Blogging From The In-Laws: Day 8 (Recap)

An Endorsement
If you’re ever in Longview, TX, stop by Bodacious BBQ. The sauce is good, if a bit sweet, but their meat is superior to most other places I’ve been. I’ve a sneaking suspicion it has to do with the quality of the wood they use in the smoking…
A Review
I received Mario Power Tennis from my wife for Christmas and got a chance to play it quite a bit with my brother-in-law. It’s quite entertaining and the graphics do a wonderful job of conveying a playful atmosphere. However, the control scheme is needlessly complex, so much so that I was practically yearning for the simpler days of on-court action as presented in the superlative Sega Sports Tennis. Instead of assigning drop and lob shots to the X and Y buttons, the game instead forces you to tap B-then-A or A-then-B (respectively) to make these shots. Also, in the higher level tournaments, the AI players are extremely difficult, almost to the point of “cheating” ala Super Mario Kart.
Still, ’tis an eminently entertaining game and I can’t wait to try it out with four players. It should make a great “party” game.
A Non-Endorsement
Two words: Hobby. Lobby. (But wait, it gets worse!)
Combine them with: Shopping.
And finally: After. Christmas. Sale.
*shudder*