Fast forward to the present day. Dreamcast, the console where Virtua Tennis first appeared, is no more. Sega has gone third-party and there are more major consoles on the market than ever before.

Given the number of changes, what can Sega do with their revered franchise? Which console(s) should they choose, and how do you bring the series into a new generation? 

For the PSP version of Virtua Tennis 3, the developers looked to Sega’s other success stories for inspiration. Super Monkey Ball won the hearts of thousands of GameCube owners by adding several fun, over-the-top mini-games whose entertainment value was not easily diminished. Monkey Billiards sounded crazy. But once given a chance, few could resist its addictive lure.

That silly, reality-doesn’t-matter attitude is what separates video games from other forms of entertainment and is what ultimately gives Virtua Tennis 3 its competitive edge. 

Tour Time

If a sports game doesn’t have the standard single- or multi-year season, chances are it has a World Tour mode. That’s the case with Virtua Tennis 3, whose World Tour mode is spaced over the course of 20 years. Game time flies quickly – one week is lost for every competition or training activity you enter. Most training games last no more than a minute.

The game starts off without any accessible competitions, leaving mini-games as your only option. That’s a good thing though, and you’ll know why in the next section. Only a few mini-games will need to be played before the first tournament arrives.

This portion of the game is very classic, but it’s not a rehash. Virtua Tennis 3 is more dynamic and immersive than its predecessors. The rules haven’t changed – you still have to hit the ball over the net. However, this is the first time that a tennis game has been done right on a handheld. There have been other good releases, but not like this. Virtua Tennis 3 embodies the very essence of what a PSP game is supposed to be – equal to the experience found on PSone and PlayStation 2. 

Mini, All Over The World

In the old days, the thought of a training mini-game made me sick. (I still have nightmares about the button-mash nonsense of Ready 2 Rumble.) Training games have gotten better in recent years, and have now reached a new high with Virtua Tennis 3. During the World Tour quest, players can access locations like Bulls Eye, Pin Crusher, Drum Topple, and Avalanche. Each location represents a different mini-game.

In Bulls Eye, you’re asked to hit the ball toward the center of a target. The closer you get to the center, the higher score you’ll receive. Pin Crusher is the series’ answer to bowling. Drum Topple stacks several oil drums together for a game of power strokes. Oil drums come in two flavors: red and gray. Knock down all of the red drums to win. Avalanche is a training game that sounds like it came from a tennis player’s worst nightmare. As enormous, human-sized tennis balls roll down a hill, players must avoid the assault while collecting stray pieces of fruit. (Perhaps inspired by a certain underwear manufacturer?)

Complete these and other training games to increase your level. Character growth has two effects: (1) improved playing skills and (2) new training dimensions. A new challenge is added to each unlocked training game every time you level up.

Whether playing a game of Alien Attack or facing off against a lethal opponent, Virtua Tennis 3’s graphics are notable for their stunning animation work. These athletes will run, spin, lean, and stumble while trying to return the ball. Their stance and reaction animations are effected by their position on the court in relation to where the ball is coming from. If a player has to change directions while running, he or she will fight to do so. It’s not an instantaneous transition. Like real athletes, these characters build momentum while running. To change direction, they have to stop, turn around, and start all over. It’s these and other subtle elements that give Virtua Tennis 3 a competitive edge in PSP sports games. 

Though Virtua Tennis 3 is a great game in most respects, it does have a couple of problems. Opponent AI is not always what it should be. Rather than winning with great skills and through perseverance, there were times when it felt like dumb luck. I prefer my wins to be a little less sporadic than that. Also, there were times when the game had a slight freeze just before my opponent returned the ball. This made no sense whatsoever and is an unfortunate distraction that shouldn’t have been.

Gameplay: 8.2
Stellar controls (analog or D-pad) and excellent competitions among virtual versions of real-life tennis players. The sport is presented very realistically, but not so much that it can’t produce a little fantasy. Within this content and between tennis matches you will bowl, play a game of curling, destroy robotic aliens, and participate in a puzzling oil drum game – all using your tennis ball and racket.

Graphics: 7.5
Virtua Tennis 3’s characters won’t score any awards for detail, but their animations are top-of-the-line. Very consistent and realistic.

Sound: 6
Nothing standout. I like the sound effects (balls hitting the court, etc.), but they get old after a couple hours. Meanwhile, the music is nowhere near the quality of what’s found in other top-tier sports games.

Difficulty: Medium
Easy to learn, difficult to master.

Concept: 7.6
Virtua Tennis’s core mechanics play like the Dreamcast original. The new mini-games, however, are inventive, exciting, and insanely fun.

Multiplayer: 7
Singles and doubles matches are available for up to four players. But you’ll need four PSPs and four Virtua Tennis 3 UMDs to enjoy this option.

Overall: 8
The best tennis game for PSP, Virtua Tennis 3 is a content-filled, mini-game-infused joyride that anyone can love. You don’t have to play the real sport, or even like the real sport, to be amused by what this game has to offer. Its mini-game collection is a great way to kill time whenever time needs to be assassinated (at home, on the bus, during a boring business meeting, etc.). Just don’t let your boss catch you with it.