Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Next Generation Tennis delivers a robust suite of modes that cater to a wide range of players, from casual pick-up-and-play fans to dedicated tennis strategists. You have access to arcade mode, where victories unlock new courts, players, and gear, giving every match a tangible sense of progression. Exhibition matches provide quick, no-frills gameplay when you just want to jump into a single or doubles match and start slamming baseline winners.

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Career mode is the heart of NGT: build a custom player from the ground up, compete in official Roland Garros and US Open tournaments, and reinvest your prize money into training sessions and upgraded equipment. This RPG-style loop of earning cash, improving stats, and climbing the rankings keeps you engaged across multiple seasons. Training drills help you hone your serve, volley, and stamina, making each stat point meaningful when you step onto the clay or hard court.

The Game Boy Advance version retains all core mechanics of its PC and PlayStation 2 counterparts, with controls optimized for the handheld’s button layout. The loss of one game mode is noticeable, but the remaining five modes strike a good balance between depth and accessibility. Multiplayer via link cable supports up to four players, allowing for both competitive singles and cooperative doubles—perfect for rallying friends at a sleepover or on the school bus.

Graphics

Visually, NGT on the Game Boy Advance opts for crisp 2D sprites instead of the console version’s full 3D models. While you sacrifice depth and dynamic camera angles, the game nonetheless captures the essence of Roland Garros’s iconic red clay and the US Open’s bright blue courts. Character sprites are detailed enough to distinguish the four licensed pros from the six fictional players, and animations for serves, forehands, and dives feel fluid despite the GBA’s technical constraints.

Court surfaces showcase subtle textural differences: clay balls kick up little pixelated dust clouds, while hard-court bounces look taut and snappy. Crowd backgrounds are simplified to keep the frame rate steady, but small touches—like waving flags and flickering scoreboards—add atmosphere. Menu and UI elements mirror the console release’s design language, ensuring a familiar feel for those who have played on larger platforms.

Transitions between points and matches are handled with brief but effective loading screens. There’s a slight flicker when chaining long rallies, yet overall performance remains solid. If you’re seeking flashy 3D visuals, the GBA version won’t impress, but its art direction and sprite work honor the sport’s speed and drama in a wholly convincing way for a handheld title.

Story

While Next Generation Tennis isn’t a narrative-driven game in the traditional sense, its career mode weaves a personal tale of athletic ascent. You begin as an unranked hopeful, competing in local qualifiers, and gradually earn your shot in Grand Slam events at Roland Garros and the US Open. This underdog story arc—complete with rivalries against the four real-life licensed players—creates a sense of purpose and identity for your avatar.

Between matches, brief text updates and tendered press conferences add context to your tour journey. Comments from fictional opponents and hints at locker-room gossip enliven the otherwise straightforward tournament bracket. These narrative snippets elevate the experience, making career mode feel less like repetitive bracket play and more like chapters in a sports drama.

Though there’s no voiced dialogue or cutscene cinematics, the game’s pacing and tournament atmosphere simulate the highs and lows of a professional tennis season. Victories feel earned—not just from mastering button combos but from strategic shot selection and stamina management—lending an organic story progression that draws you back for “just one more match.”

Overall Experience

Next Generation Tennis on Game Boy Advance stands out as a surprisingly deep handheld tennis sim. You get a broad array of modes, a rewarding career track, and genuine multiplayer thrills with the link cable. True, you’ll miss the 3D camera sweeps of the console editions, but what remains is a tight, accessible package that nails the fundamentals of the sport.

Portable play means you can work on your backhand between classes or on long bus rides, and the compact match length keeps sessions bite-sized and engaging. Unlockable content in arcade mode and the stat-driven progression in career mode provide plenty of replay value, ensuring this cart won’t gather dust after the first week.

Whether you’re a seasoned tennis gamer or a newcomer intrigued by Grand Slam competition, NGT: Next Generation Tennis offers a compelling blend of depth, accessibility, and official tournament ambiance. It’s an ideal pick for any GBA owner craving a sports title that goes beyond the basics without bogging you down in unnecessary complexity.

Retro Replay Score

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