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Just about every game system ever has had a tennis game. The first arcade game, Pong, was even a sort of tennis game. This bears slightly more resemblance to the real thing, however. You have a choice of 11 players initially, with hidden characters to find. All have their own talents and are noticeably different to play with or against. Gameplay is accessible and similar to Smash Tennis, with aiming shots being very instinctive but still difficult to master. Enough attention is paid to racquet position so you won't pull off impossible shots on the backhand here. The CPU plays a mean game and at first you'll get trounced. However, there's little or no learning curve, and once you've learned to win there's no harder difficulty level so seasoned gamers may get bored with the one-player game. The two-player linked mode is where it comes alive. In the end it's just too easy in one player to make top marks but the two-player action saves it from an embarrassing slice into the crowd.
Falling somewhere between simulation and arcade, this is golf for the non-enthusiast. If you like your golf to be of the PGA variety, don't switch off just yet, though, for this is a devilishly addictive and complex game. There are three modes open to the single player: Stroke Play, Handicap and Triple Crown. All are fairly self-explanatory and offer varying levels of involvement/challenge. There are six golfers on offer and all are sufficiently different to make it like playing six different games. Making your shot is deceptively simple at first but the courses are fiendishly tight and you'll need a good eye to make par. Graphics are clear, functional and colourful. The physics are rigorous and consistent, so fail to take wind into account at your peril. You can hook/slice and play high/low shots and even put on a bit of backspin to improve your shot. You also can win powered up clubs in Triple Crown. Two-player mode is via the link cable and handicaps can come into play here, as well as your souped up bag of clubs (won in competitions). Turf Masters is not to be taken too seriously, but it's incredibly addictive.
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