Pocket Tennis Color review by substance J

The original Pocket Tennis was part of the first wave of Neo Geo Pocket software back when the system debuted in 1998, and not coincidentally one of the first games to be added to my collection. It had a simple charm...but ultimately it was just plain simple. Now that Color graphics are the order of the day, Yumekobo has released Pocket Tennis Color. This Color update features enhanced visuals and more options, making it a more balanced experience. I'll be drawing a lot of comparisons between the two games as I go on...

Graphics
Pocket Tennis Color's 1st generation color visuals have quickly lost some of their glory thanks to more recent spectacles such as Metal Slug, Match of the Millennium, and others. But to be fair, they are fully competent and are a marked improvement over the graphics of the original Pocket Tennis. Character sprites are detailed and nicely shaded, and now feature rackets with individual strings as opposed to the nontransparent grids of 1998. The courts are now more smoothly shaded, with surprisingly diverse and well-colored spectators. A very cool addition is the passing of time during play, which is reflected by your surroundings. When play begins, the Downtown stage will be shaded normally in a blue/gray tone, though near the end of the match it will have an orange hue to convey the setting sun. This is a very simple effect, but it is very cool. Another welcome improvement is the elimination of motion blur (what little there was to begin with) and similar occurrences by making the camera less jittery. These sorts of small touches really help to distance Pocket Tennis Color from its predecessors.

Sound
Music and SFX are surely Pocket Tennis Color's weakest area. During gameplay, the ping of the ball being smashed back and forth is decidedly unsatisfying, as are most of the music tracks (other than the catchy one that plays in the dirt arena). This could be tied to the fact that the game is only 4 Megs in size, though certainly more effort could have been devoted to it.

Gameplay
Pocket Tennis Color's simple gameplay is easy to dive into and can be quite addictive at times. Commands at your disposal include regular Strokes and Volleys, Super Shots (triggered by returning the ball when it is at a certain height), and diving saves, all of which are easy to utilize when needed. After the serve, the trajectory of your shots are controlled by the CPU for the most part (seemingly more so than in the original Pocket Tennis), though you can aim for a general direction and work your way across the court at your discretion. 5 selectable arenas can also affect play in certain ways, like the dirt court that lies in a depression in the earth. Because of this, shots can bounce and ricochet off of walls, creating an entirely new feel. Each of the game's 10 characters have distinctly varied abilities (Speed, Power, and Guts), which make them all feel unique for a different experience each match. Play can become very heated at times, especially with 2 power players on the court. This is where Pocket Tennis Color shines, as you battle it out in a contest of frantic back and forth shooting. Unfortunately though, this does not happen as often (nor is it as intense) as in the original Pocket Tennis. Your CPU opponent rarely takes full advantage of vital maneuvers like diving saves and Super Shots, so it is usually very easy to drive them to one side of the court, only to smack the ball back in the other direction and watch them miss it completely. This is made even easier by the elimination of out of bounds penalties (an odd choice on Yumekobo's part). This is a bit disappointing, as I'd love to play against more vicious CPU AI.

Overall
Pocket Tennis Color is a solid handheld gaming experience that manages to overcome its ultimate simplicity with addictive gameplay and charm. The added features - courts, hidden characters, Cups, and other bonuses make the game feel fresh, and not just a colorized rehash like some of the other updated games (though, it's unlikely that many current Neo Geo Pocket Color owners have ever played the original monochrome versions to begin with). I am disappointed with the unimposing AI and lax rules, though the many added goodies I keep mentioning more than make up for the loss. I've definitely had my share of fun with the game. If you're a sports fan or just someone looking for some relaxing fun, Pocket Tennis Color might be for you.