POSTED 2/10/10


RACKET SPORTS

Ubisoft
PS3/Move (also on Wii)

We’re assuming mobsters need exercise too, so here’s a sports game just for the… what? Oh! They mean ‘racquet’?! Well, that makes a tad more sense.

OK, incorrect spelling for the Australian market aside (as much as it galls us), Racket Sports holds the dubious honour of being the first of no doubt many Wii games ported to PS3 Move. Cue streamers, whistles and cake. MMMmmm… cake – unghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! The title sums up what you get perfectly – five sports all involving rack… agh, RACQUETS. There’s tennis, squash, beach tennis, badminton (you know, with that ‘shuttlecock’ thingy) and ping pong.

We have to say, this puppy looks faberoonielicious. It’s presented in 1080p and much attention to detail has been applied not only in the fields of play, but also the backgrounds. It’s a shame then that not as much attention appears to have been paid to the gameplay mechanics.

First up, it doesn’t matter which poison you opt for, they all feel pretty much the same. Even using the advanced mode – which applies to your available moves, not AI ability – this game’s a doddle to trounce. You’ll only lose a point if you fuck up, and that’s only really possible if a: you suffer one of those dodgy “I swung my arm occifer, really I did’ moments where you flail, but the game says fail or b: you’re irredeemably crap.

Moves feel limited – the subtlety that Move allows doesn’t feel to have been mined past the fact that it works OK, but that’s all. Various single, multiplayer and online options add value, but the latter in particular adds lag, which can make you want to out McEnroe John McEnroe.

Much like its spelling, Racket Sports just doesn’t quite nail it.

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