Smash Court Tennis 3 to be served on PSP
Next instalment in popular sports series likely to face strong competition
This could be the Borg vs McEnroe (or, potentially, Federer and Nadal, for younger readers) clash of the video game world, as Namco Bandai's Smash Court Tennis 3 takes on the imminent Virtua Tennis 3 from Sega.
The former isn't expected to make its appearance until the summer, but the nature of game development doesn't automatically mean it has months left to get itself in shape – all of its features and play dynamics will probably have been locked down by now.
So far, we know that players are able to compete as or against 16 pro tennis players, including all conquering Roger Federer and 2006 French Open champions Rafael Nadal and Justine Henin.
As you'd expect from any sports title these days, customisable items such as racquets and sportswear feature prominently (there are twice as many items as the game's previous version), while the characters based on real-life stars have been modelled to perform in convincing fashion.
That doesn't mean you can't teach them a trick or three. Developing and acquiring skills – such as hit speed, serve accuracy or footwork play – make up an important part of the Pro Tour, which sees you entering the globe's various competitions (the courts appear modelled on real venues, although they are not officially licensed) in order to rise to become the world's number one player.
Other modes include quick-thrill Arcade and Exhibition options, as well as a Tutorial mode to get you acquainted with the franchise's traditionally responsive and intuitive game dynamic.
In addition, Namco Bandai is promising a selection of imaginative mini-games, gamesharing for head-to-head fun, and ad hoc support for full-on competitive play.
On paper, everything looks promising, then. But on paper Borg should have eased to his fifth Wimbledon victory when he met a young McEnroe for that classic confrontation back in 1980 – and things didn't quite go according to plan.
Smash Court Tennis 3 will inevitably have to face up to Virtua Tennis 3 (and its predecessor, too: 2005's highly regarded Virtua Tennis World Tour), and we'll know how difficult that match is likely to prove when we get our hands on Sega's contender later this month. Smash Court Tennis 3 may yet need all the preparation it can manage between now and release.
