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Rockstar Table Tennis
If you've got an Xbox 360, then you need Rockstar table tennis - the best game available for the Xbox 360
By Martin Hughes
Owner and Editor
Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis
Everyone agrees ...
It's a Smash...
Rockstar, the developers behind the highly successful Grand Theft Auto, have created a table tennis game that's taken many people by surprise.
After all, there are no guns and no fast cars - just two rackets, a ball and a net. And instead of a sprawling city to explore, this game gets up close and personal.
But everyone agrees ... this Rockstar table tennis game is a smash hit.
Because table tennis is such an easy game for everyone to understand, it makes this Xbox 360 game an easy game to understand too.
And the best thing about Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis is that although it's easy enough for anyone to play, it also allows the more skilled players to take advantage of some of the finer points of table tennis at the same time.
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It's also...
Deceptively simple
You can choose from 11 different characters (7 male and 4 female) from around the world with a range of skills and styles and you can compete in 15 different international arenas.
At first, Rockstar table tennis appears deceptively simple, as any of the buttons will produce a shot whilst the direction is set by moving the joystick left or right.
But beneath this veneer of simplicity lies a sophisticated control system.
A short training module explains the types of shot associated with each button, such as topspin or backspin.
The longer a button is pressed down, the more powerful the shot.
Similarly, vibrations in the joystick act as a warning sign that you may overshoot the table.
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There is also what Rockstar have called a focus mode. As you play, this builds up to create more powerful shots.
This technique is beautifully executed in the game, with the shot being shown in slow motion.
This manages to convey the tension in key moments of a heated exchange.
Each shot is colour-coded to match one of the buttons on the 360 controller. The aim of this is to return the shot using the same colour in order to score a point.
This seems a good idea but proves difficult in practice, as it is hard to spot the colour as a ball speeds towards you.
In single-player mode, you can try your hand at tournaments to unlock additional players and goodies such as new outfits.
But there's also the opportunity to pit your skills against the world via Microsoft's online gaming service, Xbox Live. So challenge your friends online.
Rockstar Table Tennis is a slick and polished game. Don't miss out on yours.
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