Tennis games are such a video game staple that it's hard to imagine a console that didn't have at least one game based on the sport.  Until now, Sega's Dreamcast has been one of the few consoles without.  With the recent release of Virtua Tennis, it now has one of the most entertaining and accessible tennis games ever. 

The first thing gamers will notice about Virtua Tennis is the breathtaking graphics.  The character models and the courts all look excellent. The court surface looks impeccable, with worn spots on grass surfaces and scuffs on hard courts or clay.  Details like small clouds of clay that are kicked up as your player moves only add to the game's realistic look and the animation is top notch. In a nutshell, everything is so detailed and moves so convincingly that, at a glance, you might not be able to tell that this is a video game.  

Pretty graphics aside, Virtua Tennis also offers an excellent, although somewhat arcade-like, rendition of tennis.  Forget the finger-bending inputs required by the SNES's classic Super Tennis.  In Virtua Tennis you've got two buttons to contend with.  While conventional wisdom might say such a system would be excessively limiting, the level of control you have is a welcome surprise.  The length of your button press determines shot power, while you aim with your control pad.  Thus, if you're controlling the action or anticipating your opponent's shots well, you can keep blasting the ball at them, dictating the pace of the match.  If your opponent sends you running around the court, however, the power of your shots is going to suffer.  Positioning plays a significant role in the gameplay and, while the game is forgiving enough that you can hit a shot that's a fair distance from your player, such shots are far less likely to go where you want them to, all too often floating like a lame duck into your opponent's waiting racquet.  The only real problem is that it can be a bit difficult to judge when a lob can be smashed, and lobs are also a real problem to chase down if you're at the net. 

On the surface, watching a game of Virtua Tennis might look like a real tennis match, but look closer and you'll find the video game version to be fairly different.  But that's a good thing.  Watching men's tennis today, you'll see a heavy emphasis on power service and aces.  In Virtua Tennis, the ace is basically non-existent and the emphasis has been shifted to nearly unreal amounts of rallying.  Errors are a rarity in Virtua Tennis, which makes the strategy of shot placement a much larger concern because you need to beat your opponent straight out.  The AI never seems to get cheap but as it gets harder you've got to keep thinking ahead, keeping tabs on your opponent's position as well as your shot placement and power.  Doubles play adds some more difficulty, as you've also got to be aware of your partner, who generally plays smart tennis, but will occasionally slip into boneheaded-ness.   

The two main modes in Virtua Tennis are the arcade mode and world circuit mode.  Arcade mode is essentially the same game you'll play at your local arcade. On its own, it might not have been enough to entertain the home player, but world circuit mode helps give the game more longevity.  The world circuit mode lets you serve your way up the world rankings and through increasingly difficult tennis matches.  Several training challenges are also included, including a bowling mode much like the one found in Crazy Taxi's Crazy Box mode.  Most of the training games are entertaining, although beating that next level often means a lot of frustration while you hone your skills.  Your reward for success in world circuit mode is money that you can use to contract a new doubles partner or buy new options, such as new stadium choices for exhibition mode and new outfits. You can also use the money to unlock the game's eight unlicensed players as selectable characters.  

One of the problems with world circuit mode is that there is no real set play, except in the mode's late stages.  Even then, matches are limited to a single set.  For an arcade game, it's not a big deal, but some people will surely want to play a three-set or five-set match. Even in the exhibition mode, which allows players to create a custom match, a single set is the limit. 

The Virtua Tennis boys club will disappoint people looking for women’s tour players.  The eight licensed tennis players are all competitive, but not top talent like Andre Agassi or Pete Sampras.  Standouts include Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Cedric Pioline and a past-his-prime Jim Courier.  All eight players have proven themselves in the tennis world, and several are the top players from their respective countries.   

Sound effects are generally well done - players' grunts, the bouncing ball and the crowds' “oohs” and “ahhs” are all highlights.  The racquets sound fine when they make contact with the ball, but given the game's TV-like presentation, a less stringy sound closer to TV tennis may have been a better choice.  In a word the game's music, poppy and guitar-driven, is bland.  At least it's not obtrusive or annoying.

Virtua Tennis is a lot of fun although it's not a completely realistic rendition of the sport. The game magnifies various elements of the sport, such as long rallies, to make an exciting and entertaining gameplay experience.  With support for up to four players, this is a guaranteed blast if you've got a few friends and a few extra controllers.  While most consoles get their tennis game sooner or later, rarely is that game of the same caliber as Virtua Tennis, possibly the most memorable tennis videogame this side of Pong.

The game is addictive enough that it might last a long time without the world circuit mode. With that mode intact, as well as the prospect of four-player matches, the game's lifespan is stretched significantly.