After the dire Tempest clone yesterday – dubbed G-Force – we’ve arrived at our second sports game so far in the Your Sinclair Top 100 (the first being Football Manager), this being Match Point from Sinclair Research Ltd.
Match Point was published in 1984 from Psion Software, the software publishing house behind Horace Goes Skiing, Flight Simulator and Chequered Flag and brought the grass courted game to your cathode ray screen and the only thing missing was the barley water.
Though on initial appearance the first glance of the stickmen, Match Point may appear extremely basic, Steve Kelly’s game does deserve some praise for the graphic animation and look of the game; the crowd moves as the tennis ball bounces around the court and it is does all look rather pleasant.
However I myself found the game not altogether easy to master, the main issue being with returning the ball. When I thought I had the game under the control I’d suddenly find out I really didn’t and Match Point become a full of chore to sit through as the CPU just racked up the points.
Match Point clearly has some qualities to sing about however, there are some underlying grumbles too.
Originally published June 20, 2016. Updated October 25, 2022.
