Developer: Big Ant Studios
Publisher: Nacon
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Tested on: PS5
Tennis World Tour 2 (PS5) – Review
Tennis World Tour 2 was already reviewed back in November 2020 by a fellow reviewer. We deemed the game to be a decent simulation game, albeit with some odd design choices and not the best controls. Graphically the game didn’t push any boundaries, but overall, it was a decent attempt at bringing a relevant tennis game to the masses. Now, the next-gen version of the title has been released and presents us with several upgrades, as well as more content. That being said, the core gameplay, mechanics and things to do have not changed from the base game, and thus we advise checking out our original review here for the complete rundown.
As mentioned above, this new version of Tennis World Tour 2 comes with more characters, more stadia and several other improvements. While this extra content is certainly nice, it’s the very short loading times make this game so much more pleasant. The titular loading screen still pops up constantly, however, it will also dissipate after a second or two before the action starts. Also, the fact that you can play locally with up to four players is a treat, if half of the world would not be in lockdown.
Like in our initial review, it’s mainly the controls that are sometimes bothersome. More than often our timing was off, and more than once we didn’t know why. This was further enhanced by the dodgy aiming mechanics where you never truly felt in control. Overall things feel quite realistic and not too much like an arcade game, but then the game throws the awkward card system in your face. This is also explained in the original review, where the cards serve as power-ups, pulling you out of the otherwise fairly realistic experience.
The biggest disappointment for this game is the fact that the graphics have hardly been updated. There are some improvements, but even then the game feels like a moderate PlayStation 4 title, rather than something from the new generation. We do recognize many of the famous characters, but they’re a candle in the wind compared to player renders in the last FIFA games.
Conclusion
While we definitely recommend getting the next-gen version of the game if you’re on the fence for this one, we also suggest waiting for a moderate price drop. The game has some solid content, interesting ideas, but for the most part, these still feel a bit wonky. The loading times have vastly improved, but the controls still feel finicky, the card system feels out of place and the graphics are severely underwhelming. Nonetheless, under this rugged foundation lies an okay simulation experience that will entertain those looking for a (semi-)solid tennis experience.
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