Virtua Tennis 3

Virtua Tennis 3 arrived in arcades in 2006 as another installment of Sega AM3's popular tennis series, this time on more powerful hardware that allowed more detailed player models and smoother movement and stroke animations. The series had by then built a reputation as the most accessible arcade tennis game on the market, and the third installment built further on that reputation without straying from the proven formula of previous entries.

The gameplay remained true to the proven formula - simple controls based on a few shot types and court movement, allowing newcomers a quick start while still offering room for more experienced players working with shot timing and strategic ball placement. The selection of playable characters and courts was expanded compared to previous installments, bringing more variety to individual matches and keeping the series fresh even after years on the market.

The improved graphics also allowed for more distinct visual differentiation between individual courts and environments, which, combined with smoother animations, contributed to the overall feel of play. The third installment thus represented more of a refinement and polish of an established concept than a dramatic change of direction, consistent with the approach Sega had long taken with its tennis series.

By the time the third installment was released, the series already had several years of presence in arcades and on home consoles behind it, so Virtua Tennis 3 could build on an established player base that was well familiar with the control principles and match structure. The installment thus favored subtle refinement of the proven concept over experimenting with something radically new, in line with how conservatively Sega approached this sports series.

Why play it: Virtua Tennis 3 will delight players looking for fast, visually pleasing arcade tennis fun that doesn't try to compete with simulations but offers entertaining duels at a single machine. It's a solid choice for series fans and casual players alike, who will appreciate simple controls combined with enough depth for longer-lasting fun.