Pocket Tennis Color

Pocket Tennis Color is the color version of one of the first sports games for SNK's handheld console, and it's one of the titles that makes the best use of the Neo Geo Pocket Color's microswitch controller. Tennis is played here from a behind-the-player camera, with brisk rallies and no unnecessary complexity. You pick from a roster of characters with different strengths, one faster on their feet, another stronger on serve, and set out on a tournament run in which you gradually run into tougher opponents.

The controls are built on a simple foundation that nonetheless rewards timing. Depending on which button and directional input you use, you choose between a flat shot, topspin, or a drop shot, with the exact moment of contact and the position you manage to reach playing a decisive role. Matches aren't about mashing buttons, but about gradually pushing your opponent into a corner and looking for an opening for a winning shot. Besides the tournament, the game offers quick matches and a two-player duel over the link cable, where the quality of the rally rhythm truly shines. The short length of a single set is a perfect fit for playing in a waiting room.

Graphically it's clean work, with a clearly readable court and smooth movement animation, which matters more in tennis than fine detail. The color screen helps distinguish the surfaces of the different courts, and the ball stays visible even during fast rallies. The sound stays grounded, with hits, an umpire's commentary in the form of short calls, and unobtrusive menu music. At the time, it was one of the main proofs that the Neo Geo Pocket Color could do sports too, and the game was praised especially for its precise controls. Today it comes across as pleasantly uncomplicated tennis that you can switch on any time and play a few games without it demanding anything from you. The roster of characters with differing strengths gives you a reason to try the tournament again with someone else and look for a style that suits you. Next to more demanding sports simulations, it feels simple today, but it does its job, entertaining you for a few minutes, without a moment's hesitation.