Agassi Tennis Generation 2002

Surprise, surprise: another Tennis game, cunningly released to coincide with Wimbledon upon our screens. Presumably the logic was that you will see Andre flexing his muscles on centre court and be immediately compelled to go out and buy his game. Shame he got knocked out in the second round then. Of course, buying this game just because it’s endorsed by Agassi would be the action of a fool, much like Agassi’s decision to lend his name to this game.

Reviewing this on a borderline minimum spec PC, it proved to be muck of the highest order, with the computer controlled players largely incapable of hitting the ball, rendering matches little more than a banal sequence of unlikely aces and tedious double faults. However, on a slightly better machine, they are mysteriously able to return serves and take part in vaguely competitive rallies. It’s flummoxed us, and we can only suggest that if you’re packing anything less than the desired spec you give this a wide berth.

You won’t be missing much, as it’s average at best, with the shiny-pated Agassi going up against 31 fictional players over a reasonable spread of courts and game modes. It’s sporadically playable, although occasionally drifts into bullet time of its own volition. Even when the game works properly, the elongated cut-scenes that follow virtually every point are infuriating, requiring you to constantly slap the space bar to remove them. The commentary consists of little more than the occasional phrase, and the whole thing smacks of being rushed. Either get yourself a copy of Virtua Tennis or stick to watching Wimbledon.