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To me, having to watch tennis on television is a punishment and, when the family turn it on, I turn off!

However, I was soon to find Konami's Tennis a whole different ball game!

The game can be played either by a single player against the computer, two players against each other or two players against each other or two players against the computer in doubles. There are three levels of difficulty, from deciding the speed of the ball, to the style and movement of your opponent.

A single player can participate using the cursors and space bar and two players the keyboard, although I would suspect this method would create domestic pandemonium (imagine it on a Spectrum)!

My own standard of playing leaves a lot of room for improvement, so I found the joystick a real help in handling this game.

The player is treated to an excellent perspective view of a tennis court, with grandstands on both sides and a display board showing games, sets and match at the end. The correct court layout, complete with umpire, ballboy and nets, adds to the authenticity. The points for each player are displayed on the right hand side and a small window by the umpire appears at the right moment to show "In", "Fault" or "Net".

The system of scoring points is identical to the real game. The joystick movements controlling the player are self evident, but you start to use your skill from the serving aspect. A quick blip of the fire button (or spacebar) is all that's needed for the ball to leave the player's hand for serving. It is the time lag between this and the second blip that determines whether or not you clear the net and the distance you are able to hit it.

Should you net it, the ballboy crouched on the sideline dashes out and retrieves it. Some games allow room for error inasmuch as a near miss is enough to connect. Not so with this game, where you must be correctly positioned, getting your racket behind the ball to move it. Players only change ends in the two player version and in the other options you control the player or players at the near end of the court.

Altogether, this game is very engrossing and requires lots of skill and co-ordination. I believe that the majority of purchasers will find this game good family entertainment. The only details omitted were abusing the umpire, breaking rackets and destroying the soft drinks stand!