Virtua Tennis: You Can't Have More Fun With a Racquet and Balls

Overall: 9
Gameplay: 9
Graphics: 9
Sound: 9
Replay Value: 8
Concept: 8

When we think of the greatest video games of all time, we invariably go back to the classics. Games like Pac-Man, Galaga, Arkanoid, and Tetris recall fond memories for almost any gamer. All of these great classic games have something in common, too: simplicity. Many of the games we love tend to be the types of games that are simple to learn and play but hard to master.

Sega's Virtua Tennis on the Dreamcast follows in those footsteps. But this isn't just a modern version of Pong; Virtua Tennis takes a classic game with simple controls and adds just the right amount of topspin to create the perfect game. Even if you're not a fan of tennis (like me) or sports games in general (like me) you'll come out loving - and sometimes cursing - this game (like me).

History of Tennis 101

There's not much to say about tennis. It's an old game that rich white guys used to play. Today more people play it, and the top players tend to get rich from it. Honestly, I think tennis is pretty boring, and I think sponsors know this, which is why you have tennis stars that either throw their racquets around in a hissy fit or get weekly offers to pose for Playboy. That about sums up the game of tennis in the real world, but Sega has taken this sport and made a highly addictive vide game out of it.

Feels Good in the Hand

The real draw of VT is the ease of gameplay. Controls are simple, and only two buttons are generally needed, one for a regular shot and one for a lob. There are also buttons for changing camera angles and for specifying general strategies in doubles matches. The d-pad or analog stick control both your player's movement and how they hit the ball.

This seems tricky at first but it becomes second nature quickly. For example, if the ball is moving to the right side of the court and you want to return it far into the left side of your opponent's court, you push the stick right to position yourself, then before you hit the ball you press and hold the shot button and press the stick in the direction you want the ball to go (up and left). When you let go of the button, your player strikes. This all happens in a split second, and the controls are super-responsive. There is no frustration of pressing a button or moving the control stick and not seeing the player respond on the screen.

Set 1, Match 1

There are three modes of gameplay in VT. The first is the arcade mode, aptly named as it was ripped straight out of the very impressive arcade machine. Arcade mode puts you in a series of singles or doubles matches against progressively tougher opponents, with the goal of beating them all. Think of your average fighting game, without all the blood. To warm yourself up, you can also play in the exhibition mode, which is a pick-up match with whatever rules you choose, singles or doubles, 1 to 4 players.

The Quest for #1

The meat of the game lies in the World Circuit mode, however. Here, you enter training sessions and matches (singles and doubles) in an effort to work your way up to #1 in the world. Of course, making some money on the side is a nice bonus. This is where you unlock most of the game's extras and where you may find yourself throwing your Dreamcast controller at the TV in exasperation.

The WC consists of four general areas you can enter. Of course there are singles and doubles matches, along with training events and a few shops scattered around the world. When you begin, one of each area is available, so you can either warm up a bit with training or jump right into a match.

The training events are interesting mini-games that can really help improve your play. They're an excellent way to learn the basics of the game, they're fun, and they even give you some much needed cash for the shops. Some of the games are a bit odd, but they do help you practice the basics; one event is 'tennis bowling' where you have to serve to knock down bowling pins. In another, several ball machines are firing at you and you need to return the balls to hit the machines and turn them all off. Each training event has three levels of difficulty, and on the third level some of them are extremely hard.

The shops are where you can buy items to re-energize your player or buy extras for use in the other game modes. You can buy new strings or an energy drink to keep your player's ability up between matches. You can also buy new outfits for your player, and, for a price, unlock new arenas and players to use in Arcade and Exhibition modes. Also, one of the most important purchases can be made in the shops: your doubles partner. Of course, better partners are more expensive.

The matches are where most of the action is. Obviously, you need a doubles partner to enter a doubles match. This is where you earn the majority of your cash, and you can earn bonus money by using certain techniques. Each match will have a certain shot you need to defeat your opponent with; for example, if the shot is a lob, you need to lob the ball over your opponent's head for a point. The more you use this shot to earn points, the more bonus money you get. There are several levels of difficulty in these matches, and the hard matches are hard.

It's a Beautiful Day at the Court

Graphics are one of the strong points of the game. Not necessarily because they look great (which they do), but because they fit so well with the game. You really feel like you're watching a tournament on TV. The graphics may not jump out and grab you, but they're just so good that you don't even notice it, because they don't have to be flashy. The sounds are great, with terrain appropriate sounds (shoes chirping on paved courts, the ball thumping on grass) and nice grunts from the players.

Your Fantasies Dashed Like So Many Damned Ships Against the Rocky Shores of Fate

Probably the most common complaint about Virtua Tennis is that there are no female players. All of the players are male, so unfortunately you can't play the sport's pinup girl Anna Kournikova. Other than that, there really aren't many gripes aside from the difficulty at higher levels; it really takes some time to master the game and beat the computer on the toughest difficulties.

Grab a Friend and Your Balls. Grab Their Balls Too!

Sports games, like fighting games, are really meant to played with other people. This is where you'll keep coming back to VT. Because there are no complicated controls to learn, anyone can dive in and start playing right away. If you haven't plyed in a while it'll only take minuites to get back up to speed. Up to four players can play at once, and Virtua Tennis becomes a real party game. The multiplayer aspect will keep you coming back again and again.

Overall, Virtua Tennis is one of the best games for the Dreamcast. Really, I'm not joking here. Not only does it showcase what the system can do graphically, but it's just so simple to learn and really fun. Grab a few friends and you've got an all-night challenge. And, at a price between $5-$10, you can't get much better.