Virtua Tennis 3 Review

For some reason tennis just translates well to video games. From Super Tennis, Mario Tennis, Wii Sports Tennis and beyond, they are all fun to play. And one of the best has always been SEGA’s Virtua Tennis. Sadly, not much has changed in the series over the years.

VT3 is fun, and for me, that is the most important attribute in a game. The problem with VT3 is that while it’s fun, there isn’t much that sets it apart from the original Virtua Tennis. The biggest change in gameplay is the increase in the game’s realism. Drop shots really drop creating a mad dash to the net and forehand/backhand angles are improved. All this leads to heightened court movement, which really works to strategize each point. The AI can be rough in VT3 so knowing how to work the court to your advantage is a must.

I understand that there isn’t much to tweak in a tennis game; it is pretty basic. But the button layout in VT3 is still the same as in VT1. Serving is the same and there are buttons for topspin, a slice, and lob. Some added english to shots would be nice and serves could use some more precision. Fans looking for a new brand of tennis will not find it here.

The career mode is satisfying; users create a player in a decent editor, then through mini-games level up their skills to climb the world rankings through tournaments. On the way new rackets, outfits, and such are unlocked along with skills challenges. The VT mini-games have always been a blast and still are. They are simple but surprisingly addictive, which in turn makes leveling up your character’s skills addicting as well. Xbox Live supports singles and doubles matches along with the mini-game competitions. There is a lot to do here.


The real treat in the newest VT is the updated graphics. 20 real-life players are featured in VT3 and most of the player models are spot on (I could have used some more curves on Sharapova however). The animations and motion capture are excellent as well. Everything from Roddick’s serve and thundering forehand to Nedal’s sprinting and Federer’s backhand are just like watching them on court. Some of the facial models are kinda scary though. While most of the visuals are focused on the court, the stadiums as a whole look good and the fans get into the action.

The VT series has always had a horrific butt-metal soundtrack (comparable to the insane techno soundtrack throughout the Winning Eleven series) and it makes its lackluster return again in VT3. Aside from the music, the sound effects of rocking a cross-court backhand or busting a slam down someone’s throat works well. We also get some player grunts and moans to bring it all together.

Being a fan of VT since the original, I can say that I had a great time revisiting the series. VT3 is a blast to play and multiplayer matches can get pretty intense. It is unfortunate that VT3 feels like an updated version of its predecessors ported to the current generation platforms. It is worth a purchase for hardcore tennis and VT fans, but should be a fun rental for everyone else.