Summary
- Release Year: 1999
- Genres: Sport
- Platforms: Arcade, Dreamcast, N-Gage, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Hitmaker, Sega AM3
- Publishers: Activision Value, Empire Interactive Entertainment, Sega Enterprises, Ltd., Sega Europe, Sega of America
Virtua Tennis (1999): A Tennis Masterpiece
Virtua Tennis is a tennis video game developed by Sega AM2 and published by Sega for the Dreamcast in 1999. It was the first tennis game to use 3D graphics and motion capture, and it quickly became one of the most popular and critically acclaimed sports games of all time.
Gameplay
Virtua Tennis is a realistic tennis game that allows players to control one of eight licensed players, including Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Monica Seles. Players can compete in a variety of modes, including arcade mode, exhibition mode, and world circuit mode.
In arcade mode, players compete in a series of matches against increasingly difficult opponents. In exhibition mode, players can play against a friend or the computer in a single match. In world circuit mode, players create a custom character and compete in a series of tournaments around the world.
Virtua Tennis features a variety of gameplay options that allow players to customize their experience. Players can choose from a variety of court surfaces, including clay, grass, and hard court. They can also choose from a variety of camera angles, including behind the player, beside the player, and overhead.
Virtua Tennis also features a robust create-a-player mode. Players can customize their character’s appearance, clothing, and playing style. They can also choose from a variety of special abilities, such as power shots and topspin shots.
Graphics and Sound
Virtua Tennis was one of the first sports games to use 3D graphics and motion capture. The graphics are still impressive today, and the character models are very realistic. The game also features a variety of detailed environments, including tennis courts, stadiums, and locker rooms.
The sound in Virtua Tennis is also top-notch. The crowd noise is realistic and immersive, and the sound of the ball being hit is very satisfying. The game also features a variety of catchy music tracks that add to the overall atmosphere.
Reception
Virtua Tennis was a critical and commercial success. The game received perfect scores from several major publications, including IGN and GameSpot. It was also a commercial success, selling over 2 million copies worldwide.
Virtua Tennis has been praised for its realistic graphics, fluid gameplay, and a variety of modes. It is considered one of the best tennis games ever made, and it is still enjoyed by many players today.
Legacy
Virtua Tennis has had a lasting impact on the tennis video game genre. The game’s realistic graphics and fluid gameplay set a new standard for tennis games, and many subsequent tennis games have borrowed from Virtua Tennis’s formula.
Virtua Tennis has also been ported to a variety of other platforms, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. The game has also been re-released on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.
Conclusion
Virtua Tennis is a classic tennis game that is still enjoyed by many players today. The game’s realistic graphics, fluid gameplay, and a variety of modes make it one of the best tennis games ever made. If you are a fan of tennis games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Virtua Tennis.
Additional Information
- Virtua Tennis was developed by Sega AM2, the same team that developed the Virtua Fighter series.
- Virtua Tennis was the first tennis game to use motion capture.
- Virtua Tennis was a launch title for the Dreamcast.
- Virtua Tennis has been ported to a variety of other platforms, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC.
- Virtua Tennis has been re-released on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
