The best tennis videogame to date. Don't believe the negative reviews.
Even though the game play is somewhat difficult to new users, after just fifteen minutes or so any user can easily get the hang of the new game play. All it takes is a little practice and simple understanding that the entire game and the sport of tennis itself revolves around TIMING. Where's the fun in pressing a button to hit a shot which essentially makes a match the battle of who can press buttons better? Well guess what? That's the game play Virtua Tennis 3 has to offer--game play that does not even remotely resemble a true tennis experience. Not only that, Virtua Tennis 3 has rallies in which players tend to dive around the court for every shot that is too far to hit rather than a player simply reaching. Virtua Tennis 3 presents an overly simplistic (in that all it takes is the ability to move the joystick and press a button) and very unrealistic tennis simulation (because it lacks depth such as no sliding on clay courts, no incorporation of court surface as a major factor of the match, incessant and stupid diving, pointlessness in lobbing, very horrible volleying, no acing, no unforced errors, and no risk shot system) although I do give props to the slightly more aesthetically pleasing graphics and somewhat entertaining mini-games. In total, Virtua Tennis 3 is almost disgraceful to the game of tennis.
On the contrary, Top Spin 3 is essentially the opposite of Virtua Tennis 3. There is a deep risk shot system. Unforced errors occur often (as expected). Aces are possible. There is no stupid diving. People actually slide on the clay courts. The surface of the court actually plays a role in the match. Volleys are executed beautifully. Lobs are very effective. Most importantly, timing is everything. Anyone who has played tennis at all will understand what I am saying. Top Spin 3 is clearly the better choice as a tennis simulation because it is a realistic tennis simulation, it actually has a relatively deep online mode, and has a very deep create-a-character. Once the song selection is improves, the professional roster grows, and sprinting is implemented, then the game will be just about perfect (at least, as a tennis simulation).