Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Snoopy Tennis delivers a solid and accessible tennis experience inspired by titles like Mario Tennis. You can choose from eight initial characters—Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Franklin, Sally, Peppermint Patty, and Schroeder—each boasting unique strengths and weaknesses. Early matches teach you how these attributes affect aspects like shot speed, reach, and spin, making character selection feel meaningful rather than purely cosmetic.

The game offers six distinct single-player modes to keep the action fresh: a classic best-of-three “Normal” match, a “Power” mode with in-match power-ups, “Points Win” battles where the highest score after two minutes takes the victory, rapid “Sudden Win” duels, and even a “Squash” variant with walls flanking the court. Over time you unlock four additional Peanuts faces—Pigpen, Marcie, Rerun, and Woodstock—by conquering challenges in Championship mode and specific difficulty tiers. This steady stream of new characters and courts rewards continued play.

Controls are straightforward: directional movement, a primary button for standard shots, and a secondary button for lobs or volleys. Power-ups in the “Power” mode introduce an arcade twist—speed boosts, special shots, and temporary environmental hazards keep matches unpredictable. The inclusion of a two-player link mode adds head-to-head rivalry, while the Championship ladder mode challenges you to adapt to different court surfaces and opponent styles, making each win feel earned.

Graphics

Snoopy Tennis captures the charm of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts universe with colorful, cartoon-style graphics that pop on the handheld screen. Character sprites are faithfully designed to resemble their comic counterparts, with Snoopy’s jaunty walk and Lucy’s determined frown both rendered in crisp pixel art. The animation is smooth, ensuring that serves, rallies, and celebratory dances feel lively and expressive.

The game features a variety of courts—forest glades, sandy beaches, the familiar schoolyard, and Charlie Brown’s backyard—each with its own palette of vibrant colors and subtle details like rustling leaves or waving flags. As you unlock four bonus locations, you’ll appreciate the creative touches: sun glints on water at the beach court, or the occasional cloud drifting overhead in the backyard scene. These backgrounds may not push the hardware’s limits, but they deliver a cohesive, cheerful atmosphere that suits the Peanuts brand.

While textures remain relatively simple, visual cues like shot trails and character shadows are clear and effective, ensuring you never lose track of the ball during fast rallies. Menu screens are cleanly laid out, with icons and text presented in readable fonts. Overall, Snoopy Tennis balances performance and aesthetics well, offering a bright and engaging visual experience that holds up during extended play sessions.

Story

True to its arcade-style design, Snoopy Tennis doesn’t weave a deep narrative but instead uses the beloved Peanuts setting as a playful backdrop. The “Story,” if you will, unfolds through the Championship mode: you guide your chosen character from early matches against friends in the neighborhood to the ultimate Peanuts’ Tennis Championship. This progression feels like a lighthearted sports tale, with each unlocked opponent representing another familiar personality from the comic strip.

Between matches, character animations and victory celebrations provide little vignettes reminiscent of the Peanuts gang’s humor. For example, after clinching a tough match, your character might trot off-screen in triumph, only to encounter a playful interruption from Woodstock or Marcie. These brief interludes offer a dash of personality that keeps you invested in unlocking every character and court.

Language options—English, French, and Spanish—make the game accessible to a wider audience, though story text is minimal. The focus remains squarely on gameplay rather than narrative depth, which is appropriate for a sports title aimed at younger players and fans of the strip. Nevertheless, the structure of advancing through opponents and settings gives the game a satisfying sense of forward momentum.

Overall Experience

Snoopy Tennis stands out as a charming and family-friendly sports game that offers both pick-up-and-play appeal and layered depth for completionists. Beginners appreciate the straightforward controls and supportive tutorials, while competitive players can dive into harder Championship brackets and experiment with each character’s unique playstyle. The varied modes—from time-limited matches to power-up chaos—ensure that no two sessions feel identical.

Replay value is bolstered by unlockable characters and courts, as well as the two-player link mode for local head-to-head showdowns. Although the game lacks online multiplayer, the physical link port creates a nostalgic communal experience reminiscent of classic handheld gaming. Fans of the Peanuts franchise will enjoy spotting Easter eggs and character quirks, while tennis enthusiasts will find a satisfying arcade-simulation hybrid.

In summary, Snoopy Tennis offers an engaging blend of accessible gameplay, vibrant visuals, and lighthearted Peanuts charm. It’s a perfect pick for families, fans of the comic strip, and anyone looking for a breezy yet strategic tennis title on the go. Whether you’re rallying in Charlie Brown’s backyard or battling friends in Sudden Win mode, Snoopy Tennis serves up fun with a side of nostalgia.

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10