Having released Virtua Tennis 3 back in 2007 for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, Sumo Digital did a nice job of bringing its top tier tennis game to next-generation consoles. Back again for Virtua Tennis 2009, can the game that debuted on the Dreamcast console prove that it still has what it takes? Let’s see.

Gameplay

The first thing you’ll notice about Virtua Tennis 2009, is the game design is immediately familiar. Very little has changed from the previous version in terms of menu layouts, and aesthetics. The familiarity lends itself to a variety of elements throughout the game, especially in the Career mode, which is where you’ll likely spend most of your time.

One thing the Virtua Tennis series is known for, is the simplicity of its gameplay. This is a no frills game that doesn’t embellish any attributes in order to make the game more accessible to the arcade crowds. The stripped down feel is what made the series great, and Sumo Digital have captured this as well here as any previous version. Unfortunately, they also didn’t really try to improve the game in any meaningful manner.

You’ll notice this mostly in the games World Tour mode, where you’ll be training your pro to become the top seed. You’re still going to be honing your skills by competing in various activities which range from knocking large Curling stone’s into targeted areas, to feeding penguins a tasty fish. Yes, there are new training mini games, and the tennis academy is still available to help you gain experience, but the additions here are purely cosmetic when it comes down to it.

Leveling up is handled differently this time around, in that filling the experience bar in the areas that you’re working on, (groundstroke, backhand, etc.), opens up a new play style. Each play style is effective, but unfortunately, just doesn’t feel right, as your players in previous versions, you felt the improvements in all areas, not just the ones that the play style seems to dictate. It just doesn’t feel like an all-around solid system, though the idea is respectable, the execution just seems off.

The actual tennis is very similar to what Virtua Tennis 3 has to offer, which means if you’ve played it, you’ll know exactly what to expect. You’ve essentially got three types of shots(slice, lob, top spin), and  use the analog stick to control the aim. Simple enough, though timing your shots to take advantage of each is where the strategy comes in. It’s here that the lack of change really hurts, however, as there just isn’t anything here to keep the game from becoming monotonous. Of course, this is a tennis game, so most will know what to expect, but if you’re thinking on picking the game up for the first time, be warned the repetitive nature will hit you pretty quickly.

There are very minor changes, but the most notable one is that players will no longer dive for the ball in a ridiculous manner like they did in VT3, which often cost players a point. This time around, positioning is more important, but there seems to be a tendency for the game to compensate for you, and it really takes a lot of the challenge out of the game. The AI just doesn’t seem to provide much of a challenge, even if you’re not the greatest at aiming shots on baselines, or dropping shots within their reach, the AI players just don’t seem to try all that hard. Considering the talented players included in the game, I’m certain many of them would object to the poor level of skill they seem to display here.

The online is as solid as ever, and jumping into a match is a simple affair. The added bonus is that you can actually improve your created players ranking by taking them online and competing. The one hitch to the online is that there is some lag issues. At first, I thought it might have been my connection, but after playing several matches with folks in my area, and abroad, nearly everyone complained that they had encountered the same problems.

Graphics & Sound

Virtua Tennis 2009 sports a much better look than the previous version. The players look fairly well detailed, and the environments are fantastically rendered. Animations look smoother this year, and while there are some minor framerate issues, this is still the best looking tennis game out there.

Unforunately, the audio is just isn’t up to snuff. It’s the same type of generic music and sound effects that have been used since the series debuted. This is really something that needs to be addressed next year. Add some commentary, voice-acting, licensed music. Anything, just to liven up the game a bit.

Value

There’s around 10 hours of gameplay if you play through the single player. However, monotony will set in around five. Online should offer some relief from the braindead AI, but if you aren’t planning on taking this online, there just isn’t enough to recommend a purchase.

Conclusion 

Virtua Tennis really needs to start justifying its existence at this point. It’s more of the same with some minor additions, and is only recommendable if you missed the previous games. With other tennis games competing for the top spot, Virtua can’t be complacent for one more game. Evolution is a must.