Highlights include an all-star cast of 23 pro tennis players-from legends such as John McEnroe, Boris Becker, and Bjorn Borg to current stars such as Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Roddick. All are created in that amusing Wii-trademark caricature look that's cute but also accurate enough that players are identifiable. And each plays with strengths and skills reflecting their real-life counterpart-Roddick has a cannon serve, McEnroe's plays big at the net, Nadal smacks topspin forehands.

Combining the players in interesting or unlikely matches is a blast, like pitting Roger Federer against Martina Navratilova, or reincarnating the great matches of yesteryear between McEnroe and Borg.

You can also customize your own alter-ego, from appearance to playing style, and enter the competitions as yourself. Work on your game in the practice mode, then try some single matches. Or go straight into tournaments, rise up the rankings, earn extra skills and boost strengths, then compete in the Grand Slam events.

What's nice about Grand Slam Tennis is that all the Grand Slam venues are represented and accurately rendered-the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. They even play with characteristics of the real thing: The grass courts at Wimbleton are a bit slippery, the clay courts at Roland Garros slower and less predictable than the hard courts at the U.S. and Australian opens.

Getting the swing of the game takes a little getting used to but the learning curve isn't steep. Grand Slam Tennis is one of the first games made for the new Wii MotionPlus accessory (sold separately for $20) that adds lots of precision in sensing motion and hand-wrist movements as you swing the "racket." You can play Grand Slam using just the regular controller, but the MotionPlus add-on makes an impressive difference.

Besides being a fun and entertaining game, Grand Slam Tennis can actually teach beginners the basics of real tennis-how to hit top-spin shots, slice the ball, volley at the net, hit lobs and drop shots, etc. And the general rules, principles, even some of the etiquette of the game (players shake hands after matches, default to judges calls, etc.) is true to form. Not your ordinary videogame. Tennis is fun-even onscreen.