Super Dyna'mix Badminton

Super Dyna'mix Badminton (スーパーダイナミックス バトミントン) is a game based on the sport of badminton, developed by Pax Softonica for the Famicom, and published by Vap in 1988. It may be the only video game based on badminton that was ever developed for home consoles.

The game is presented from the side, a view more commonly associated with volleyball video games than tennis video games, the latter favoring a viewpoint from behind one of the competitors. This comparison is also true for the sport of badminton itself, which has a similar focus on performing hard-to-counter spike attacks close to the net in order to score points. Because of the irregular flight path of a shuttlecock, the player needs to focus more on its shadow than the projectile itself in order to play effectively.

Though the game has options for both male and female characters every character sprite is the same androgynous black-haired person. The only real change is that games are shorter for female competitors as they would be in real life. The game also allows for four different "coats" on the main menu. This is presumed to be a mistranslation of the word "courts" since these change the venue the competitors are playing in.

Controls

 * : Use the direction pad to move your player around, and position them for a return.
 * : Press the A button to swing at the shuttlecock. If you are lined up correctly you will hit it. Depending on your timing the return will be good or bad, and you can also adjust it by pressing the direction pad. The style of play is automatically determined for you, such as lift or drive, depending on the height of the shuttlecock and your timing.
 * : Press the B button to jump. This is used for smashing the shuttlecock at the net, but less useful for blocking since blocking the shuttle rarely bumps it over the net. To smash, you can either press B to jump, then let go and very quickly follow it up with A. Practice is required to perfect this technique. Alternatively, you can simply press B first and your opponent will most likely do an air hit, or a lift, but then follow it up by adding the A button. Keeping both pressed makes it easier to perform the smash.

Getting started
The first screen has four options which determine the venue that you will play in. "Coat" is believed to be a mistranslation of "Court". Courts are simply a visual option, and have no impact on gameplay.
 * Coat 1: In-door Tournament Red
 * Coat 2: In-door Tournament Blue
 * Coat 3: Outdoors Blue Sky
 * Coat 4: Putdoors Sunset

Then you choose the style of play. Use to confirm each choice. The three modes are:
 * 1P Singles Game for playing against the CPU
 * 2P Singles Game for playing against a human opponent
 * 2P Doules Game for playing a Doubles match with a human player against the CPU

Then you must choose a gender. Oddly, boys and girls look like the same exact character on the court and they play identically as well. The difference is that the Girl match plays to 11 points per game, and the Boys plays to 15.

After you start a new game, you will begin the first match. You can continue from a previously played game by inputting a password.

The final option is picking the country you represent. There are six countries to pick from: Like gender, the country you choose does not alter your player's skills in any way. Each one plays the same in every match, game and serve.
 * Japan
 * Canada
 * USA
 * UK
 * S. Korea
 * USSR (Soviet Union)

Rule
(Note that the real badminton rules are different, and often change over time. These rules apply for this game only.)

The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are almost always marked for both singles and doubles play. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but the doubles service court is shorter than the singles service court.

Each game is played up to 15 points for Boys and 11 points for Girls. A player wins a point when they serve, and win the right to serve if they were receiving. A match is the best of three games.

The server stands in his right service court when his score is even, and in his left service court when his score is odd.

If the score reaches 15-all for Boys or 10-all for Girls, then the game continues until one side gains a two point lead (e.g. 17-15 or 12-10).

Players win a rally by striking the shuttlecock onto the floor within the boundaries of their opponents' court. Players also win a rally if their opponents commit a fault by smashing into the net, out of the boundaries or on their own side. During the serve the shuttle can only be played into the square diagonally across.

Playing tips

 * Smashing the shuttlecock is the easiest way to get points. The opponent will hardly be able to return them. Learning how to smash increases your chances of winning. Smashing from too far back won't help, but it's a better return than a normal hit which is easily returned by the opponent.
 * Position is very important. Watch the shadow of the shuttlecock as it approaches and move to it quickly. Practice placing your player where you believe the shadow will slow down.
 * Give the shuttle some direction in order to keep your opponent on his or her toes. Send the shuttle to the opposite side of the opponent's court in order to keep them moving.
 * During serve, stay closer to the net. The serve is often weak and you will have to run farther if you are standing towards the back of the court.
 * Serve short for a generally weak return from the CPU.
 * You will increase your chances of scoring if you keep the volleys short. Take risks to shut your opponent down instead of giving them easy opportunities to keep the round going too long.
 * When playing a two player game, coordinate as you would in real-life and do not dash for each shuttle blindly.