AO International Tennis

Its core gameplay is very good, and matches can be very exciting, but some annoying issues get in the way. Also, all players and courts behave very similarly, so it feels the same no matter where or who you play as. Still, we hope the developer addresses this issues.

Like an ambitious rookie, AO International Tennis appeared promising, with alleged photo realistic looks and authenticity backed by an extensive data built AI. But Big Ant Studios' production can't live up to these expectations, at least for now, despite an interesting timing approach and undeniable efforts showed through the numerous updates. The lacklustre presentation, the shallow (though large amount of) content and the erratic gameplay literally smash the whole experience, which still looks more like some distant imitation rather than simulation, hence suggesting the lack of a bold, expert direction overall.

AO Tennis suffers from a poorly-designed AI and a lack of depth in all that it has to offer. Easy to play but not difficult to master, it may please tennis fans looking for a game they can sometimes play with their friends.

We're sorry: you will need to wait a bit longer to play the ultimate tennis experience in your console or PC. AO International Tennis has a lot of good ideas in the playable side, but it's a mess in all the other fronts. Also, the absence of many licensed top players doesn’t help the game.

The wait for the first tennis game on the current console generation has not been worth while. The amount if content is decent enough, but on the court AO can’t deliver with its semi-automatic mechanics, overpowering serves and almost unbeatable backspin stops.

AO International Tennis has an addictive ball hit system, but it lacks of depth on any other aspect. Poor game modes, limited competitions, total absence of commentators between points and an editor with few options to customize your player. Big Ant Studios tries hard, but that´s not enough to save their tennis simulator from mediocrity. And it´s a shame. This International should have been an update of the previous AO Tennis, instead of a new title. Tennis fans must keep waiting for a revolutionary title.

Despite giving the player an excess of control over shots themselves, the movement in order to set up those shots is almost completely absent. Add to this a list of unrecognisable names and you’ve got a tennis game that feels pretty darn hollow.

If you were hoping to find the heir of Top Spin 4, run away. AO International Tennis is a mess in spite of the 17 updates is has had since the start of the Early Access. With wacky gameplay, sub-android level graphics and very light content.

AO International Tennis is sadly not a great game of tennis. It can still be buggy (I’ve had it hard crash a couple of times), has really long load times, and just isn’t all that compelling. I put a ton of time into AO International Tennis and I can say that I never once found myself fully invested.

Australian developer Big Ant Studios double faults on its opening serve regarding tennis game developing; while we can appreciate the effort, AO Tennis lacks the level of polish, depth, variety and fun we'd been hoping for so long now. It's just another break opportunity lost miserably.

AO International Tennis is like the guy that has the best clothes and racquets but when it comes to playing he does not hit a ball. Even though its foundations are great, the experience is ruined by its awful gameplay and physics with poor graphics.

Ultimately though, the poor execution and the cracks in the gameplay cause this wildcard entry to fall well short of being a grand slam effort.

The tactics and tactility of a good tennis game remain amongst the purest of gaming experiences, but AO International Tennis is not a good tennis game. Overly complicated and bereft of any emotional resonance, the positive elements, including the detailed character creator, will likely be as swiftly forgotten as the game itself will.

AO International Tennis went wide with its first service, and double faults at second attempt. Turgid, unrealistic gameplay is emphasised by the title’s shot targeting mechanic, which largely restricts you to the spot and relieves you of the freedom that you’d have on a real court. The few official player models are of a good quality and the customisation options are a welcome touch, but the PS4’s first tennis title is a disappointment – it wouldn’t even make the qualifiers let alone win a Grand Slam.