DESCRIPTION

Designed for the armchair tennis enthusiast, Interplay Sports' Virtual Tennis will have you touring the globe in search of fame, glory and championship trophies. After creating your virtual likeness, you'll have a plethora of options waiting at your fingertips.

Match styles include the Quick Match, Single Match, Network Match, Single Tournament and the World Tour. The Single Match allows you to jump right into the game without altering game settings or creating a player. Played against a human or computer-controlled opponent, this mode is designed for novice gamers to hone their skills or those in hurry of a virtual tennis fix.

Although the Single Match is like the aforementioned style, this mode gives you the option of playing singles, doubles, men's doubles, women's doubles or mixed doubles. The Network Game features multi-player support on LAN setups, modems and Internet host servers. On a LAN, the computers involved must have Virtual Tennis installed on the hard drive.

Incorporating five-round knockout gameplay, the Single Tournament places you against a series of opponents; once you lose a match, you're out of the tournament. A four-round Doubles Tournament is also available. When you're ready to take on the globe, the World Tournament features the aforementioned match styles and a series of world-class players. After achieving the top position, you'll be awarded with a championship trophy — your tournament (and career) statistics are kept through an automatic record collector.

Set throughout a variety of courts and stadiums, Virtual Tennis also includes realistic tennis strokes allowing you to lob, drop and power hit the ball. Additionally, you'll be treated to automatic replays of good shots. As in the actual sport, you'll have access to varying court styles including grass, clay, rebound ace, cement and indoor — a total of ten different styles in which to choose.

Think you've got what it takes to become the ultimate tennis champion? Hit the virtual 3D courts and find out; ability to verbally abuse the referees not included. ~ Matthew House, All Game Guide