Smash Court Tennis 3 is the latest sports game for Xbox 360. Despite the inclusion of a few neat features, however, it's a sloppy mess that doesn't take advantage of the powerful hardware.
For whatever reason, this game's graphics are horrid. Facial animations are sluggish and almost unemotional and the on-court details aren't nearly as impressive as in other Xbox 360 tennis games. Even the real tennis pros, such as Rafael Nadal and super hot Maria Sharapova, don't resemble their real-life counterparts. There also isn't much to the sound, either, aside from lame music and occasional ball effects as they bounce around the court.
Where Smash Court double faults, however, is its gameplay. You must time your button presses perfectly just to get the ball over the net, whether you use a lob shot or go in for a smash. If you miss time your swing, the ball sails right past you. This happens more often than not, even if you think you've got all the kinks worked out. Furthermore, players slowly jog across the court, so even if you get the timing down, the ball will be just outside your reach because your player failed to move fast enough. Sometimes, your opponent won't even return the ball on a volley. It'll just watch it sail by.
This is a shame, as Smash Court Tennis 3 contains some cool modes. It fully supports Xbox Live multiplayer, so you can log in and play with others in a series of matches. It also has a robust Pro Tour mode, with numerous events, tournaments and skills challenges to make you a better-rounded player. There's even a stamina-balancing feature, where you have to rest your player to maximize their potential.
None of this matters, though, since the game is terrible. Had the developers refined the tennis action and improved the visuals, Smash Court Tennis 3 could've won us over. Instead, it's just a $40 punishment that's best left ignored. Go get Virtua Tennis 3 or Sega Superstars Tennis instead – they're half the price and a lot more fun.
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