|
Game,
set match for X-Box’s new tennis
game ‘Outlaw’
Game
review
By
Frank Dertals
Daily Texan
AUSTIN (U-Wire) — Eighty-year-old grandmothers, you have been warned: “Outlaw
Tennis,” the latest from Global Star Software on Xbox, might not be the
game you want to buy for your grandkids, though it may be their pick. “Outlaw
Tennis” is no “Grand Theft Auto” but it does have a lewd,
suggestive theme encapsulating a solid tennis game.
Upon first booting up “Outlaw,” a video plays, showcasing characters
acting out their comical and provocative taunts poses, and victory dances,
in a very adult-entertainer style.
At this point the average player will do one of three things: If this clip
is too graphic or unappealing in any fashion, the player may as well turn the
game off, put it back in the case and take it back, because this is basically
what will be seen every two minutes or so in between tennis matches.
On the other hand, if the player thinks the video was hilarious, then the rest
of the game will be a riot. Option three is for the fence riders, those players
who will find this opening scene way below even WB comedy standards and opt
to turn off the celebration dances and taunts.
This is a saving grace—the repetition of even the funny clips gets tiring,
and there are few that actually solicit laughter.
Beneath the stripper-style dancing and overall gimmicky presentation, there
is a decent tennis game here.
“
Outlaw” is not as realistic as other Xbox tennis games such as “Top
Spin,” but Global Star Software obviously was not aiming for that with “Outlaw.”
The Outlaw series, which also includes golf and volleyball games, is known
for its outlandish take on the sports genre.
One signature of the Outlaw series is “beating mode.” As the manual
states, “It wouldn’t be an ‘Outlaw’ game if you didn’t
get to beat the living snot out of someone.
And now we’ve made it easier than ever.” Entering this mode for
the first time, I hoped for something reminiscent of an NHL fighting sequence.
Instead, I was greeted with a “mash the buttons” competition where
pressing all the face buttons simultaneously will cause your character to randomly
kick and punch.
It gets worse as landing punches and kicks is not the aim, instead a winner
is declared depending on who gets their own bar full by mashing the fastest.
At no point during this mode did the aura of fight radiate from the screen;
instead it was like a terrible clone of “Mario Party” was thrown
into the game randomly.
My question is if the fighting is about pressing buttons fast, why not just
use one?
“Outlaw’s” soundtrack features 24 tracks by people you’ve
probably never heard of, and let’s face it with the custom soundtrack feature
on Xbox, you may never have to bother to learn who they are unless you want to.
The voice talent, while not bad, didn’t match up with all of the animations
and moments in the game. The in-game announcer, Stephen Colbert of The Daily
Show, provides smart-aleck remarks that can be funny, but get recycled and
boring fast.
In a game that is meant to be goofy and fun, the multiplayer mode constitutes
what the majority of consumers will buy it for.
Following this philosophy, Global Star has included a heap of multiplayer action
including some Xbox Live features. I logged in one Thursday night ready to
receive my Internet beat-down by what I expected to be a rowdy gang of middle
school kids.
To my surprise the only player on wasn’t willing to play against me.
He was ranked 12th online, which I suppose is too high to lower himself and
play against a novice even if it’s the only competition.
For those looking for a lewd tennis game with unrealistic game-play this bargain
$20 game may be what you would enjoy.
However the overly-gimmicky feel, in addition to the sloppy “beating
mode” will deter most hardcore tennis gamers from this title. If you’re
bored, it’s worth a rental. |
