Grand Slam Tennis 2

[djarvik]

Looks nice.
One inherent problem is that since the topspin and slice shots use the same preparation (pulling down on the right stick), the animation for the preparation of both topspins and slices must be the same.
I already noticed this before I knew how they worked - the preparations for the shots look incredibly weird because it has to work for both topspin and slice.

Btw, I bet the move controls are not good, but also interested to see how they do it.

Agreed. There is little time for a grip change and/or back-swing....therefore the animation are a bit "shaky", its like the AI cannot decide what animation to use.

[Q-Spin]

Ps3 demo this week?

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/01/08/the-drop-week-of-january-9th-2012-new-releases/

[Murmeltier88]

Well I saw the whole demo and some gameplay videos now...and I have to say, I am really disappointed until now.

I mean, it seems like the developers of the game do not watch real tennis-matches? I mean? What are those forehands? They look all the same...no matter if its Nada or Djokovic, the animations are very weak and look so...static. Very weak. I mean, didn't they work with motion capturing systems ? I guess not.

I was disappointed that they gave Federer for example in Top Spin 4 such a ridiculous serve but this is just...I dunno

All rallies do look like the same, animations and movements of the players do not look like how the real life players do them.

I also think the animations for running afters balls sucks and I mean?
It looks weird...and What the hell? Novak and Rafa hit one handed backhands or double-forehands from time to time? Are they kidding?!?!?!? LoL... I mean
maybe these are supposed to be slice-shots but what about the ball-physics? They seem all wrong to me. And the ball never seems to go out and I guess, it will be more like Virtua Tennis which I acutally never liked. I am more the fan of simulations. I guess, this game won't compete with Top Spin 4.

I mean, this is just not right and makes me angry somehow...


The positive things for me are, that the original grunts of the players are integrated in the game and the sound of hitting the ball sounds a bit better like the sounds in the Top Spin Series.

Well, I don't expect much of the game...Too bad! I was waiting so long for the game and I expected it to be the best but now....I am disappointed.

[KluddKalle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdRJR2xdOCA

Is it availible yet?

[C4iLL]

It's available on the live right now, i'm downloading it

[DMG100]

I don't like it. I'll give it another go but I'm kind of disappointed.

The controls will take some getting used to.

Flat forehands and forehand slices look the same, there's only a very slight difference. I found the buttons make it easier to play when first picking it up but I wasn't able to produce the angles I could with the right stick.

The players definitely glide when "running" from one side of the court to another to chase a shot.

[KluddKalle]

I gotta say I'm really underwelmed. Everything is great except the gameplay. It can probably be a lot of fun but my main issue is the limited animations. A correct animation gives me a visual signal that I'm using the shot type I intended to use. When playing the demo I had no idea if I was hitting a slice, flat or a top spin. And I don't like coloured vapor trails...

[L Sanchez MD]

Presentation is great, gameplay is derp.
It was quite fun once I put it on higher difficulty, but a really shallow kind of fun, akin to Virtua Tennis.

Pros: great graphics, good presentation, ok current player roster, great legend roster (EDBERG), Cash&Mac commentary (also a con), Wim, fast "exciting" gameplay (arcade).

Cons: poor animations, retarded gameplay - netman is GOD, all players can run like Usain Bolt driving a Ferrari, slice serves have reverse slice on them, LOLWTF - not a huge fan of the stick system for the shots, but it's not too bad, repetitive commentary (PLEASE tell me again Johnny Mac, what are the benefits of hitting deep??!?!??!?!?!?), Nadal and Djoko still hit one-handed topspin backhands for no apparent reason, I also don't like the coloured vapour trails. Using slice volleys (and slices in general) is initially pretty unintuitive because you aim the opposite way.....and sometimes it doesn't respond correctly. It took me till me THIRD match (on Pro difficulty) to see one error, or to see one missed serve (from either player). I didn't see any shots missed long or wide, only into the net.

I also couldn't get any pace on my serve despite timing it pretty well..

I could go on....
Basically, it's a moderately fun arcade game a la Virtua Tennis, but with higher production values.
This is only from the demo, so I have no idea if they'll improve things, or what the other game modes are like.

At least you can't get passed at the net because the game arbitrarily 'pauses' your character to aid the passing shot

[Moralspain]

just got home...downloading

[djarvik]

I really hope this is an early build and that it will improve. I haven't had time to reach out to EA, but will make some time to do so this week.

(game play related only)
I think there is a potential here, some glaring minus are:

- Players are way too fast
- Net-play is incredibly easy and totally un-ballanced
- OHB animation is getting triggered when trying to hit a flat shot with the stick at time, likely a mapping on the stick motion and can be corrected
- Surprise! ....no errors....
There are many more, but this is major stuff right here.

The pluses for me are:
- I love the control system for shots. I think it can be really good. Just need to concentrate more on flat shots and incorporate spins slowly
- Ball actually spins when using top spin and slice
- The pace of the ball and game play is VERY good (minus the player speed)

[Moralspain]

i played the game for 30 minutes or so, and kinda liked it, but it's hard to tell until i see a human vs human match.
Anyway we have a gentle learning curve here, it's a game design to people with no knowledge of tennis, who want to grab the controller a have a good time playing online with their "friends", that's all, ....i need more to spend 70 euros.

[AndyMurray ITST]

i really like it,....great atmosphere, commentary is brilliant, and graphics are amazing especially player likeness. sound of ball is a bit odd and a bit floaty but it could be great online. Realism like Top spin 4 though great doesnt always produce fun online so this may well do

[VMoe86]

Demo is up on the US PSN Store, downloading right now and then lets see if it is as good as the original GST on Wii. Will test both Move and Pad controls.

[VMoe86]

Here are my first impressions (note that I'm a huge fan of GST on Wii).

I've immediately started playing on the practice court using the Move and Navigation Controller. It took some time getting used to the different mechanics from Wiimotion Plus to Move, but as of now I'm directing my groundstrokes at will and with power. My top spin shots lack depth, but I can hit nice angles. Since deep top spin shots are possible using total racquet control I guess there is a way to do so with Move, too.

Calibration works fine, but sometimes Move does not register that I want to charge power of my shot. Yes, power for shots has to be charged. It does not matter at all how you swing, just hold your Move controller away from the TV and the built-in rumble tells you "Power Charging" and then it is just a matter of what type of shot and into what direction you want to hit that shot. Type of shot works just as in GST on Wii, so that's nice. Flat Shots are easier, though.

So far I prefer the controls for GST on Wii, where it took actual skill to pull off shots which are easy to execute here (for example volleying, flat shots). Haven't looked at the effect of wrist rotation yet.

Even though I play better with Move than with Pad so far (simply because I can time my serve very well with Move and hit wicked angles), in the long term Pad controls will be superior: Very intuitive and easy to execute all the shots using total racquet control or Arcade control.

As for the gameplay:

1. Players "teleport" to shots which are actually out of reach, although it is an offline match. That wasn't in the original GST and it shouldn't be in any tennis game.

2. AI attacks too often at the net (played on Superstar difficulty level) with players like Nadal and Djokovic. The AI makes some errors, but against a human player I suspect that net game may be too powerful because directing volleys is very easy in GST 2. In the original it was difficult to be a good volleyer, here it is not.

3. Players are a too fast for the actual pace of shots.

4. At least on practice court the famous drop volley at the net can be executed consistently with good timing. I hated that in GST on Wii and it looks as if it remains so in GST 2.

5. Returns should be more difficult, especially off very powerful and well-placed serves. Three return winners in a row off over 200 KM/H serves shouldn't be possible at all.

6. Unforced errors: I haven't hit a single unforced error in four matches against the AI on Superstar (and I've won all matches). I went repeatedly for wicked angles and not even one of these shots went out (doesn't matter whether I used Move or Pad). On GST on Wii I hit some shots out even on the practice court, without any pressure of an opponent. That's a rather huge minus for me.

[Julius Jackson]

We can only hope that EA give GST2 the FIFA treatment and not the NBA Elite or Madden treatment...

from a business standpt EA would have no reason to spend big on tennis, just like 2k has no reason to go all-out with TS. tennis sales are miniscule when compared to those of soccer/futbol. Its simple economics.

and this is why ill reserve any excitement until i see actual gameplay.

Precisely.

If EA can neglect Madden like they have with an exclusive rights deal, they have no reason to enter such an established market with quality games such as TS4 and VT and really push the boat out.

This seems, while promising (as a teaser) a showcase for their financial muscle securing the Wimbledon rights as opposed to a statement of intent to make the best tennis game available.

I'm hoping for the best, but I'm not too excited right now.

As I said in an earlier post, EA tend to ignore the details which 2k have done a great job of addressing in TS4, and their fan relations are absolutely abysmal.

sorry, but to whom? 3.5 tennis fans around the world?

GST one was a fantastic game. Great engine. You need to look past the graphics.

I hardly think EA would want to waste time making a terrible game that will not sell when entering a New market. If anything, this will be their first and only shot. They will give it their semi-best and if it works - franchise is born and then money making starts. If it doesn't work - they are out.

In business, your first shot is always your best shot.

Ignorance.

before everyone gets SUPER SUPER excited lets be realistic:

1) we still havent seen actual gameplay, folks. those are all cut scenes in the trailer. cut scenes always look nice. actual gameplay could pale in comparison.

2) EA GS 1 had some pretty arcade-looking gameplay so what makes you think there will be some huge leap forward? EA doesnt say sim gameplay, it shows you that they bought the rights for all the grand slams.

3) as an avid player of other EA games ill be the first to say that EA can majorly disappoint true fans of a sport. they do in football, in baseball, in basketball, in just about every sport except hockey

so lets be realistic. no reason to get excited until we see actual gameplay.

Wisdom.

Any questions after witnessing that laughable gameplay in the demo?

GS2 is nothing but fluff marketed to casual, unsophisticated "fans" of tennis. Move along...