Virtua Tennis 4

Tennis games aren’t a regular addition to the gaming world. Although there are quite a few of them, a new game typically only appears once every couple of years. Virtua Tennis 4 is one of those offerings, and it has finally, refreshingly, offered some real change to the sport.

Great controls

The controls in Virtua Tennis 4 feel a lot more controlled compared to other similar tennis games such as Virtua Tennis: World Tour. Playing the game feels realistic, with a good hit feeling very controlled, and movement to run back and forth highly intuitive. Great controls really can’t be underestimated in a game, and Virtua Tennis 4 did a great job with tight, easy to understand controls.

Challenging but realistic

Another positive feature of this game is the progression of the game. Each new player you face against feels unique, and you won’t be able to skate through with the same technique over and over again. Instead, you’ll need new strategies to defeat new opponents.

This is great on its own, but it’s also how manageable the levels are that make it fun. It’s not an impossible leap from an ordinary level to a super difficult one, but each level adds a small increase to the difficulty you will face. It feels like what you would expect moving from an amateur league to a more intermediate one, and adds a lot to the realism of the game.

Interesting game modes

Most of the game will be spent playing “World Tour” mode. In it, you’ll play a character you customize yourself as they play a series of four matches. In order to be able to compete in the match you must not only arrive on time (a challenge in itself) but become famous enough to be allowed to play in it.

You gather fame through a kind of mini-board game that pushes you along the right track. While there’s some wiggle room, mostly your progress is random. Every time you move down the path, where you land will decide if you’re going to play a mini game, do a charity event, or play a match. All of these things can add to your fame, which you need in order to attend the important matches.

Significant replay value

Once you finish the game, you can restart from the beginning—but keep your money and skills. This lets you try to ascend the levels and get even more famous. There’s always room for growth, so you can keep on playing to try and ascend to the highest levels of the game.

Pros:

• Tight controls
• Realistic gameplay
• Plenty of replay value

Cons:

• Mildly annoying music