SEGA SPORTS CLASSIC! (Virtua Tennis (DC))

Name: D1A1

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Product:	Virtua Tennis (DC)
Date:	24/09/00 (202 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quite simply the best game ever created for sports fans. An instant classic, this is a better than perfect arcade conversion! Well done Sega!

Disadvantages: no women players, let's hope there are in the sequel

Virtua Tennis has to be the greatest ever Tennis game and is now in my eyes the undisputed world champion Sports game the world has ever seen. Created by Sega, this has to be the game that will win over playstation and N64 owners and convert them to Dreamcast. The graphics are outstanding with incredibly detail and accuracy to the players' expressions and reactions.

There are 8 players to start with (all 8 are real players!) with 8 more to unlock, but unfortunately there are no women players in the game. It's so easy to pick up and play thanks to a simple but brilliant control system. If you want to play a good game this summer - don't get Virtua Tennis - if you want to play one of the finest game's ever created, then do. Ace.

There is an exhibition mode where you can control all the settings - this is basically a one off match (as it doesn't unlock or count towards anything) and you can select 1,2,3,4,5,6 games or have a set with a tiebreak. There are no 'full matches', which is fine as a 5 set match would take ages and would definitely bore you.
Arcade mode sees you play through 5 matches, each one more difficult than the last, with the aim to become the champion! You also get a certain amount of money which is based on your performance in each level (1-5) If you do beat all these 5 matches on the default setting then you get the chance to play against Master or King (depending on whether you are playing singles or doubles). If you beat them, then you get them. It really is as simple as that.

The World circuit mode is without doubt the most challenging. You must select a player of your choice and, starting at a very low ranking, progress through various training modes and trial matches which, when completed, unlock new features and up your world ranking. The training modes are particularly well thought up (they are not unlike the crazy box modes in Crazy Taxi) as they really are quite fun and add a l
ot of replay value to the game.

You can select from the following players:

Tim Henman! You have to give Tim a chance as he is Britain's best, and is also a very good player. In the game all of his qualities are true to life in some way, and although he looks like a drunken zombie in the game, he is the best player at volley shots just like in real life.

Jim Courier! Personally I think Jim is the worst player to choose, simply because he isn't particularly brilliant in any aspect, he is however a good all round player who has proven very difficult to beat in the world ranking mode! The in game virtual Jim courier (dressed in orange?!) doesn't look much like the real Courier because Sega somehow managed to forget his eyes!

Cedric Pioline (France). Pioline is a very powerful player with a strong forehand and stroking shots, however, he isn't the best player in the game and is rarely ever used by myself, or my friends. Pioline is one of the toughest computer opponents, and is very annoying at times - he always wins!

Mark Philippoussis (Australia). Now, this may not be spelled correctly, but Mark is one of the best in game players. he has an incredibly powerful serve, is also very quick and has an amazing smash technique. Philippoussis isn't the best player in the game, but he is one of the most popular.

Tommy Haas! Germany's representative is the Forehand master Tommy Haas; he really does have the fastest forehand shot in the game, and is very athletic. Although Haas would seem an obvious favourite to choose, he is bettered by the likes of Moya and Philippoussis.

Carlos Moya - from Spain is the best player in the game (joint with Kafelnikov) as he is a very strong all rounder and is very fast as well. Moya's backhand and forehand are both brilliant and he has the ability to smash the ball as hard as any one. I am nearly always Moya when I do play, because he is one of the best. r><br>
Yevgeny Kafelnikov is the joint best player in the game, and as I'm sure you are aware, he's the current Olympic world champion at Tennis and will be for the next 4 years! The virtual Kafelnikov is a very accurate representation of the actual Russian superstar although he looks about 40! (He is only 25.) Yevgeny's strongest points in the game are his incredible serve, and his powerful backhand.

The other player is the speedy Swede Thomas Johansson. He's by far the quickest player in the game, but lacks a lot of shot power. Easy to beat in the world circuit mode, but if you select him his speed will be to your up most advantage.

There are also 8 other made up players to unlock when you complete various sections in the game. Also, there are an extra 2 characters on top of this in 'King' and 'Master' which can be unlocked from the arcade mode (singles to get master, doubles to get King.)

The game really does have to be seen and played - to be believed because the slickness and smoothness are quite outstanding. It will last you for ages as the multiplayer option alone is enough to warrant a purchase; Virtua Tennis is easily the most advanced and exciting multiplayer sports title in the history of gaming - it'll take one hell of a good game to beat it. Virtua Tennis is available from many shops and I cannot say anything more to you than - GET VIRTUA TENNIS!