Score
Gameplay:	6
Graphics:	5
Sound:	5
FunFactor:	4
PlasmaFactor:	4
Overall:	4.8

Family Table Tennis Review
May 30, 2008 by Jereme Puik

With the likes of Wii Sports and Wii Play showing off the power of tennis and table tennis respectively via the Wiimote, Arc System Works (of Guilty Gear fame) decided to try its spin on table tennis. Adding the uniqueness of its own character design and stage design, Family Table Tennis does present a family atmosphere; however, does the game deliver enough content to justify 500 Wii Points? Unfortunately, while Family Table Tennis does have some very original ideas, it needs a bit more depth to make the table tennis experience fun.

Needs more Pong! 

If there is one true table tennis experience that you’re looking for, Family Table Tennis isn’t it. The game falls short with a few unfortunate design decisions that make it unsatisfying in the end for the gamer looking for a hardcore table tennis experience. Casual gamers should have no problem adjusting the play style of the title, and may even completely ignore the lack of depth and control mechanics involved here. Family Table Tennis seems to ignore the realistic side of the game and give you the basics when it comes to ping-pong (table tennis). 

The title suffers from a few issues that keep the game from being a complete table tennis experience. You are given choices of characters between a family of four and you must choose one, as you will compete in around 3 matches against your other family members. None of the characters seem to have their own distinct styles or approaches to the game. This would have made the experience at least somewhat more fulfilling, as players would have been able to stick with whichever character they find themselves attached to. This limit on character choices is one issue that can be easily solved, if there was the option of including Miis in your matches, much like in Wii Sports. 

As you use the Wiimote within your matches, you will find that it is surprisingly accurate and fun. Unfortunately, despite the solid controls, Family Table Tennis is about as bottom of the barrel as you are going to get with a table tennis title. No matter what your skill level is, you can easily complete a match no problem. There aren’t any adjustable difficulty settings in which you can get yourself a more challenging AI match. Now, the AI here is all right, but pretty much follows the opposite of your movements and doesn’t exactly make strong decisions most of the time during the match when it gets to the boiling point as the match goes on. It is much easier here to play against human opponents as much as possible. 

You can easily figure out the play controls in Family Table Tennis without needing directions; however, if you do need them, a simple screenshot illustrates the controls and different directions that the ball can realistically travel depending on the movement you swing the Wiimote with. There is also the option here of simply pressing the A button instead of swinging the Wiimote; this does take away the realistic feel, but the option is there for players who wish to use it. 

Moving on, the ball seems to have been set on a predetermined speed, as you don’t often find the ball increasing or decreasing its speed during the match. When you’re swinging away, you really can’t hit the ball any harder even if you tried. This is one problem that hurts you in the end if you easily spot an opening in a match and want to end it quickly. There is one point during the match that if you rally back and forth the ball does increase its speed and you have to keep up or you will get blasted. This only seems to help out the AI in that once you hit this point; the opponent is quickly given the option to power blast, or “Super Shot” the ball for what seems like an automatic win if you can’t return the volley. 

The single player campaign doesn’t take long to complete if you’d like to go through it with all of the characters involved. There are mini-games to help you practice, so if you can’t beat your mom or dad in the final match of the competition then you might want to hit these 3 mini-games for some training. The first of these games is Target Table Tennis. Here, you are pit against a random opponent with a red highlight in one specific corner of the table. You must aim correctly and get your ball hitting those areas s you gain points to earn a certain limit before the game ends. 

Matching Table Tennis gives you a little more challenging experience. You will find yourself and your chosen character in the middle of the woods with a wooden table. As the fruit falls from the sky on either direction of you, you have to hit each fruit to its corresponding labeled side of the table. You can go backhand or forehand here just like in a normal match. Finally, you have Thrilling Table Tennis, where you must defeat your opponent in under the thrilling score, which is actually 99 points. The mini-games don’t actually give you much of a challenge other then Matching Table Tennis, which could give you quite the run if you become obsessed with trying to get the high score on matching those oranges and apples. 

How are the Graphics? 

Visually, Family Table Tennis shines in fine, and has an original cel-shaded look to its characters and stage design. There seem to only be family characters designed in families; when you hit certain stages you won’t see seats filled if you’re playing in an arena, so it seems like you’re only playing for the 5 people that are structured to stay there. There isn’t any variety in the character design meaning you’ll only be seeing the mommy, daddy, son and daughter characters multiple times in the viewing areas. The different arenas of play are nicely done, but there could’ve been little more depth to them. 

How is the sound? 

The sound unfortunately takes a nosedive here. There are only maybe two themes out of the whole game. This doesn’t make things all too thrilling when you’re hearing the theme from the main menu played during your matches. It would’ve been nice if each character had his or her own theme played maybe before the match starts. If there were more tracks to choose from, then it would have made the matches a bit easier to take in. 

PlasmaFactor 

It’s hard to pin something down in Family Table Tennis that would make it worthy of the 500-point price tag. If anything, it would probably be the minigames. Three minigames encompass the entirety of the title, and while it does give you some of the added depth you would be looking for, it doesn’t quite fill your stomach. Matching Table Tennis will certainly keep you busy for an hour or so as you try and hit those fruits to their corresponding table slot. But, that’s about as much as you’re going to get with this title. The other two minigames might as well be thought of as practice before heading into the real matches. 

Conclusion 

All in all, Family Table Tennis doesn’t even scratch the surface in terms of the ultimate table tennis experience. This isn’t something you would want to even think about comparing to Wii Sports, or Wii Play, or even Rockstar’s Table Tennis. At 500 Wii Points, it’s a hard game to swallow. You would be better off accepting this as a gift if it was ever offered to you. With watered down AI and a lack of online play and customization, Family Table Tennis doesn’t quite give you that feeling of being a rocking ping-pong player.