Pete Sampras Tennis is a sports classic developed by Codemasters for the Sega Genesis in 1994. Known for its accessible yet fast-paced gameplay, it stands out as one of the premier tennis games of the 16-bit era. The game originally utilized Codemasters’ innovative J-Cart technology, which featured two built-in controller ports on the cartridge itself, allowing four players to compete in doubles matches without needing a multitap. Players can hit the court as the legendary Pete Sampras or choose from a roster of fictional pros, competing across various surfaces that noticeably alter ball bounce and speed.
How to Play
The objective is to win matches by outmaneuvering your opponent and scoring points under standard tennis rules. The Sega Genesis controls are intuitive: use the D-pad to position your player on the court, press A for a lob, B for a normal shot, and C for topspin. Pressing C along with a left or right direction will make your player dive for the ball. When serving, you can press A for a safe automatic serve, or B to manually control the speed and direction. In the browser, the D-pad maps to the arrow keys, with A, B, and C mapped to the Z, X, and C keys, and Start mapped to Enter.
Tips
- Aim after the swing: You can direct your shots by pressing a direction on the D-pad after your opponent hits the ball, but before your racket makes contact. Use this to hit sharp cross-court angles.
- Master the manual serve: While the automatic serve (A button) is safe, learning the timing of the manual serve (B button) allows you to hit powerful aces against tougher opponents.
- Dive to save rallies: If a ball is just out of reach, use the dive move (D-pad Left or Right + C button) to keep the rally alive. Just be aware that it takes a moment to recover if you miss.
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