Developer: Take2
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Genre: Sports
Rating: Everyone
Number of Players: 1-2 (Online 2-8)
Online Capable: Xbox Live

 Rockstar Table Tennis Gallery

I first had the opportunity to play this game at the 2006 Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, where thousands of people queued up behind monitors and controllers for a chance to play future releases. This game caught my attention really because I used to be in the Ping Pong club in high school. Yeah that’s right, laugh it up, I played with other ping pong players, I wasn’t very good, although I had my moments, nonetheless, it was a good time.

So I stood behind the game for about five minutes before a very polite Swedish guy came up to me and asked me if I wanted a demo. I obliged and played him for about 20 minutes while he told me the tale of a top Rockstar executive's love for table tennis and the need for a one of a kind sports experience. I did indeed get that from the beautifully set up Samsung HDTV display which looked very nice. The game was nearly finished, and really offered no noticeable bugs. We were limited to a set stage which was pre-selected and loaded in some haste, and then began.

Apparently the game had been in production for quite some time, and maybe of the creators and testers would gather in one of their houses and play there, while those waiting played on a real table tennis table just across the room. They payed fine attention to detail, and did not let their game develop into a tennis match, the gentlemen went on to say. It was very noticeable to distinguish the characters skills from one another, some a soft hitting player with plenty of spin, to a powerhouse who can really crush the ball. All of the movements were moving very smoothly and motioned like real athletes. Keep in mind the idea of E3 for these reps are to sell you on a game, it worked brilliantly.  

Think of Gisele, then think of this game… topless

Yeah this game is gorgeous; the main focal point of it is definitely the players. Considering what this game actually uses for an ordinary match, a LOT more time is spent making sure the sweat, the muscles and the clothing moves seamlessly during play. You’ve got one table, one ball, two paddles, the ground and two players, you better believe they know where to focus. The lights that shined off of some of the hairless or “spotty” headed players, points out the attention to detail that they developers wanted to present.

In case you missed your great looking players or a great shot, there is a really special reply feature on this game that makes it wonderful to recapture a good moment. Operating from over a dozen different camera angles, you can slow down the movements to virtually a stop, and really get into the body work of the players and how each shot looks realistic every time. I can't tell you how many games I've played where [for instance] a ball would move toward the non-dominant hand of the player, and quickly switch over to the correct one so it automatically caught a ball, or able to slam dunk it. This game offers a no guff approach, and I am glad that I noticed it. Of course the gallery is right over here.  

Two to Tango

A pet peeve of mine with this game is the fact that only two players can play. You’ve got four controllers, but only half are actually in use. The idea of playing doubles in table tennis is a sick fantasy of mine after watching the action during the Olympics. Imagine two players, nearly colliding, swinging in each other's way and dodging each other in an attempt to make the next shot. It seems pretty fun, but not a possibility in this two player bout.

Really Realistic… Really 

The emotions that I felt during the game were probably second to none. Much like my favorite game of all time, Top Spin tennis, you have different buttons which control the angle of your shot such as top spin, back spin, overhead, lob etc. The controls are very easy to run through, and in receiving a shot, the ball is highlighted to the type of shot that it is. For instance if the ball coming at you has a green swirl around it, then the ball you should prepare to hit will have no spin, blue ball is back spin and so on. You can set your self up for unimaginable angles, pounding overhead shots and behind the back or under the crotch marvels which will make you feel like the (ping pong) balls you play with are useless.   

I wanted to point out a part in the game where I was playing as a young Swede, Jesper. After a 40 shot rally, I swatted a winner and won the point, right after I threw out a “YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” and my own character did the exact same thing as I did… He pumped his fist and made a “JAAAAA” exclamation. Coincidence? Maybe not.