Hardcore Paddles Table Tennis

Pure, unadulterated gameplay, unfettered by gimmicks or flashy unneeded presentation; that's what Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis offers. Perhaps more than any other game this or last generation, Table Tennis is focused on a single goal; bringing heart-pounding, lightning quick competition to life, and they succeeded on every level. The delivery vehicle they chose just happens to be Table Tennis.

Serene Carmen prepares to finish her opponent.

In a word, Table Tennis, is "pure", and for hardcore gamers, no other adjective should offer more joy. If gaming is what you do and competition is what you crave, you need look no further for your next addiction. Accept no substitutes.

Of course, the hardcore mentality must be brought to bear on this budget title gem, but with gameplay so spot on, it's difficult to quantify how best to create the ultimate Table Tennis challenge. Difficult, but not impossible; try the following tips on for size to really prove your ping pong worth.

Brain Not Brawn
Those that strike gold with the power hitters leave the subtleties of the game behind. It's easy to overwhelm the rookie players with violent shots that scorch across the table, but try the finesse game to prove that it's your skill, not your player's stats that win the day. Need a challenge? Take on equal-skilled players with spin-meisters like Kumi and Juergen, or even an all around player like Luc or Carmen.

Focus Less
The momentum of a point can swing on a single focus shot, but try waiting until the meter is full, and then activate "full focus" mode with the right trigger. Utilize this technique instead of taking individual chunks out of your power meter for a better flow and a bigger challenge. Also, make sure to deactivate the "auto activate full focus" option. That way, you'll be solely responsible for when and how it's used.

Cloth physics and soft shadows in full effect.

Dual Analog
If it's good enough for the hardcore gamer's favorite genre, it's good enough for Table Tennis. Get your grubby mitts off the face buttons and use the more elegant dual analog setup. Not only is it more difficult, a fact the hardcore gamer should embrace, but it actually offers a greater deal of control over the spin you put on the ball.

Leaderboard Prowess
Because of the simplicity of Table Tennis, you can't argue with a win or a loss. If you won, great, and if you lost, it was because the player opposite you bested you fair and square. For just that reason, the Leaderboards in Table Tennis might be the most legitimate of any online game on Xbox Live® and as such, provide the most legitimate opportunity to climb their ranks and make your mark among the Table Tennis elite.

Clearly, it's no easy task, but the ultimate proof is in the Leaderboard pudding, and if you want true hardcore marks, make it your mission to crack the top 100. In fact, you'll earn a 100 point achievement called G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) if you can crack the top spot on any Leaderboard.

The look of a man who takes his work too seriously.

Cheap Shots
When seeing Table Tennis demoed by the folks at Rockstar a couple of months ago, they mentioned that table tennis pros will actually apologize if a shot taps the net and scuttles down or shaves the edge of the table for a cheap point. That's what I like to hear! No satisfaction can be gained by such antics, and while you can't expect to keep a spotless record, do us all a favor and shy away from attempting such points on purpose.

Achievements
Minus the aforementioned G.O.A.T. achievement, every other achievement in Table Tennis is attainable through little more than hard work, quality skill, and dedication. Therefore, there can be no excuses for not unlocking every costume, character and setting. There's no reason to not net at least a ten game winning streak online, skunk the occasional opponent, and take first prize in each and every offline tournament.

Article by Hardcore