Hmmm. Having played this for a few days now, I'll say it straight off, I prefer Top Spin. VT3 is a good game, don't get me wrong, and is some ways less frustrating and easier to pick up than Top Spin, and as such falls into a more ‘arcadey’ category, but it has quite a few limiting factors:
– Glaring lack of shot types. With the Top Spin series you have slices, lobs, drop shots, risky angled shots, top spins, not to mention the trigger ‘risk’ shots, whereas in VT3 you just have slices, lobs, and top spin. It seems to lack the variety of shot types to make it a truly great game.
– A player's strengths aren't particularly noticeable. What I mean by that is while Andy Roddick may be labelled a “Big Server”, his serves aren't any more potent than any other player; in fact, I'm yet to be aced in this game, something which would happen regularly in Top Spin against a top server. Similarly, in Top Spin you could choose a specialist volley player whose volley skills would be insane, but really poor at baseline shots. VT3 doesn't seem to make these skills very distinct at all, most of the players are generally ‘all rounders’.
Having said all that, as the only PS3 tennis title out, it's worth the money, for the sheer party play value. It's incredibly easy to pick up and play, and doubles matches with mates are loads of fun. Just be aware that it lacks the ‘sim’ qualities of the Top Spin series which might upset those who are looking for a little bit more out of their virtual tennis experience!
