Virtua Tennis Challenge Reviews

I've played this game for at least two years and about a year ago, stopped playing. I actually wrote a review back then and it's nice to know that absolutely nothing has been done to fix the various issues I mentioned. To be brief, basically in order to win, you can only play 1-6 games maximum before the game cheats. You magically stop moving, the opponent magically gets super shots every two points, and you magically stop hitting ground strokes, it's unbelievable, not to mention unrealistic and frustrating. Also, the game glitches now so the game actually has gotten worse...such a shame because the design, look, and game mechanics were all nicely implemented.

I love Sega, and grew up playing Sonic. However, this game is the biggest disappointment. Not only are the controls difficult but there’s not much you can do to influence power or trajectory. The graphics aren’t great, but if the controls were better it wouldn’t matter. In fact, the graphics on the old sega console are better than the graphics on this game.

The worst thing by far is the fact there is not a single female character you can choose from. There might be an unlockable female character, but if there is I didn’t see it. There’s probably 10 different male characters you can choose from, so why not one woman? Many of the greatest tennis players are women. Most people don’t even know of a tennis player that isn’t Serena, Venus, or Maria.

If you’re looking for a tennis game that allows you to have more control over your character, I highly suggest ultimate tennis. Not only is the game better, but they actually have an even amount of male and female characters.

I’m in no way a “modern feminist”, but in 2019 you would think women would be represented as much as men, especially in a game that revolves around a sport who gets the majority of its publicity from its female athletes.

I like this game a lot and it seemed to be the best mobile tennis game. That was until I experienced these glitches that happened every single game. Out of nowhere I can't use one of the buttons. Sometimes I can't even use two and I was once left with only the slice hit. At one point I couldn't use any of the buttons. When I clicked them nothing happened. This happens every single game and it makes this game unplayable. Everything about this game is good except for this and it really brings the game down. I deleted this game after this happened. I can't play it anymore because of these glitches that couldn't stop. If that is fixed then I will redownload this and it will be perfect.

First, for those of you having issues beating Theron Tenniele, here's a tip, don't hit to his forehand...at all. I only hit to his forehand if it's going to be a winner, otherwise I hit EVERYTHING to his backhand.

I've been playing this game for some time now, and It's definitely one of the better tennis games for iPad. I use the on screen buttons for controls, but find often during a match that the buttons are way too small. I end up pressing the space between the buttons quite often. Would be awesome if those were scaleable so we could make them bigger or smaller. Also as some others have pointed out, it's almost comical how the game works when playing Theron Tenniele. It never fails, first set I beat him 6-0, and then in the second set I'm up 4-0 or 5-0 and then the game gets erratic..my player doesn't hit the ball as hard anymore, he runs erratically around the court, doesn't hit the ball at all or some other odd behavior. He usually wins 2, 3, 4 or 5 games in a row because of this before I weather the storm. I always know around game 4 of the second set, I will have a fight my hands because getting to and hitting the ball becomes an obstacle, and it has nothing to do with the way the Theron Tenniele is playing. If the player is going to beat me, let the player beat me, don't make my player glitch, so now I have to fight the software and the player. Other than that, the game is good.

This game can be highly addictive and very fun... until you realize two things:

1) Theron Tenniel has been given a HUGE advantage by the developers. He is almost comically hard to beat, which can feel good when you outwit him and reach the top levels, but very frustrating when he goes on a 9 win tear against you by making shots that your player can’t even begin to achieve. It’s just uncanny how fast he can reach the opposite side of the court when you slam a shot straight to the corner. Come on Sega, I get that you had to make him THE GUY, but it’s almost silly how easily he defies physics.

2) You’ll be pestered to buy the “ad free” version for $2.99. When you finally break down and do it, you’ll be pestered by ads for other Sega games that don’t allow you to close them out without clicking them which only then opens another box to download said game. Shame on you Sega. I’m not downloading anymore of your games thanks to this little con.

I really wish they would come out with a new virtual tennis game and updated version but keep everything the same. With the real players and everything. But this is the best time is game ever I’m playing it for years. Since it came out. I just ask invoice for a new updated version. Sorry had to update my review I’m lowering it to Styers because I have a iPhone 7 Plus it’s been glitching during the game it freezes and you can’t hear the judges voice anymore they don’t tell you the score and it’s glitching and I can’t serve the ball it’s like freezing. So I hat I uninstalled and then reinstalled it and it still doing it. Please updated and correct this problem. I’ll go back to four stores.

This game was my go-to game on my phone when I had nothing to do and a full battery. It was smooth and honestly very similar to the original. Unfortunately, after a large update a number of months ago, I lost my no ads purchase, the game is constantly frame-dropping(which shouldn’t be a problem as I have an iPhone X) and the controls sometimes don’t work at all. I don’t know what the developers were thinking when they changed this game, but everything that was done, in my opinion, was done for the worse. Please fix these issues and stop worrying about making money on ads.

Overall this is one of the better tennis games in VirtuaTennisChallenge store. The gameplay and mechanics aren’t too bad.

However I agree with most people here in that there isn’t much to do in game. The career mode is very repetitive as the only reward for winning matches is in-game currency, which can only be used for to enter other tournaments. There is no stat system for player skills and no way to upgrade your personal player. Along with this, there are no customization options for your player.

The online multiplayer is also bit suspect. I have yet to connect with anyone on the mode.

This is a better Tennis game than any I found on console…hands down. You have to pay attention to where your feet are and what shot your trying for. While paying attention to your opponent and what they are trying to do and how they are setting up….that part feels solid. To me where it lacks is there is no Fatigue…I can volley Tenniel back and forth for a ten minute volley, all the while he’s running the distance of the court back and fourth….nothing… No fatigue…that ignores one of the fundamentals of the sport. I still beat him every time, but it seems rediculous. My other gripe is LET ME SAVE MID MATCH!…If I got to volley Tenniel for 5minuets at a time, making the match an hour and a half…can’t I at least get a save?…..Kind of Great, kind of a miss

Game is pretty decent in terms of tennis gameplay. Mechanics feel right. However, Theron Thinnel is the player in the game that’s unbeatable thanks to a designed Developer glitch. Once you’ve beaten most of the tournaments, you’ll face TT at every final. He’ll cheat and beat you every time. Gotta use some skill and luck.

Don’t get me started on the lack of customization for tennis gear and tennis courts. It’s truly lacking these sort after features by fans of this game.

You’ll play this game for about month. Then you’ll eventually delete it because it gets repetitive, boring, and tiring because of TT’s cheating. Download, play it, but don’t set high hopes. You’ll be disappointed. This is just a commuter game. You play this on the train, bus, or for downtime. That’s it!

This is the best tennis game on the iPhone. The graphics are great and the playability is good but repetitive. Sega could add so much to the game if they would model it after Tiger Woods Golf. Meaning allowing your player to build skills, buy new equipment and apparel, etc.

A few complaints:
1) I purchased the game and continue to receive one advertisement for another Sega game while it loads. No big deal but many times when I attempt to exit out of the ad it takes me to the store to buy it where I have to exit out of the store and return to the game.
2) I have become very frustrated with the inability to hit winners at the net. What would be a net winner in any real tennis game require 2-3 net shots to win the point.
3) Theron Tenniel is ridiculous and the game blatantly cheats in his favor. I have beaten him at the top level (530,000) but it becomes frustrating when he constantly dives for game winners, gets to balls no one else in the game can reach, and rarely are balls ever called out on him. Not to mention all you get for beating him is money. I finally became so frustrated with the unfair play I deleted the game off my phone. It just wasn't worth my time and aggravation.

A little bit of Marketing and better online play will take this game to another level. This game has stood the test of time and has always been one of, if not the best sports games containing realistic game play. Excellent graphics and numerous real life tennis venues. In my opinion, looks like someone needs to commit to making the necessary investments in order to reach this games full potential. Reintroduce this classic with a fresh new face to attract the younger generations. I rate this game 3 stars for the lack of options, such as gear and the ability to edit/personalize players. Also as noted the online play is not consistent with normal or tournament game play.

For the most part I do like playing this. The tournament choices, graphics and sound. And level of competition even your rank all get thumbs up from me.

What gets the thumbs down from me is only I can make mistakes while my opponent is always perfect - never faults, balls are always in bounds and tennis is not like that at all. So as good or bad as you might be the opponent you’re playing never makes a mistake so to some degree you’ve already lost.

I have played others where the opponent can double fault or shoot out and I enjoy those much more, with them you’re at least on equal footing, with this one you are not.

I’ve been into Virtua Tennis since playing the original in the arcade. I was happy to see it still existing in some form. Unfortunately this version needs work. First off, the frame rate is bad on my 10.5” iPad Pro. The gameplay isn’t smooth at all, which is not good for a game like Virtua Tennis. Second, the analog stick doesn’t work when using a controller. The D-pad is okay, but far from ideal. The analog stick is a much better option.

A few other things. Since this a mobile game, the ability to save during a match and resume later on would be nice. Also, I’d love to see an arcade mode where you have a match against each player in succession with increasing difficulty.

I’m giving this three stars because I’m happy Virtua Tennis still exists. The game is playable, even if the experience is subpar at the moment. The graphics, animations, and controls are good enough, so this could be great with some work.

I am a big tennis fan and love the game, I just wish it were popular and there were more updates. I think this game could easily go big if the graphics and game itself were improved and expanded on, also if there were a second version or huge marketing, then the multiplayer would make sense and could be expanded on.

Overall, love this game, but want more in everything.

I love the game, but I have a few issues. First, the characters are pretty slow, and when they retrieve a shot, they take way too long to recover. I wish the characters could slide like the pros do, or at least on clay. Second, I would like to be able to unlock the faster indoor courts. Finally, I, and probably many other people as well, want to be able to choose any character from the fifty some in the game to play as it choose for story mode. I especially would like to look like Theron Tenniel and have his strokes. Other than that, the game is fine.

I enjoy this game and it's free. A few gripes I have. If exit game via home button it seems to not be hit and miss for saving. So at time will have to replay the match. Also seems to not always register the swipe motion. Will swipe down and it will not do the correct shot. Or I will swipe up and instead my player will just run to the last spot I touched. Also many times player will hit ball out of bounds. Many times I am in the middle of court, hit to me and I will hit to the side and computer player is on opposite side and will go wide and out of bounds.

But it's free and overall still fun to play.

Overall, I dig the game. That said, one of the most frustrating things is during a tight game, or a game at a higher level, the player controls just plain don’t work, or are delayed, causing a point to be lost.

It happens a lot on drop-shots. I can be right up to the ball and the buttons just don’t work. It happens with both a PlayStation controller and the virtual controls.

I don’t mind losing, but to be knee-capped like this is not cool and makes the game a little annoying to play.

There was a hitch here or there but nothing too bad. Great overall experience especially since the virus, a lot of us tennis players are forced to sit indoors and do ‘exercises’ in the meantime, but I think everyone should at this time focus on the tactical and strategic components of tennis until the virus is contained. There is no better place to practice match scenarios and simulations than on this game. It’s free if you are cool with the ads, but you’ll see this is what us players and coaches need at a time like this. Thanks SEGA

-Tennis community

VirtuaTennis is amazing… I’m not joking it has great headlines it lets u pick how many tiebreaks u want and that’s 1 of the fun things about😍right now I’m in 2 place out of tons of other players…. This game is so much fun it really is…. If u see this game u need 2 download it or else jk….. I love this game so much that I even have it on my tablet….. theirs not much I can say on this review but it’s amazing just download it!!!😍😍😍😍😍😋