LOS ANGELES--Along with Soccer Fury, NCSoft's upcoming online arcade tennis game Smash Star is the publisher's first foray into the sports gaming genre. We had a chance to check out this cutesy tennis game directly from the NCSoft booth today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo and, though we weren't filled in on much of the control details, one thing's for sure--this games looks pretty much unlike another other tennis game we've seen in recent memory.

　　The most important obvious feature of the game was its cartoon look, with elaborately dressed players that looked like something out of your favorite gothic manga book, and whimsical anime-inspired music that actually fit the game's visuals to a T. We watched as characters with names such as Tess, Martina, Danny, and Dorothy ran around a variety of different court types dressed in a variety of different costumes ranging in influence from formal Victorian wear to cute little batwing shoulder accessories, which added plenty of life and color to the overall demo.

　　Along with the variety in the characters, game producers told us that there will be a similar assortment of court surfaces to play on--from traditional grass courts, to pirate ships, and oversized clock faces. As players progress through the game they'll earn new gear, new clothes to accessorize their player with, and even new rackets to use--which producers told us will definitely have an effect on how you strike the ball. In addition to traditional racquets, we saw characters wielding baseball bats and even a frying pan in order to continue their rallies. The biggest question that remains, of course, is how this PC-only game will control.

　　With plenty of special power-ups, singles and doubles play, loads of accessories to earn, and a competitive ladder to progress your characters through as you play, Smash Stars (currently released in South Korea) will definitely be a unique take on the sometimes-staid racquet-sports genre. According to producers, Smash Star will likely be renamed when it becomes available on US shores, and like other NCSoft arcade titles such as Soccer Fury, Dungeon Runners, and Exteel, it will follow a "free to download and play, pay to unlock new content" price model. We'll be bringing you more information on Smash Star ahead of its 2007 release.