Tennis (Japan)
About Tennis (Japan)
Tennis is a classic sports title from Nintendo that originally hit the Famicom in early 1984. This particular version is a conversion for the Famicom Disk System, bringing the same straightforward tennis gameplay to the disk format. It was one of the earliest console tennis games and helped establish the template for the genre on home systems.
You take control of a tennis player on a side-view court, facing either the computer or a second player in a standard match. The objective is straightforward: return the ball over the net and land it within the lines to score points. Movement is limited to left and right, with a simple swing mechanic for both groundstrokes and volleys. The game keeps score using traditional tennis rules, including deuce and advantage, though the pace is slower than modern tennis sims.
Today this version of Tennis is worth checking out for its historical significance and minimalist charm. It's a no-frills sports game that captures the essence of tennis without any gimmicks. If you enjoyed early NES sports titles, or simply want a quick pick-up-and-play match, this FDS conversion does the job well. Just don't expect power-ups or trick shots; it's pure, basic tennis.
How to Play Tennis (Japan) Online
Getting Started
When you boot the game, you'll see a title screen with menu options. Use the D-Pad to move between choices and press X (A button) to confirm. If you're playing alone, select single-player mode to face an AI opponent. For a two-player match, pick the two-player option. The game uses Japanese text, but the menu layout is simple enough to navigate by trial: the top option is usually single-player, the second is two-player.
Once the match begins, you control your player with the D-Pad. Move left or right to position yourself. When the ball comes toward you, press the A button (X key) to swing. Timing matters: swing too early or late and you'll miss or hit a weak return. The B button (S key) can be used for a more powerful shot, but it requires charge time. Watch the ball's shadow to judge where it will land.
The core loop is serving first, then rallying. Serving is done by pressing A; you can control the direction of your serve by pressing left or right on the D-Pad during the toss. The first player to win six games (with at least a two-game lead) takes the set. If the score reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is played. It's a straight port of the original NES game, so the physics are simple and the pace is slower than modern tennis games. Practice your timing to master the basic strokes.
Tennis (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button (jump / confirm)
- S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
- Enter: Start / Pause
- V: Select
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