Smash Court Tennis 3
Smash Court Tennis 3 seeks to offer an experience that is somewhat different from the rest of the herd. Instead of throwing fast-paced arcade-style gameplay your way things are somewhat methodical here. There is purpose and detail in almost every regard. In many ways Smash Court Tennis 3 feels like a simulator but the varying modes which are available certainly keep it on the more playable side.
Gameplay
When approaching any sports title it's always good practice to check out the tutorial to see what's in store for you. Without taking the time to get a feel for things you're going to be lumbering around and losing a lot to be certain. Thankfully Smash Court Tennis 3 has a decent selection of practice modes to hold your hand through the franchise's first foray on the PSP. After you get the hang of things it's time to actually explore the game.
Like all sports games Smash Court Tennis offers a dominating single player experience, multiplayer, and some mini-games to pass the time with. The Pro Tour mode is where you'll be spending most of your time and thankfully there are quite a few options to make that selection last. Customizing a character from the ground up, training them to increase stats, and taking them to the court over the course of several games is satisfying and rewarding. Some subtleties such as a player's stamina and abilities allow for deeper experiences while chugging through the Pro Tour. These are welcome additions and add a certain simulation feel to the game.
If you happen to find yourself becoming bored with the Pro Tour and getting your butt kicked by the likes of professional players the mini-games are worthy time wasters. With classics from Namco such as Pac-Man and Galaga incorporated into the game fans will certainly find something to appreciate.
In Pac-Man you have to knock the tennis ball across a Pac themed court. Ghosts drone about and Pac-Man himself chomps around the stage. It's a lot of fun but the lasting satisfaction of playing this particular game just isn't as strong as you might imagine. The entertainment value of it is very low and there isn't a lot of replay ability. You can basically say the same thing for the Galaga and Bomb Tennis modes that are available. They are fun for a while but gradually, as you play them, the appeal will begin to dry up.
The included multiplayer is a welcome addition. Assuming you have a wifi connection you can hop on and play against someone for an experience arguably better than going toe to toe with the CPU. No matter how you look at it the artificial intelligence in Smash Court Tennis 3 leaves something to be desired. Friendly AI during doubles and opposing AI offer sporadic talent at best. Some times the computer will dominate the court and give you a run for your money. Other times you can expect to see them stand there and watch the ball bounce by. It's kind of frustrating to not know what you're in for whenever you go for a single player match up.
The gameplay fortunately, more or less, holds up well to scrutiny. As you build your character's strengths you'll notice a gradual transition from a sloth-like presence on the court to a speed demon. In between the hit detection and movements are intuitive though sometimes the game does not respond when you attempt to return a volley. You'll often press a button to no avail and watch as the ball simply goes skirting by your player. Again, this is a point of frustration that keeps Smash Court Tennis from being widely appealing.
In the end only tennis aficionados need apply with Smash Court Tennis 3. The gameplay and modes are solid enough to offer a decent experience but the game just isn't as widely appealing as Virtua Tennis. The PSP does need quality sports titles and in that regard Smash Court Tennis is a success. Despite its flaws the game is a lot of fun but it's just the lasting experience I hoped it would be.
Graphics
The PSP is capable of putting out some high quality graphics and developers are constantly pushing the boundaries of Sony's little system. Unfortunately Namco Bandai didn't employ that tactic with Smash Court Tennis 3. The visuals in the game are capable but hardly revolutionary or beautiful to be quite honest. Highly pixilated character models do not look the part and upon closer inspection they are indeed ugly. The courts are also lackluster in the detail department. Animation is easily the high point in regards to the way Smash Court Tennis 3 looks. Despite their pixilated choppiness characters move fluidly around the court.
Sound
Ok, I realize this is a tennis game. All you really need to hear are the footsteps on the court, the impact with the racket, the ball bouncing on the ground, and the occasional grunt from players. With that being said tennis is one of the most boring sports to listen to on TV and Smash Court Tennis has recreated that boredom with its latest release. There is very little personality throughout the title and though it sounds authentic it's merely realistic tedium.
Conclusion
If you're really dying to play a new tennis game for the PSP then I'd definitely recommend Smash Court Tennis 3. The game modes are fun, the gameplay, though flawed, is solid, and there are many elements in between that separate it from competitors like Virtua Tennis. Unfortunately your time with the game will not last very long and the little flaws become frustrating far too quickly. I'm going to recommend the game for tennis lovers but everyone else could easily get by with a rental to see if it's their thing.