_ _ _ _____ _____ _ _ ___ | | / / | | | _ \ |_ _| | | | | / | | | / / | | | |_| | | | | | | | / /| | | | / / | | | _ / | | | | | | / / | | | |/ / | | | | \ \ | | | |_| | / / | | |___/ |_| |_| \_\ |_| \_____/ /_/ |_| _____ _____ __ _ __ _ _ _____ |_ _| | ____| | \ | | | \ | | | | / ___/ | | | |__ | \| | | \| | | | | |___ | | | __| | |\ | | |\ | | | \___ \ | | | |___ | | \ | | | \ | | | ___| | |_| |_____| |_| \_| |_| \_| |_| /_____/ GUIDE by HolyDiver )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Version History II. INTRODUCTION III. HOW TO READ THE GUIDE IV. HOW TO PLAY THE GAME V. THE PLAYERS VI. TOURNAMENT VII. EXHIBITION VIII. WORLD TOUR IX. BIBLIOGRAPHY/THANK YOU X. COPYRIGHT INFO )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( I. Version History 03/10/04 - First started FAQ. Wrote T.O.C, this, the introduction, how to Read the Guide, and How to Play. -V 0.25 03/12/04 - Revised Intro, TOC. Also, began work on Players, finished Tournament, Exibition, World Tour, the Bibliography, and copyright. Sent to GAMEFAQS for posting. V 0.85 )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( II. INTRODUCTION Welcome to my guide for the items that you will use and/or unlock in the game Virtua Tennis for the Game Boy Advance. Just to clear it up: Virtua Tennis is created and co-developed by Sega, Supervised by Hitmaker, Co-Developed by Published by THQ, and Devolped for the Game Boy Advance by Naltron. Whew, now that thats out of the way, lets go a little bit into the actual game: Based on Sega's popular next-gen-console tennis series, Virtua tennis is one of the first GBA tennis titles, and is very solid. The game features 3 main modes of play: Tournament, Exibition, and World Tour, and supports connect ability for multiplayer (additional game pak required). This guide will teach you the basic (and some advanced) controls of the game, dissect each of the game modes, and give you pointers along the way. Hey, you just might learn something. )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( III. HOW TO READ THE GUIDE For the most part, the large majority of the guide will be written just like this: In paragraph form, read from left to right. However, in some parts of this guide, such as Player Analysis and Item Ratings, I will use a points/listing system to help you out, and show the points. They will usually written like so: PLAYER OR ITEM NAME SPEED CONTROL POWER RECOMMENDED? OVERALL RATING * Additionally I might include notes about stamina, etc. here. For all purposes, any "rating" that does on here will be out of 5 STARS. )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( IV. HOW TO PLAY THE GAME While Tennis games typically require quick reflexes and semi-decent eye site (this is no exception, especially with a small screen), the controls are never that hard. This game, again, is no exception. Below is a listing of the basic controls. WHILE SERVING: D-pad Left/Right: Move Player along serve line. Also, when used while meter is moving/in conjunction with A or B Buttons, controls direction of the ball. A Button: Begin meter; press again to stop it. B Button: Begin meter; press again to stop it. L/R Triggers: No Purpose. WHILE VOLLEYING (Normal play, what you'll be doing most of the time): D-Pad: Move Player; When used in conjunction with the A or B Button, controls the direction and/or speed of the ball. A: Strike the ball; When held down, increases speed of swing; Usually produces faster, shorter strikes. B: Strike the ball; When held down, increases speed of swing; Usually produces, slower, higher arched strikes travel a long distance. L/R Triggers: No Purpose. )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( V. PLAYERS Ok, so you've made it this far. Good. Now, I am going to list all the players available, giving some details about them, and ultimately rating them. Before continuing, please read this: Due to the way the gmae was created, and generally the laws of nature, the rating among attributes are NOT the same for men and women. Example: Woman are faster, but lack the power of a male player. A man's Speed rating of 5 is more like a 4 or 4.25 for females, yet a female power rating of 5 is like a 4 to a mans. Get it? Got It? Good. Let's kick it off with the Men: - Andrew Carter From: USA Dexterity: Right Handed Type: All Around Player Positives: Not too fast, not too slow, Andrew is the perfect choice for first-time players. Negatives: Expierenced players will grow tiredof his inability to meet their standards. POWER: 3.5 SPEED: 3.5 CONTROL: 4.0 RECOMMENDED? For first-time, beginners, yes. OVERALL RATING: 3.5 - Rolf Svenson From: Sweden Dexterity: Right Handed Type: Serve and Volley Player Positives: Fast, and controlling, Rold is nice for doubles, when you play the net. The nice speed and ability to well place the ball in a nice way add to element of great net play. Negatives: Not recommended for singles play, or for playing the back court. He lacks the power to hit the ball hard enough. POWER: 2.5 SPEED: 4.0 CONTROL: 4.5 RECOMMENDED? For doubles, I don't believe theres a better male net player in his game. OVERALL RATING: 4.0 - Robert Franco From: Spain Dexterity: Right Handed Type: Fast Runner Positives: Very, very fast. By far the fastest male player in the game. Another great net player. Negatives: Just don't try to serve or hit those balls from any where after half court, or you'll lob and set yourself up for a nice spike-sandwich. POWER: 2.0 SPEED: 5.0 CONTROL: 3.5 RECOMMENDED? Doubles and on the net? Yes, but if you're hard set on a male net player, I'd go with Rolf Svenson. OVERALL RATING: 3.5 - Eddy Souw From: China Dexterity: Right Handed Type: Strong Forehand Player Positives: Not a little slow, Eddy has a great balance of control and power. Beginning players who aren't playing for the first time may find him the most comfortable until they find their own style. Negatives: His lack of speed isn't that big a deal at first, and he can last against predominantly fast players, but against himself or control players, Eddy will not succeed at chasing the ball all day. POWER: 4.0 SPEED: 3.0 CONTROL: 4.0 RECOMMENDED? I'd say that Eddy is the second best singles male in the game. For doubles, putting him in the back with either Junko Fuji or Rolf Svenson would be a nice combo, but his most effective point in doubles is him on the net and Hans Wensman taking the back court. OVERALL RATING: 4.0 - Hans Wensman From: Germany Dexterity: Right Handed Type: Big Serve Player Positives: The serve, the serve, the serve! If anyone is gonna ace you an entire game just on ability, its Wensman. Middle-of-the-road speed, great power and awesome control make Wensman the best male player in the game. Negatives: he could just be a hair faster, thats it, aside from the fact that you must be careful around Serena Williams. POWER: 4.5 SPEED: 3.0 CONTROL: 5.0 RECOMMENDED? Very. The best male player in the game, useful on his own, or in double. If you play doubles, keep him in the back, he'll hit it hard and well-placed, but it is still fast enough to get to the ball, in case you net player fails. OVERALL RATING: 5.0 - Laurent Pierre From: France Dexterity: Left Handed Type: Hard Hitter Player Positives: The most powerful player in the game, he can crack the holy-moly out of a ball. Negatives: Just, don't try and move, cause its not a good idea. You won't get any where anytime soon. POWER: 5.0 SPEED: 2.0 CONTROL: 3.5 RECOMMENDED? If all you wanna do it hit it really, really hard, then go for it, otherwise, sacrafice a littel power for alot more speed and control by going with Hans Wensman. OVERALL RATING: 3.0 Well, thats it for the fellas. Now, lets get to the ladies: - Venus Williams From: USA Dexterity: Right Handed Type: All Around Player Positives: Quick, not very weak and in control, she's a great player for beginners, and really one of the best females in the game. Negatives: If only she could hit it a little bit harder, and had a better serve. POWER: 3.5 SPEED: 4.0 CONTROL: 3.5 RECOMMENDED? Yes. Use her if you need to put together a reliable doubles team, or are playing for fun. OVERALL RATING: 4.0 - Serena Williams From: USA Dexterity: Right Handed Type: Powerful Strokes Player Positives: The female equivalent of Hans Wensman. Although slightly weaker, much quicker, and therefore, the best player in the game. Negatives: No downsides. Just look out for Wensman. Quicker, you can use this ability to outrun him, but, be just as careful of the volley, because if he gets in control of it, you probably won't be able to stop him. POWER: 4.5 SPEED: 4.0 CONTROL: 5.0 RECOMMENDED? The best player in the game. Oh yes. OVERALL RATING: 5.0 - Greta Rothman From: German Dexterity: Left Handed Type: Hard Hitter Player Positives: Hits hard, nice back court player. Negatives: Not as fast a player as you'd think. Avoid the net. You'd be find for a bit, but, any faster player would play around with you. POWER: 4.5 SPEED: 3.0 CONTROL: 4.0 RECOMMENDED? There are other players other there better and easier to use. No. OVERALL RATING: 3.5 - Marie Delon, Junko Fuji, and Margarita Perez COMING SOON! )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( VI. TOURNAMENT Tournament mode is basically this: A tournament. It is single player and is your first choice from the main menu. After hitting A when highlighted, choose if you want to enter a singles or a doubles tourney. After that, pick your player or players. It ill randomly choose your opponnet(s), then show your the random arena in which you will play. Continue this for a few rounds, and then thats it. Pretty dry, but basically, a time killer. )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( VII. EXHIBITION This is a neat little mode, if not standard in every sports game every made post-NFL for the NES. It is the second choice from the top in the main menu, so, highligh tit and select A. Next, choose weither you want to play a singles or doubles game. After that, you choose if you want to play alone, and play the computer or against another player or players. I think its cool to get 4 GBAs hooked up and play doubles, but that's just me. After this, you'll go to the setting menu where you'll pick CPU difficulty, the number of games you have to win (called Game Count), if Tie break will be on (tie Break is this: If you have the Game Count at 2, you must win by two more than your opponnet. If for somereason you each tie at any number psat 2, you go into a Tie Breaker, where you play to the first one to 7 points. Confusing? yes, but, its tennis, and you've expected this). You can choose either deuce is on, and then pick positions on the court (Who will server first,etc.). After this, select your player or players, then either you pick your CPU opponetts or your human counterpart(s) will do so for themselves. After this, choose your court/arena, and begin playing! )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( VIII. WORLD TOUR The best part of this game. In World Tour, you create both a male and female tennis player, train them through mini games, and compete in tournaments around the world to earn money, respect, and I higher world ranking. Both of your players start at 300th in their respective divisions. Once you get to the map, aside from the mini-games, there are three very important places to visit: Home, Tournament Registration and the Shop. HOME is basically where you sheck your stats, prizes you get from the mini-games, select raquets, shoes, etc. and save your game. TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION - This is where you select and then compete in tournaments against CPU players for money and prizes. Also, winning tournaments is a quick way to unlock all the mini-game levels. SHOP is where you spend the money you earn in the tourneys. The shop has 5 choices from its menu: -- RACQUETS - This is where you buy parts to piece together a great racquet. There are three partsL Frame, Gut, and Grip. The better the part, the more expensive. -- ETC. - This si wher eyou buy Shoes, which increase your jumo, depending on the surface, and additional items to help your staminia. They are DRINK, TAPING, WRISTBAND, and TOWEL (Seperate section for these coming soon). -- PARTNER - Partner is where you buy the contract to have an established player be your partner in the Doubles tourneys. The contracts are good for 3 tournaments. 5 are available from each gender. -- STAGE - this is where you buy additional arena for use in exibition mode. They are CAPE TOWN, VANCOUVER, HONG KONG, MIAMI, AND DOHA. -- EXIT - Guess. Here is a list of mini-games available: STOMP MAN - Foot work training - Improves Footwork and Stamina BURGER CHEF - Serve Training - Improves stats vital to stroke and serve FRUIT CONVEYOR - Foot work Training - Improves Footwork and Stamina TANK ATTACK - Stroke Training - Improves stats vital to Stroke and Power BULL'S EYE - Volley Training - Improves Staminia, Speed, and other stats vital to basic tennis work. EGG CRASHER - Serve Training - Improves stats vital to stroke and serve DISC SHOOTER - Stroke Training - Improves stats vital to Stroke and Power ALIEN FORCE - Volley Training - Improves Staminia, Speed, and other stats vital to basic tennis work. Basically, your goal in this mode is to be #1, then you win the game, but can still play if you want. I do advise building both sexes equally, for you will run into trouble down the line of you don't. )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( IX. BIBLIOGRAPHY/THANK YOU I would like to thank Sega, THQ, hitmaker, and Naltron for this great GBA title. Gamefaqs.com and CJayC for the safe haven for all that is gaming and holy. Thanks. And you, the gamer for reading this. I make it for you. )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()( X. COPYRIGHT INFO This FAQ is the sole property of HolyDiver, aka Noah Brown, and may not be used without express permission from sole propietor. HolyDiver, aka Noah Brown, is in no way affiliated with Sega, THQ, Kitmaker, or Naltron, or its affiliates/parent companies/divisions.