Game-Set-Uninstall
When this tennis game fell into my lap for review I instantly recalled that I had played it before, some years back. You see Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis released as an Apple Arcade back in 2022 and honestly, I had a good time with it. Players could choose from a selection of Nickelodeon characters and play through their story by winning tennis matches, this would unlock new characters that players could play as. Fast forward to 2026 and it’s been ported to every major console and PC as Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next and it can be fun even if it’s not for long.
MSRP: $29.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $14.99
As one might have guessed from it’s title the gameplay here is all tennis based. And I can say that its actually pretty fun and has some depth and strategy to it. Players will have access to different shot types such as lobs or curve shots, which makes each volley feel dynamic. But one of the glaring issues is the weird slowdown when it comes time to return the ball, like the game is allowing the player to ensure they connect. And maybe that is the case, I mean this is a tennis game based on cartoons not some pro version of the game; but whatever it is, it feels off to me. It doesn’t help matters that there isn’t much of a story mode and almost all of the aforementioned unlockable characters come unlocked in this port.
Similar to Mario Kart this game depends on powerups that can change the outcome of each match. These will float across the top of the match and players can hit them to collect each, they vary in use from slime that can cause opponents to stick in place an ice ball which will freeze and a few more. Each of them felt fun and dynamic to use and like I said they can usually change the outcome of the match. Each character also has a unique super ability that can be earned over time. There is no way to counter them so they are a guaranteed point. Despite all these tricks though, the game ends up feeling super repetitive.
Graphically the characters are a mixed bag of ones that look great like Aang and Garfield and others like Timmy Turner who looks like an animated Funko pop with his bulbous head and weird eyes. But even with the odd-looking characters one area where Old Skull Games really flexed their muscles is the stages where the matches take place. They are some of the most detailed areas I have seen in these games, from the shimmering water of Bikini Bottom to the vibrant graphics of the Wild Thronberrys’ Savanna Court. If only the same could be said of the soundtrack because the music is pretty awful, but unlike usual Nickelodeon games I am happy to confirm that all of the toons are voiced here; many of whom by their original VO’s for the first time in a long time.
I’m not going to sugar coat it, Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next isn’t a great game. Sure, there is a few hours of fun to be had but after that you will more than likely never turn this on again. I wish there was some online multiplayer that would at least give it some longevity. But with a horrible soundtrack and repetitive feeling gameplay this just feels like another lackluster release for Nickelodeon characters.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
