Is it normal?

[Chess_Forever]

First of all, let me say that I will never even think of refunding this game. To the contrary, I am trying to build enough experience to give it an informed and glowing review.

But, after about 2 hours, I feel a bit lost. I suspect this feeling comes from my lack of experience rather than from some fault in the game.

What am I lost about? Let me ask some quetions, and perhaps somebody can answer.

1) How do I determine what "button 2" and "button 5" mean for my controller? My buttons (I have only four on the top and two in the back) are labeled A, B, X, and Y on top, and they are unlabeled on the back. Well, okay, there are three oblong buttons on top, too.

In other words, it's a pretty normal controller. But I no of know way to know what needs to be pressed when the game menus tell me that, say, button 2 and button 6 (or something) need to be pressed for a particular function.

2) At the moment, the controller doesn't feel terribly influential. Sure, I can move left and right, or back and forth. And I can (just barely) control the aim of my shot. But so far, I've found no way to add topspin or lob.

I'm not suggesting that the game doesn't enable those things. Indeed, I'm confident that it does indeed! But ...

Is it that I am playing as a "junior" at the start of a career, with low "skill levels" (according to the game, not just in reality)?

Will control gradually get possible -- or even better -- with "experience" logged by the game? I don't mean will I get better merely by practicing (as with most things). I mean -- does the game ENABLE more control as we gain logged experience.

Okay -- those two, if well answered, would go a long way toward helping.

In the meantime -- I think the graphics are great. I don't need photo-realistic. Indeed, the game is quite realistic enough for me, and I like the reasonable performance that might be sacrificed by too much eye-candy..

Indeed, the game itself seems great overall. Why else would I find myself getting worked up at 2 am, and staying awake when I know I should be asleep? Well, sure, there might be other reasons. But the game definitely holds my interest.

It seems to create exactly the same emotions as, uh, real tennis.

[992]

On the bottom of the controller settings you can change the labels from "button 1" etc. to your Xbox controller labels.

All possible shots are available to you from the start, just enable the right labels and remap your controls if needed.

[ManuTOO]

@Chess_Forever,
とがめ's answer is correct, but I'm going to expand a bit on it. :-)

1) You can change Settings -> Controls -> Player 1 -> Tag Type to Xbox to get A, B, X & Y, but only if your controller mapping matches the Xbox's one (else it'll be even more confusing ! )
If your buttons don't match the Xbox's mapping, then I recommend you reassign all the buttons to your liking on that screen.

2) As you'll notice on that screen, all the strikes are available to you right from the start, and in all situations.
I'd strongly recommend you do & complete the tutorial (the "Tennis School" in the Main menu).
It'll teach you all the strikes and how to do them, as well as the core gameplay concepts.

3) Learning the game from the World Tour in Junior difficulty with low skills might prove very challenging. Once you're done with the tutorial, you might benefit from playing in Training Club -> Warm Up till you're comfortable with the controls.

4) TE4 is a simulation, so it takes time to learn how everything works, but you have many tools & options to help you, and if you have other questions or any issues, I'm around. :-)

[Chess_Forever]

Thanks for the responses. The game has made me regret I didn't take up tennis more seriously when I was still young enough to take it seriously.

It has even gotten me to start watching the excellent series "Break Point," and realizing that there is even more drama in tennis than in politics.

I hope the game's Steam rating eventually moves up to "overwhelmingly positive" where I think it belongs.

[ManuTOO]

Thanks for the praise & your nice review ! :-)

I doubt the game will get to "overwhelmingly positive", though : they are too many people expecting a AAA or an arcade game when they buy it... >_<