he Hot Shots Golf franchise has been a staple on the PlayStation, and now the team behind that franchise is switching gears to tennis. As we reported this week, Sony Computer Entertainment America is releasing this title in July. However, we’ve had the Japanese copy (called Everybody’s Tennis in Japan) of the game since it was released last September and are quite looking forward to a North American version. With addictive pick-up-and-play gameplay in either single or multiplayer, we’re glad SCEA finally came to its senses to bring this gem over to the states.

Hot Shots Tennis has three main gameplay modes: Challenge Mode, Everybody Tennis (multiplayer) and a training mode. The bulk of the single-player experience is centered around the challenge mode, where you’ll play through a number of circuits that get more and more difficult as you progress through the stages from Beginner, Amateur, Semi-Pro and Pro. In the beginning, you play basic singles matches, but later you’ll also play doubles matches and play with an AI controlled character. Much like in Hot Shots Golf, the more matches you win, the more unlockables will be available—including courses, players, referees and costumes.

You’ll initially only be able to choose from two different characters, but you’ll unlock new characters to choose from as you beat players in the Challenge Mode. Each character has different attributes, which have grades attached to them. Such elements, such as serve, stroke, volley, impact and footwork, will designate what kind of player type the character is.

Controls are extremely simple. Circle is your main top spin/flat shot, X is for slice/drop shot and Triangle is a lob. Players can charge shots by holding down the button for a moment before you want to execute the shot. However, once you initiate a shot, your player will stop moving and begin winding up for the shot. Much like every other tennis game out there, you cannot hit the ball on the run, which is a bit frustrating. You can direct your shots with the left analog stick, but be careful. Pressing too far on the analog stick will most likely direct your shot out of bounds or into the net. Power slams with lobs are handled by moving the player into a circle of where the ball will land, and you’ll automatically blast a return if you’re positioned correctly.

While the controls are quite simple, more advanced players can mess with the timing on shots to differentiate placement. Hitting the ball either a tad early or a bit late will alter your shot. You’ll learn how the timing works with symbols that appear over the player’s heads. A rabbit symbol means you hit the ball too quickly, a turtle symbol too slowly, and the full musical note means you hit the ball perfectly. Varying up timing can either throw your opponent off, or see your ball go out of bounds.

The training mode puts you on the court with a tennis-ball launcher. As the launcher fires shots at you, you’ll see button symbols on the top of the screen, as well as a section of the court where you’ll have to direct the ball. This mode plays in rounds and you’ll have to hit a number of balls correctly and into the target space to progress through the rounds. The target space will change sizes and move, making this little mini-game rather tricky.

Everybody Tennis mode is where you can set up games from 1-4 players. If you want to just play a quick one person match against the computer without playing the Challenge mode, you have the option, or you can add up to four players for a full-on doubles match. You’ll have to bust out the multitap if you’re planning on playing on PS2, but fortunately you won’t need that with the PS3, since the controllers are wireless. You’ll have full access to all of the players, courts, outfits and referees you’ve unlocked in the Challenge mode, and will now be able to alter the number of sets and games. Hot Shots Tennis doesn’t feature online multiplayer.