gun video game developed and published by Konami for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It is the third home console entry in the Contra series after Contra (1988) and Super C (1990) for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). In PAL regions, it was retitled Super Probotector: Alien Rebels and the player characters were replaced with robots. The player is tasked with fighting off an alien invasion of Earth across six stages. Four stages feature side-scrolling action traditional to the series while two are presented from an overhead perspective. It is the first Contra title to have been directed by Nobuya Nakazato who later directed other games in the series. He designed Contra III to feature more comical elements, a more cinematic soundtrack, and tighter stage design than its predecessors.

<i>Davis Cup Tennis</i> 1990 video game

Tennis Cup is a sports game developed by Loriciel in 1990 for various home computers. It was ported to TurboGrafx-16 in 1991 as Davis Cup Tennis, and to Super Nintendo and Mega Drive/Genesis in 1993. A Game Boy Advance port was then developed by Hokus Pokus Games and published by Ubisoft in 2002. A sequel, Tennis Cup 2, was released in 1992 for the Amiga, Atari ST, and DOS.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Carl Rowley; Rob Millichamp (February 1993). "David Crane's Amazing Tennis Review". N-Force (8): 84–85.
  2. "David Crane's Amazing Tennis SNES Review Score". Archived from the original on 2019-05-13.
  3. 1 2 Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Sushi-X (November 1992). "Amazing Tennis Review". EGM . Vol. 5, no. 11. p. 24.
  4. 1 2 George and Rob (October 1992). "Now Playing: Amazing Tennis". Nintendo Power . No. 42. pp. 104–105.
  5. 1 2 Amanda Dyson (July 1993). "David Crane's Amazing Tennis Review". Mega (10): 42.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Jason Brookes (January 1993). "Amazing Tennis Review". Super Play (3): 80.