Virtua Tennis 2

Virtua Tennis 2 arrived in arcades in 2001 as a sequel to Sega AM3's tennis series, whose first installment had won players over mainly through accessible controls and a fast match pace. The second installment built on that foundation, adding more elaborate player animations and an expanded selection of game modes aimed at short, intense matches typical of the arcade environment, where players are used to shorter sessions at a single machine.

The controls stayed true to the series' philosophy - a few buttons for different shot types and simple court movement allowed new players to jump in quickly, while more experienced players could work with timing and ball placement for more strategic rallies. The player roster included fictional and more lighthearted characters with their own playstyles, which, together with the colorful visuals, set the series apart from more realistically toned tennis simulations available on home consoles.

The popularity of the first installment quickly made the series one of the standard representatives of sports games in arcades, and the second installment confirmed that success by expanding the selection of courts and characters. The accessibility of the controls also meant that even players who otherwise didn't seek out tennis games could enjoy it, which contributed to the series' long-term popularity.

The short rounds typical of the arcade environment also suited tennis as a sport well - a single match could be played in a matter of minutes, which fit how arcade cabinets were operated at the time. Virtua Tennis 2 thus confirmed that the concept of accessible, yet not entirely shallow, arcade tennis had an audience beyond just the series' opening installment.

Why play it: Virtua Tennis 2 is a good choice for players who want fast, accessible arcade fun built around tennis without having to master complex simulation mechanics. Its short rounds make the title an ideal choice for casual play as well as head-to-head competition with another player at a single machine.