Spin Doctor
Table Tennis can be played with three control options, one requiring just the Wii remote and two requiring both the remote and nunchuk. In the most basic mode, it plays like an enhanced Wii Sports: your character moves automatically and shots are directed based on the direction the remote is swung, but you can also apply spin by holding down one of the eight available directions on the d-pad while If both players are using this mode, it is fairly easily abused--simply swinging the remote nonstop will generally result in your character returning most shots, even if the returns don't end up particularly impressive. As such, I found the mode most useful as a "training" mode, for getting accustomed to the sense of timing and spin.

Where the game shines is in the "Sharp-Shooter" mode, which still moves your character automatically but also allows for more precise positioning of the ball by way of the nunchuk's analog stick. This mode appears to allow for the most fast and furious gameplay. The combination of spin, directional aiming, and motion makes for intense gameplay, particularly versus a human partner (unlike its 360 counterpart, it does not support online play).

The final mode, "Control Freak," adds in control over the character's movement, but combined with the amount of overall precision you have with the ball itself, this feels both overwhelming and unnecessary. Particularly since the game recreates ping-pong and its relatively tiny playing surface rather than tennis and its large court, character movement simply does not feel necessary to recreate the sense of realism the game attempts to provide.

You've Got the Power
The earlier you hold down the spin direction before taking your actual swing, the more your spin meter is filled by that shot. When your meter is completely full, your character's spin becomes more powerful. While it is possible to "prime" shots early by swinging farther than necessary in advance of the ball's arrival, doing so reduces the amount of time between your application of spin and your swing; it's safer but less rewarding in the long term.

This mechanic turns the delay inherent to the game--rather than swinging the paddle directly as you swing your arm in real life, which in reality would be a lot more awkward and likely inaccurate than those who demand it probably realize--into an actual gameplay consideration. Furthermore, particularly when both players are skilled enough to get into fast, long-lasting rallies, the delay becomes essentially a non-issue as you find yourself getting into a regular rhythm of nonstop swings.

When asked about the accuracy the game allows, Rockstar Games' Steve Hahnel mentioned a tournament the company held during PAX, at which two players, who head up a real-life ping pong club and had never before played Rockstar's game, utterly dominated all other comers to such a degree that the company started playing games in the basic remote-only mode to give participants a fighting chance--much to the dismay of the two champions.

Stacking Up
Presentationally, Table Tennis of course doesn't match up to its 360 sibling, but this comes as little surprise. The game actually looks much nicer than most third-party efforts on Wii, with a clean look and attractive character models. (Though the screenshots released are in 4:3 format, it was running in widescreen at the event.) Like the Xbox 360 game, it includes a variety of characters, some unlockable, with unique stats. Liu Ping is still a bastard.

All in all, Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis seems to be doing exactly what it should for Wii: deliver a fun and accessible experience best enjoyed with friends in a social atmosphere. Many players will likely "graduate" from Wii Sports tennis to this game, and with the multiple control modes scaling up from basic to complex, it should serve that purpose well. With its greater level of depth, it should provide the answer for those who enjoy Wii Sports' fundamental gameplay but feel they have exhausted what its tennis game has to offer.

Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis, developed for Wii by Rockstar Leeds, is set to ship in North America on October 23, 2007.