Review: Desktop Table Tennis (Nintendo Switch)

Rating: 7.6
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · June 20, 2019

Desktop Table Tennis

The desk sets the stage for this easy to enjoy ping-pong game! It may be simple to play, but don’t take your eye off the ball! Challenge your friends to a ping-pong match anytime, anywhere. Shake and swing the Joy-Con to really feel like a part of the action.

Pros:

Fun bright cartoon graphics.
406mb download size.
Tutorial (optional) you get one for the game and motion controls.
Controls-motion or face and stick options.
Table tennis gameplay.
Ball and racket speed sliders.
Six modes-knockout competition, tournament, friendly, challenge, mini-game and capsule smash.
Mini game-one go every 3 hours thing, you get to hit a ball against a rolling board and hit one of the numbers to get that many coins.
Points-name of currency and earned in all modes.
Capsule Smash-choose 5 shots or one at a time. Hit a ball at one of the colored capsules and win a random racket.
Challenges-10 groups of 6 and after doing half you unlock the next set. Earn points and rewards.
Racket-change in each mode with each racket having its own stats and rarity level.
Friendly-singles/doubles against local or Ai.
Tournament-set your profile and racket, and then play in a 16 player knockout tournament.
Knockout- play 1v1 matches and win to move on, more like a survival mode.
5 Ai difficulties-very weak, weak, normal, strong and very strong.
11 tables to play on with themes like circuit boards.
Four shot types-cut, flat, side spin, and drive.
Easy to play.

Desktop Table Tennis

Cons:

No touchscreen.
No online play.
Not as fun with controllers.
The slight learning curve with the motion controls.
Mini-game 3 hour wait time seems way too long.
A lot of redundant rackets due to stats or appearance.

Desktop Table Tennis

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
8/10

Sound - 8/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7.6/10

Summary

Desktop Table Tennis is a fun little game that allows you to play handheld with the controllers or the preferred way, with motion controls. As a table tennis game, it has four shot types and plays really well once you get used to the controls. Having many many rackets and tables to unlock give single play especially a reason to play through. Local play is good if limited by choice and any sort of variation. For some unknown reason, the game features a mini-game for bonus points but it has a ridiculous 3 hour cooldown time? Not worth waiting for as you get a very little payoff. A handful of modes mix up the general layout but the core game remains the same with Ai that seems invincible or stupidly easy. For me it is a game you may play every now and then but it’s not the best representation of table tennis.