Smash Court Tennis 3
Score: 85% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Games America, Inc. Developer: BANDAI NAMCO Games America, Inc. Media: UMD/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Sports (Tennis)/ Sports/ Simulation
Graphics & Sound: You may not tune into Wimbeldon each year, so you may not know how many times one of the Williams sisters' names has appeared on the list of champions there. You may never have played tennis, or you may play enough to think that nothing on PSP could spark your interest, compared to time on the real court. Happy to report that Smash Court Tennis 3 provides enough simulation to win over fans of the real game and enough action to please those of us that only hear the "pock" of a good racket hit when we have the volume on our game system turned up. The look and feel of any sports game in important, and tennis is a hard game to show because it doesn't move around. The players move around plenty, but if you pull in too close to them you lose perspective on shot angles. Tennis courts aren't known for dazzling surroundings, and the only variety you get in the actual court is the surface type. All that being said, Smash Court Tennis 3 is presented as well as possible visually and gets the most important thing right, the bodies and faces of the players. Players will appreciate the option to select from a long list of pros and control their favorite player. And dress their favorite player... if you get bored of the standard attire, there is plenty more to unlock from the in-game pro shop. The sound design is excellent, with the distinctive sound of racket-on-ball done to perfection. Players grunt and shout realistically when they connect with the ball and there is plenty of rousing music to keep the adrenaline flowing.
Gameplay: Smash Court Tennis 3 contains a wide array of traditional tennis action and some really interesting interpretations of the classic game. After connecting for the first time and creating a player, there are lots of ways to get into the game. If you have a friend on board via a wireless connection (Ad Hoc), you can launch the multiplayer mode by joining a room they have created, creating a room they can join, or sharing a game via the Game Share feature. The traditional tennis gameplay is accessible this way, and there are also three cool mini-games available through Ad Hoc. You can also play these as single-player games, but why would you if you can find a friend? Galaga Tennis, Pac-Man, and Bomb Tennis are the mini-games. Galaga has you knocking out enemies using the ball and avoiding the tractor beams while trying to direct your shots in such a way as to lure the other player into a tractor beam. And yes, you can get two tennis players if you knock down one held captive in a tractor beam. Pac-Man works similarly except that ghosts will just slow you down and the power pellets serve as a point attack on the opposite player. The Bomb Tennis game involves seeding the other player's side with bombs after you win a point. Each time the ball (which looks like a bomb in this mini-game) goes across the net, it gets charged and closer to exploding. Being the last player to touch the bomb-ball means you get fried and if you try to run away when there are lots of bombs on your side, you'll find yourself in the midst of a chain reaction and fried anyway. These modes aside, there is a damned good tennis game in Smash Court Tennis 3. The fun factor for true players or enthusiasts will come from the spot-on controls and the inclusion of real pros. Those of us less steeped in the discipline of tennis will find the logic behind the controls a bit arcane. Who knew there were so many things you can do with a racket and ball? From a thousand yards, it just looks like a game where you hit the ball as hard as you can... A nice Tutorial Mode helps to iron out the controls and teaches you all the variations in shots and strategy. If building a player appeals to you, there are some nice tools that allow you to customize a player before launching the Pro Tour Mode. In this mode, you'll have games against the pros and move your way through the rankings, hopefully ascending the ladder to win a few prizes. If it's action you prize, the Arcade Mode allows for a stripped-down but equally enjoyable experience for those that just want to play a few sets. Challenge Mode turns training and mini-games into something a bit deeper, with new training levels unlocked each time you succeed in mastering a new skill or answering a challenge laid out by your trainer.
Difficulty: The A.I. in Smash Court Tennis 3 seems subtle, on the verge of being too easy. As you get cocky, you'll find that the game progressively becomes more difficult and that the real challenge anyway is learning each player's repertoire of moves in order to understand how to win. If winning eludes you, there are various lessons above and beyond the initial Tutorial that you can open and purchase through the Shop. Creating a player helps in many ways to adapt the game to your play style and ability. As you progress through the Pro Tour, you can return to customize your character and supplement skills that might need sharpening. The range of tweaks from a performance standpoint are helpful, including speed, shot control, and mastery of specific shot types. The controls are intuitive and lend themselves to arcade-style play, but there is plenty of finesse under the hood that helps make Smash Court Tennis 3 more than just a simple, arcade tennis game.
Game Mechanics: The mark of a good action or sports game is complexity cloaked in simplicity. Tennis players looking for a simple, one-dimensional experience can play through Smash Court Tennis 3 by hitting any one of the front buttons to serve or volley. Working through Tutorial Mode teaches the more dedicated or curious player that different buttons equate to different shots. The more important concept to master is how each shot has a specific strategic advantage or disadvantage. Sure, I like using powerful shots, but not when they send the ball out of bounds and cause me to lose a round. Tricky shot combinations are a key piece to winning and learning how to return different shots is also key. Smash Court Tennis 3 gives you some prompting when there are opportunities to stuff the ball down the opposite player's throat. Apart from these signals, you are left to your own judgment in how to volley with players. Learning when to hang back or play close to the net, when to direct shots in one direction or another based on the other player's style, this is all the essence of the game. What makes tennis so simple to watch but so difficult to play and win is the nuance of the shot. Smash Court Tennis 3 features nine shot types and different timing will produce significant variations on the same shot, so there's a fair degree of depth. The realism of the game and nice presentation doesn't change the fact that Smash Court Tennis 3 is a niche title. The three mini-games do a lot to create some crossover opportunities, but buying the game for those features would be like buying a 100-page book only so you could read 10 pages. Tennis fans will really like that their favorite players are available and looking realistic, and creating a player makes for some welcome customization. The areas for improvement include true online play, which would be a blast with the three mini-games. A more aggressive camera during play would also be nice to see, more like a newscast than a static, bird's-eye view. These grips aside, Smash Court Tennis 3 does a fantastic job translating tennis action to the PSP. "Pock!"
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
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