Tennis Manager 2022 is the second title by Rebound CG that returns to the franchise after Tennis Manager 2021, bringing in a new, fresh look and various new features into the game. Having never played the previous title, the latest game in the series is a first-of-its-kind experience for me, as it will be apparent in this PC review of Tennis Manager 2022. Before the game was even launched, there were mixed reactions from fans, where some stated that it is exactly like the previous game, while others were excited about the new features that were going to be delivered.
With a fair share of interest in tennis, but a lack of understanding of what goes behind a player’s performance in and out of matches, Tennis Manager 2022 was a pleasant surprise for a novice like me, stepping into the shoes of a tennis academy manager, and working on creating world-class players from beginners. I also appreciate games that cater to beginners without slacking on the features and dynamics that shape the game. This is something the game does pretty well.
The game begins with character creation before you step into the duties of a tennis manager, responsible for your own academy. You also get the liberty to choose your strengths, what areas you are good at, your level of experience, and the choice of the academy with players that also pose different challenges. It is only after these first few steps that you are transported to the main interface of the game, where at first, you have plenty of information to digest, but nothing too difficult to understand, thanks to the tutorials
As a manager, you are introduced to all your players, their current stats and activities that you can assign, and your academy staff who will aid you manage other players. It is worth mentioning that I chose to manage an existing academy, which skipped the process of creating your own academy from scratch, your main player, and plenty of customization options related to the academy. I imagined this feature to be the first pick by veteran players, or players that have an in-depth understanding of running a tennis academy, and independence of creating everything with preference.
The main interface starts with your inbox where you are welcomed into the academy, briefed on what to expect, and in return, what the academy expects from you. The main interface or menu also contains tabs to monitor your Team, Staff, Academy, and a search tab to look for new players for the academy. The mail inbox is also pretty neatly designed to filter out emails that are important or required to be answered immediately, while also highlighting other emails by type.
The game progresses through each day where you are first supposed to check on your players, assign training and upcoming tournaments with respect to your players’ rankings, and set game plans and goals for each player. This is the most important step that will determine the status of each of your players, which will affect their attributes and statistics along with the progression of the season.
The highlight of the game for newcomers will be the live matches that you will be watching in tournaments. Just like a real-life manager that accompanies a player in a match, you can change tactics, motivate them, and talk to them after each set to influence them. Having good knowledge and the ability to read the situation will be key, as it can positively or negatively impact the player’s mental and physical ability.
The live matches do get predictable the more you play, which can become a little dull over the course of the tournament, especially when you can predict your player’s next move and outcome. I will admit that the mid-game tactical changes were a bit confusing, considering the limited knowledge of the game plans and what would work best for the player in the current situation. And though the outcome of the first match was a positive one, I was clueless about what strategy led towards the win.
As the days in the academy continue, your performance will be reflected by how happy the directors are, or by the rumors of inexperience that will float about. This became an issue for me, but quickly resolved when I realized that I wasn’t pairing my players with the right staff, gear, and training that increases each player’s shape. If it wasn’t for my in-game assistant highlighting where I was messing, I would have lost my top player in the academy.
Running and managing your academy is just one aspect of the game, as it brings a new level of building the infrastructure to your needs. Your academy can be upgraded to have various different types of courts from grass, clay, and hard, to even indoor surfaces. Purchasing expensive courts can be avoided at first but becomes an important addition when your players require more training and treatments. The upgrades are not only limited to courts, but you can also have medical centers, a youth and scouting center, and a business center. The upgrades are also decently affordable, considering that you start with a good chunk of money to begin with.
Other relevant features include the new contract management and negotiation system. This brings another level of realism to the management sim, where you get to see how a possible player admission can fit in your academy, what their strengths that can work accordingly, and how long of a contract you are looking for. The other feature is the interviews with players and press that are quite basic and nothing new in a game. However, the interviews do play a role in your academy, as it will affect your player’s mentality, and how the board sees you.
Conclusion
Tennis Manager 2022 might not be the game for everyone, and I say this because it is caters to a small audience that like in-depth management simulator games. Having said that, the game does not disappoint in how it is supposed to be played and how it portrays the role of a high level tennis manager. It also shows what goes behind the scenes in a tennis player’s life, and how the whole team plays a big role in their successes or failures. The main interface and the match gameplay is a nice touch in the game that brings you close to the real experience, while the responsibility and expectations from a manager will give you a good representation of what a real-like tennis manager goes through. Tennis Manager 2022 is available right now on PC via Steam, and if you have never played the previous game, give this one a try.
Score: 7.8/10
