Virtua Tennis 4 on PlayStation 3 Preview.

While a little forgiving, SEGA's anticipated tennis sequel provides the intricate motion control many of us have been dreaming of since first experiencing Sports Champions' excellent table-tennis mode. The publisher really deserves kudos for unlocking the potential of the PlayStation Move controller in a way that few other developers have managed.

Taking to the unmarked grass courts of London, our first impressions of Virtua Tennis 4 wandered between disappointment and glee. Opting for a camera mechanic that switches between a first and third-person perspective, the game is disorienting at first. But after a warm-up match, we settled into the set-up and started to appreciate its genius. SEGA's clearly spent a good amount of time considering the best way to blend Virtua Tennis' traditional arcade gameplay with the accuracy of the Move controller, and its done a great job.

The switching perspectives are massively important because they give you an unparalleled degree of control. Unlike other motion controlled tennis games on PS3 — such as the recent Top Spin 4, for example — you're not simply making gestures to trigger animations — you're actually affecting the trajectory of the ball. Underhand thrusts result in lob-shots, while subtle twists apply spin to the ball. The real test of any tennis game's motion tracking is its ability to detect slice shots however. Cutting through the ball works perfectly here, taking speed from the shot whether you're playing a backhand or forehand. The slice-shot is an important play, because it significantly enhances the depth of the game. As opposed to simply flinging your arms around, deft touches give you a controlled advantage over your opponent, taking the pace out of the ball. The slice proved especially effective in our second match against Rafa Nadal. Here we used Andy Murray's defensive baseline techniques to slow Nadal's power game and gain the upper-hand in the match.

As impressed as we were with Virtua Tennis 4's Move implementation, it's not flawless. Placement felt a little more challenging than we anticipated, and we'll need more time with the game to confirm whether this is timing based or simply an error in our motions. Often our shots would end up in either corner of the court, depending on whether we were returning a forehand or backhand. We'd be disappointed if SEGA opted for a timing based system here, but it would also be at odds with the shot selection accuracy we experienced elsewhere. We suspect that we were overcooking our follow-through for each shot, causing the game to misinterpret our intended placement of the ball.

Somewhat more worryingly is just how forgiving the game can be. While this will undoubtedly fulfill a pick-up-and-play obligation for parties, we brushed aside opponents on the game's hardest difficulty level with very little difficulty. We also observed a number of players frantically swiping at the ball and still managing to return a shot — albeit without the control of a more deft touch. Neither of these issues flagged big problems, but we hope the final product provides plenty of challenge, forcing you to improve your technique in later stages.

Alongside standard matches, we also got the opportunity to check out Virtua Tennis 4's PS3-exclusive Net Blitz mode. This basically puts you up against a ball machine with the objective of directing shots against tiered nets. The more shots you return with the same ball, the more points you'll earn. Each levels sets you with a score target to beat, and you'll need to meet that to progress after 60 seconds have expired. Levels increase in difficulty by introducing moving nets, and even blockades. Neatly, the last 10 seconds or so of each round will bring you in close to the net, so you'll need to react quickly and fluidly to keep your multiplier going and hit the volleys required.

Visually the game looks bright and cheerful, though the character models are a touch rough compared to Top Spin 4. We were fortunate enough to experience the game in 3D, which really adds to the sense of immersion when coupled with the PlayStation Move. The 3D is well implemented, adding depth to the court without making the experience disorienting.

Tellingly, we came away from Virtua Tennis 4 anticipating more. We're probably more invested in this title than many other publications, primarily because we are such big tennis fans. As such, regular readers will know that we've been longing for someone to take the technology of Sports Champions and craft a deeply intuitive motion controlled tennis game for what feels like an eternity now. This is that game. The Move implementation's probably still a half-step down from the simulation accuracy of Sports Champions, but this is still a significant cut above all the other motion controlled tennis games available.

Virtua Tennis 4 releases on PlayStation 3 on April 29th in Europe. North Americans will have to wait until May 10th.