Pete Sampras Tennis (1994). Play online

Summary

Pete Sampras Tennis on the Game Gear packs a surprisingly deep court experience for a handheld. The control scheme leans on all three action buttons – A instantly launches a serve, B tweaks speed and direction, and C adds topspin or, when paired with the D‑Pad, a dive. You can even nudge your aim by pressing a direction right before contact.

The game mimics real‑world venues: grass courts feel like Wimbledon in London, clay mirrors Roland Garros in Paris, and hard surfaces recreate the New York Flushing Meadows feel. Three core modes – Challenge Match, Tournament, and the 18‑round World Tour – let you jump into quick duels, run a knockout bracket, or trek a season‑long globe‑hopping quest. Unlockable extras accessed with the secret Zeppelin code add an arcade‑style Crazy Tennis with power‑ups and a Dizzy cameo, plus a Huge Tour that simulates men’s, women’s and mixed events.

Even though the AI is light, it can still beat an expert without any difficulty settings, which explains the solid reception – a 90 % score on the Game Gear and 89 % on Genesis.