AO Tennis 2

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 710 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • stability
AO Tennis 2 Game Cover
While there are still plenty of areas AO Tennis 2 needs improvements in, it is still an enjoyable tennis experience. Once you get the hang of the controls, it can be a delight to play in short bursts.
Starting at $4.45Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

"AO Tennis 2" is a tennis game that lets you create your own player, courts, and legendary matches using the Academy editing suite. Play as big names in the ATP & WTA circuits, such as Rafael Nadal and Ash Barty, and manage your career to reach the top. New game modes include reliving legendary matches and creating new challenges with the scenario editor.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 710 reviews
gameplay64 positive mentions
stability23 negative mentions
  • The game features excellent graphics and detailed character customization options, making it visually appealing.
  • The career mode is engaging and offers a deep experience, allowing players to progress and manage their character's journey.
  • Gameplay mechanics are fun and can be adapted to suit different play styles, providing a mix of arcade and simulation experiences.
  • The AI is often unbalanced, rarely making unforced errors, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, making it difficult to execute shots accurately.
  • The game requires an always-online connection, which can be problematic if servers are down or if players have unstable internet.
  • gameplay182 mentions

    The gameplay of the tennis game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its mechanics and career mode while others criticize its unrealistic player movement and inconsistent mechanics. Many players note a steep learning curve and bugs that detract from the experience, but improvements in animations and physics have been acknowledged. Overall, while the game offers engaging elements and customization options, significant issues with gameplay realism and execution remain a concern for many users.

    • “Gameplay is built around a risk-reward system of power and placement.”
    • “Let me start with pros, gameplay is much better and dynamic compared to the first game.”
    • “Ao Tennis 2 is quite an upgrade and a marked improvement from the previous game, with more features, a surprisingly deep career mode and refined gameplay that feels dynamic and engaging from point to point, especially once you’ve gotten used to the timing and flow.”
    • “The main 'timing reticule' mechanic is inconsistent, janky, and never properly explained in tutorials.”
    • “Net play is made practically impossible due to the jankiness of the animations and general gameplay.”
    • “Terrible gameplay, player just doesn't move when you tell them to, got aced 10 times in a set because of this horseshit.”
  • graphics119 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the detailed avatar creation and overall visual quality, particularly in player models and court designs. However, some users note that the graphics can feel outdated, with comparisons to PS2-era visuals and issues like poor lighting and awkward animations. While the game is considered visually superior to many other tennis titles, it lacks the polish and refinement expected from a next-gen experience.

    • “The graphics are magnificent, the avatar creation is very detailed, and I always enjoy playing with my little starlet.”
    • “Additionally, the visuals of different venues within the game, the player models, the gear available to players, and the individual court surfaces all exceed any of the other tennis titles that have been released.”
    • “The game mechanics are smooth, the graphics are awesome, the courts are stunning, everything is well made.”
    • “The graphics are from PS2.”
    • “Gameplay is quite good, but it has bad animations and outdated graphics.”
    • “I found the mechanics bad and the graphics unappealing.”
  • stability23 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and character freezes that disrupt gameplay, particularly in career mode. Players frequently experience their characters becoming unresponsive during critical moments, leading to frustrating losses. While some users note that certain glitches can be amusing, the overall consensus is that the game is unpolished and requires significant improvements to its stability.

    • “It can't be understated enough that this game is buggy, unpolished, and unbalanced.”
    • “But every time I run a game in career mode, it crashes (freezes saying it can't load data). Other people have apparently reported this problem as well.”
    • “Extremely buggy; a lot of times my player will run to the ball, stand like a palm tree, and do nothing, so he watches the ball bounce on his arm and point to the opponent.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game has received positive feedback, with players appreciating the quality of the soundtrack and its enhancement of the overall experience. Many users noted that the background music is enjoyable and even more engaging than the gameplay itself, although some expressed a desire for more gameplay modes to complement the strong audio elements. Overall, the sound effects, including vocal cues and crowd cheers, are considered well-executed and contribute to the game's atmosphere.

    • “I enjoyed the music background more than the gameplay.”
    • “Great tennis game, great soundtracks but it's too few gameplay modes.”
    • “Great soundtrack.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy stemming from bugs and unrealistic gameplay, particularly with AI behavior that leads to amusing moments, such as players stumbling or failing to react to the ball. While some find the humor enjoyable, others criticize it as stemming from poor design rather than intentional comedic elements. Overall, the game offers a blend of frustrating and funny experiences, especially in multiplayer scenarios.

    • “Nice and funny game.”
    • “There are also some unfixed bugs that force players to stand still instead of returning a ball, leading to very frustrating (or hilarious, when it's the AI doing it) points being lost.”
    • “Or the drop shot which seems to break the AI as even if it is placed where they can get to it, they often run over to it but then just stand there watching it bounce until they do this hilarious sideways stumble like they just missed it.”
  • story12 mentions

    The game's story is polarizing, with some players noting a lack of narrative depth, comparing it to games like Temple Run, while others praise it as epic and complex, particularly in the context of understanding the lore of Dark Souls. Overall, the storytelling experience varies significantly among players.

    • “Epic story.”
    • “Understanding Dark Souls' story.”
    • “Like playing Temple Run for the story.”
    • “This game has no story.”
    • “It's like playing Temple Run for the story.”
    • “Understanding Dark Souls' story is a challenge.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game is generally considered to have high replayability due to features like player and venue creation, as well as a career mode. However, the execution of these features is criticized for being clumsy, which detracts from the overall replay value.

    • “🔲 infinitely replayable”
    • “🔲 infinitely replayable”
    • “🔲 infinitely replayable”
    • “While features like the ability to create players and venues, as well as the career mode, add depth, their ham-handed implementation lessens the replay value they provide.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant performance issues such as frequent frame rate drops and bugs affecting gameplay, particularly in movement and stroke execution. While some players find it runs well on lower-end hardware, the erratic performance and timing system can be frustrating, leading to recommendations with reservations for potential players. Despite these issues, the game's career mode and customization options are praised, making it appealing for dedicated tennis fans willing to overlook the optimization flaws.

    • “I like the game; the graphics are okay, and it doesn't consume much resources. It is very well optimized. I have an MSI 1050ti 4GB OC, and I run it at max settings.”
    • “The game is significantly limited by poor optimization (with frequent frame rate drops) and bugs (sometimes your player will just decide not to hit a groundstroke even when you timed your backswing fine), so I have to recommend it with reservations.”
    • “I'm genuinely surprised that a game so recent is optimized so poorly on the movement, which in tennis is everything.”
    • “Performance issues are extremely jarring; the stroke timing system can take a lot of getting used to, and there are some bizarre choices in the player roster.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and drawn out, often describing it as boring and torturous. While some appreciate the game's capture of the sport's essence, the lack of variety in the player roster and repetitive AI behavior contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant drawback, though some may still consider it worth purchasing on sale.

    • “Overall, it's boring, tedious, and drawn out to the point of torture - so I suppose they did capture the essence of the sport.”
    • “It's just too grindy.”
    • “The roster of players is a little lacking and it can be tedious to watch the AI double fault their serves over and over.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, effectively simulating a real tennis match with features like coin tosses and the ability to challenge umpire calls. However, some users feel that the overall ambiance is too dark, detracting from the experience and suggesting a need for better lighting.

    • “An immersive atmosphere that makes you feel like you're playing a real tennis match (e.g., there's a coin toss before every match, you can challenge umpire's calls, react to shots, etc.)”
    • “Good atmosphere”
    • “An immersive atmosphere that makes you feel like you're playing a real tennis match (e.g., there's a coin toss before every match, you can challenge umpire's calls, react to shots, etc.)”
    • “The atmosphere is too dark; where is the light?”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is well-received, particularly in career mode, which offers a comprehensive season of tournaments for players to progress through. The enhanced character designer allows for greater customization, and the inclusion of starting cash enables players to upgrade their characters right from the beginning, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Career mode is good, a whole season's worth of tournaments to work through and improve, with all the usual character design options you expect from Big Ant.”
    • “The character designer for career mode is much better, and I liked that they give you starting cash to choose and upgrade your player before you even start.”
    • “Career mode is good, with a whole season's worth of tournaments to work through and improve, along with all the usual character design options you expect from Big Ant.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for its heavy reliance on advertisements, which are prominently featured both in-game and externally, potentially detracting from the overall experience. Players have noted that this focus on advertising may influence their enjoyment, especially in cooperative modes.

    • “A friend and I purchased together to play the co-op double career, as stated in several places in the game advertisement, even outside of Steam.”
    • “A friend and I purchased together to play the co-op double career, as stated in several places in the game advertisement, even outside of Steam.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

64% average critic score

Buy AO Tennis 2

Videos

Similar Games