Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Roland Garros French Open 2000 delivers a robust 3D tennis simulation that faithfully captures the essence of clay-court competition. You can choose between Singles, Doubles, or Mixed Doubles matches, each requiring different tactical approaches. The control scheme is intuitive: a combination of directional input and shot buttons lets you execute topspins, slices, lobs, and drop shots with relative ease once you’ve mastered the timing.

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The game offers three distinct modes—Tournament, Exhibition, and Practice. Tournament mode puts you straight into the heart of Roland Garros, advancing through rounds against progressively tougher opponents. Exhibition mode allows for quick showdowns without stakes, perfect for honing specific skills or enjoying a match with friends. Practice mode provides a stress-free environment to experiment with different strokes, footwork drills, and court positioning.

Winning matches earns you cash prizes that can be spent on new rackets—12 in total—each with unique attributes like power, control, and feel. As your earnings grow, you’ll face more skilled CPU opponents, keeping the challenge fresh. Additionally, the game hides eight secret players and two bonus courts, giving completionists an extra layer of motivation to keep playing. With a four-player multiplayer option, Roland Garros 2000 also shines as a social experience, turning any living room into a mini tennis tournament.

Graphics

For its time, the visual presentation of Roland Garros French Open 2000 is impressive. The courts are rendered in crisp 3D, with realistic clay textures that affect ball bounce and player movement. You’ll see dust clouds kick up as players slide for shots, adding to the authentic feel of a French Open match.

Player models are distinct enough to convey different body types and playing styles, and the animations—while somewhat stiff by modern standards—do a solid job of representing tennis fundamentals. Celebration animations after winning a crucial point or match capture the excitement of the tournament, and subtle details like the crowd’s applause and camera flashes from photographers heighten immersion.

The user interface is clean and unobtrusive, presenting shot indicators and stamina meters without cluttering the screen. Menus are straightforward and load quickly, allowing you to get into matches without long wait times. While the draw for each event is displayed in a conventional bracket format, it’s easy to follow your progress through the tournament at a glance.

Story

Although Roland Garros French Open 2000 does not feature a traditional narrative, it offers a satisfying career-style arc through its Tournament mode. Starting with lower-ranked players, you gradually build your reputation and bank balance. This progression creates a sense of journey as you unlock better rackets and challenge higher-caliber opponents.

The hidden players and bonus courts function almost like plot twists—discovering these surprises feels rewarding and keeps you invested. Whether you’re aiming to unearth a secret legendary player or compete on an exclusive clay court, these unlockables offer narrative beats that punctuate your career path.

The absence of cutscenes and scripted story moments is offset by the organic narrative you create through wins and losses. Each match has stakes, and the accumulation of prize money toward equipment upgrades gives your campaign a cohesive sense of purpose. In essence, your story emerges from the on-court drama and the tangible rewards system.

Overall Experience

Roland Garros French Open 2000 remains a compelling tennis sim that balances accessibility with depth. Its varied game modes, unlockable content, and multiplayer option ensure that players of all skill levels can find something to enjoy. The core gameplay loop—win matches, earn cash, buy better gear, face tougher competition—creates a strong sense of progression.

That said, some players might find the AI occasionally inconsistent, with sudden difficulty spikes from one round to the next. The animations, though serviceable in 2000, show their age compared to contemporary titles. Additionally, the lack of an online mode limits multiplayer to local play only.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Roland Garros French Open 2000 offers a rich and authentic clay-court experience. Its blend of realistic physics, strategic depth, and rewarding unlockables makes it a worthwhile purchase for tennis enthusiasts and casual sports gamers alike. Whether you’re practicing your slice or battling in a frantic four-player doubles match, this game captures the spirit of Roland Garros in every rally.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10