# What's the best tennis game for any console?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [August 8, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285 "2008-08-08T14:52:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/1 "2008-08-08T14:52:21Z")
My husband has been complaining about not getting enough exercise. He loves tennis, but can’t find someone to play with during the day, so he’s been wondering about video tennis that requires actual tennis play so he can run around.
I know there’s tennis in Wii Sports and a new Top Spin 3 for Wii, but they’re both getting mixed reviews.
Is there a good tennis game around? We don’t have a video game console of any kind (except a DS), so I’m not limited to Wii–I’ll look at any console. Thanks!
---
### Author:  [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/2 "2008-08-08T15:03:22Z")
Your only option is going to be the Wii if you are looking for anything that is going to get him up and moving. All the other consoles use regular controllers. The Wii is the only one that gets you up and moving.
---
### Author:  [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/3 "2008-08-08T15:54:52Z")
Thanks **Amp**. I thought that might be the case. If the Wii is where’s it at, which game should I get?
---
### Author:  [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/4 "2008-08-08T15:58:14Z")
Virtua Tennis for the Sega Dreamcast! You can read the review here:
> **[Virtua Tennis: Sega Professional Tennis - IGN](https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/08/virtua-tennis-sega-professional-tennis)**
>
> Virtua Tennis is one of those games that actually transcends its roots as a sport. You play it not just because you're a tennis fan, but also because you love games. Wasn't Pong, the original game, just a simplified form of tennis, after all? ...
It got a 9.4. I’ve seriously considered getting another Dreamcast just for this game.
---
### Author:  [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2008, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/5 "2008-08-09T07:08:08Z")
Top Spin 3 for the NDS is mediocre. Once you figure out a winning strategy (mostly holding the A button for a charged top spin shot, alternately aiming at right and left corners), the game is ridiculously easy.
So, you could probably cross it off your list. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/6 "2008-08-10T21:16:28Z")
Another vote for the whole Wii Sports set, and the tennis is pretty fun.
---
### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/7 "2008-08-10T21:29:10Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl]
Another vote for the whole Wii Sports set, and the tennis is pretty fun.
[/QUOTE]
I third this, although I’d love to see a full game made of it. It would be nice to see singles play, real scoring, and championship/tournament play.
---
### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/8 "2008-08-11T01:46:03Z")
[Pong](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong), of course. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2008, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/9 "2008-08-11T05:25:36Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck]
[Pong](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong), of course. 🙂
[/QUOTE]
You misspelled “Tennis For Two” the precursor to Pong on an oscilloscope that was also, strangely enough, way cooler than Pong.
---
### Author:  [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/10 "2008-08-11T14:53:25Z")
So far, Wii Sports is the only game in town. Thanks so much for the help!
---
### Author:  [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/11 "2008-08-11T15:06:29Z")
Just so you don’t get your hopes up too high, if by “exercise” and “running around”, you mean “flicking your wrist”, then the Wii tennis game will accomplish this for you quite nicely.
---
### Author:  [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/12 "2008-08-11T15:31:19Z")
and flicking your wrist certainly doesn’t require, or even begin to resemble, real tennis play. a wall would be better for that.
---
### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/13 "2008-08-11T15:39:36Z")
[QUOTE=shijinn]
and flicking your wrist certainly doesn’t require, or even begin to resemble, real tennis play. a wall would be better for that.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, flicking your wrist resembles…something else. 😃
---
### Author:  [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-tennis-game-for-any-console/459285/14 "2008-08-11T16:11:43Z")
[QUOTE=Ceejaytee]
Thanks **Amp**. I thought that might be the case. If the Wii is where’s it at, which game should I get?
[/QUOTE]
As far as I know, all Wiis sold come with Wii Sports. So you can buy the Wii, see if Wii Sports is what you want, and then consider other options.