PlayStation Portable, £34.99
Sega, ****
Timing is everything in tennis, and that includes the marketing of the sport’s videogames. Release a game around Wimbledon time and you have a chance of serving an ace — any other time and you’re more likely to hit a double fault. Virtua Tennis World Tour, though, is different.
This fantastic game is worthy of attention despite its late summer release, and is the pick of the PSP launch titles. The main reason is the tennis itself. The simple controls mask a depth and subtlety that appears after lengthy play. Like that other great gaming sports series, Pro Evolution Soccer, Virtua Tennis is a game that rewards skill and plays for real. But don’t go thinking this is a po-faced sim. The imaginative and addictive minigames — hitting a tank with your volleys or serving to knock down skittles — are an important part of the action, and fit in with stop/start PSP gaming on the go.
These pick up and play elements tie in nicely with the main career mode that sees you playing tournaments and building your players up to top the rankings. But the key to all of this is the fluid nature of the action, which transfers wonderfully to the PSP.
Wireless multiplayer also works a treat. Yes, initial play can be a little frustrating as you struggle to improve your player’s skills. And the typically Sega-ish synth muzak during matches can be annoying. But these are minor gripes. Virtua Tennis: World Tour is the star of the PSP launch.
