Metacritic Games

Sega Superstars Tennis (Playstation 3)

Sixteen fan-favorite SEGA characters from Sonic to NiGHTS are serving up fun in SEGA Superstars Tennis. Multiple madcap mini-games keep the party rolling and up to four friends can challenge each other in tournaments, exhibitions and unlockable special events. With hilarious cameos and comical guest umpires from SEGA's rich gaming history, this fun-filled tennis party promises to be a smashing good time for the whole family. Zany SEGA Characters with Superstar Abilities - Each of the 16 characters has their own superstar alter-ego, which gives them the winning edge on the court. Ten Fantastical Themed Courts - Guest umpires will supervise the action on a wide variety of colorful courts, from Sonic's lush Green Hill Zone to Ulala's galactic Space Channel 5 world, just to name a couple. Four Action-Packed Tournaments - As you slice your way through the competitive tournaments, you will unlock loads of bonus content. Classic Soundtrack - Faithfully recreated in full Dolby Digital 5.1, treasured SEGA tunes will entertain SEGA fans new and old. [Sega]

Sega
Sports, Tennis
Players: 4
E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
Developer: Sumo Digital
Released March 18, 2008

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

66 / 100

Critic Reviews

90 TheSixthAxis
Brilliant, inventive and as we've said before, a Sega fan's perfect game.
85 Play Magazine
There's more than enough here to luv for Sega fans big and small. [Apr 2008, p.64]
75 IC-Games
If you’re a fan of Sega though you’ll simply love what Sumo have done with Superstars and the online tennis matches will certainly keep you coming back for more once you have lapped up the Superstars mode.
73 PSM3 Magazine UK
Addictive minigames, great arcade tennis and sunny visuals. But a bit basic at its core. [Apr 2008, p.68]
73 Game Informer
Sega Superstars Tennis is by no means amazing, but it should manage to satisfy Sega and tennis fans alike.
73 PSX Extreme
When this game drops down to about $20, it'll probably be worth picking up for Sega fans.
70 Playstation Official Magazine UK
A great novelty knockabout, dwarfed by a near-flawless game you should already own. [May 2008, p.108]
70 DarkZero
In all honesty, the simplification of the controls and hit-miss nature of the superstar mode mean that Sega Superstar Tennis isn’t quite as good as the tennis masterclass that was "Virtua Tennis 3."
70 VideoGamer
It lacks the depth required of a game that will stand the test of time and live on for months if not years to come, but for simple fun, either alone or with a few mates, SEGA has a winner on its hands.
70 GameDaily
We love the online play, Superstar moves and homage to Sega games like Sonic, The House of the Dead, Samba de Amigo and Jet Set Radio. It's fan service all the way. But the lack of a World Tour mode and ease of difficulty cripples the game's long-term appeal.
70 GameSpot
The tennis is merely average, but the challenges and minigames in Sega Superstars Tennis are creatively done and a lot of fun.
70 GameTap
Sega Superstars Tennis isn’t the best tennis game out there, especially since the actual tennis isn’t even as close to being as smooth or challenging as something like the Virtua Tennis or Top Spin games, but it can be just as rewarding for Sega fans and those people looking for a simple and fun approach to the sport.
70 EuroGamer
SEGA fans, run don't walk to the shops, but be prepared to give Superstars a few hours before the gameplay starts hugging you as hard as the graphics and sound. Everyone else, dust off Virtua Tennis 3 for a more complete alternative.
70 Console Monster
It’s definitely a fun game to play with vast amounts of mini-games to keep you going. The single player does lack depth however and there’s not much replayability for those looking for a solid single player game.
70 PTGamers
Superstars Tennis may as well be a dream for Sega fans, but hardly will win any converts.
70 Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Sumo Digital managed to offer simple but well implemented gameplay. Some of the stages and mini-games are fun, even if it’s only for the nostalgic ride. But they don’t make up for the fact that we miss some more tennis matches. Anyway, if you ever dreamt of seeing the dwarf from Golden Axe in the same stage as Ulala and Amigo…you might as well give it a try. [Apr 2008]
68 Play UK
Sega Superstars Tennis makes banal use of Sega's heritage, and abandons the explosive creativity that Sumo was once associated with. [Issue#165, p.92]
68 Game Chronicles
If you enjoy the Sega classics, you will get some enjoyment out of seeing some old characters revolutionized in new HD graphics, but if you are unfamiliar then you may not be interested.
68 Jolt Online Gaming UK
Sega Superstars Tennis offers some interesting diversions, but the main meat of the package is lacking the bite it requires to be a great game.
67 1UP
It's just a shame that, due to Sega's mismanagement of its properties over the last decade or so, Superstars Tennis comes too late to fully resonate with today's gaming audience.
65 GameTrailers
Sega Superstars would have benefited from a more diverse character lineup, as the roster leans rather heavily on a few select franchises.
65 PALGN
Sega Superstars Tennis mixes tennis and mini games and unfortunately doesn't excel at either.
64 IGN
It's a bit of a yawn that ends up feeling like a barely good enough cash-in. The environments and characters are largely well-done, but the control scheme and dull mini-games drag SEGA Superstars Tennis down.
60 GamePro
You have to wonder if games like this are best left to the Wii. As consoles become more sophisticated so should the games.
60 IGN AU
Sega Superstars Tennis just screams missed opportunity. With a strong selection of classic Sega games to draw inspiration from and such a charming cast of characters on hand, it's depressing to find the core mechanics so shallow and the overall game design so slap-dash.
60 Wired
I wouldn't recommend that version of Sega Superstars Tennis to anyone who isn't a massive fan of the company. I had high hopes, but with so many simple yet crucial issues here, it looks like we're going to have to wait for the inevitable sequel before truly enjoying our trip down memory lane.
60 Worth Playing
People seeking a tennis game that's actually fun or intuitive should look elsewhere.
56 MEGamers
Sega Superstar Tennis could have been a good game, however its erratic framerate, fussy controls, and diluted gameplay won't have you playing for long.
55 GameZone
Sega Superstars Tennis is a few stars short of Virtua Tennis quality. It’s got some of the right pieces (and some ugly deformed shapes called “mini-games” that should’ve been tossed aside) but none of them came together.
25 Game Revolution
The dream of a Sega-filled game that actually lives up to the legacy of Sega remains to be fulfilled.

CLOSE THIS WINDOW

©2008 CNET Networks Inc. All rights reserved.