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Wimbledon's not too far away (especially if you're a Womble) so perhaps we can forgive the software houses for releasing so many tennis sims recently. The best C64 game so far, International 3D Tennis, caused quite a stir last issue, impressing us with its novel use of vector graphics and earning a deserved 94%.

Ubik, best known for his music, has written the Amiga game with help from Sensible Software. As before, the control system allows you to move freely after hitting the ball. When the ball is returned, however, the computer automatically moves your player into line with the path of the ball, though you can still move forwards/backwards. Pressing a direction with fire determines what type of shot you play.

Again there are four surfaces - with subtly different bounces - and four skill levels. The easier skill levels help you time shots by making your player flash at the correct time (DIY Innuendos Inc). Higher levels remove this aid but allow serves to be aimed and spin put on the ball. As both players can have different skill levels, it's possible for a novice to compete with an expert in two-player mode.

The unique choice of camera angles used in the C64 version has been improved. One of the angles can be defined by rotating the view in three dimensions and zooming in/out - so there's theoretically an infinite amount of possible viewpoints.

Advanced players can enter one of the 79 international tournaments (based on real ones), competing against some of the 100 different computer players - including the likes of Lendl, Becker and McEnroe. If you choose to play a whole season, you can enter a number of tournaments with the aim of winning as much money as possible. With a possible 21 tournaments, a season can last a long time so there's an invaluable Save (on formatted disk) facility.

First impressions are misleading, with the players translucent, and although this helps gameplay when they shake hands at the end of a match, it's a real mess!

But International 3D Tennis more than compensates with superb playability. Playing a tournament really takes it out of you, with you nervously waiting to see who your next opponent will be. Have you been unlucky enough to encounter Becker or McEnroe?

But even the comparative unknowns can give you a tough game. If nothing else, this reminds you how cruel tennis can be, with 20-point tussies at deuce being easily lost with a careless mistake or two. Each and every rally has to be approached with a clear mind. You must plan how to make your return, and whether to go to the net or not.

Yet winning a tournament is compulsive, and the way the stadia enlarge as you progress to the final is rewarding - as is the pic of you lifting the cup. With a year paced with tournaments there's plenty of lastability.

As for the graphics, you soon get used to them and the ability to rotate the court means you can always be at the bottom of the screen - very useful for playing the computer. Also, the sonics are absolutely superb. The samples are crystal clear, making the commentary great fun, and the tunes are brilliant. Highly recommended.

At first I wasn't at all sure about this conversion of the ace C64 game. What was pushing the C64 to remarkable imits a month ago comes as something of a visual disappointment for a 16-bit machine. This doesn't stop the gameplay from being just as brilliant though.

The playability is immense, more than making up for any graphic deficiencies the game may have. Top marks for the samples too; the clearest I've heard for a good while.

Aesthetically this isn't as impressive as the C64 version. The vector graphics look a bit weird coloured-in and there's no hidden line removal so the players sometimes appear to be holding their racquets behind their backs!

Having said that, the ability to create your own camera angles is brilliant - you can zoom out so far that the court looks tiny or get an amazing worm's eye ground view.

Gameplay is much the same as it was on the C64, with the innovative control method working perfectly to create a game of maximum skill and minimum frustration. As before, you can really get some long rallies going, especially against some of the better computer opponents.

The centre court atmosphere is improved by some extremely clear sampled umpire speech and a brilliant crowd effect with them oohing and applauding realistically.

Comparing the many recent Amiga tennis sims it's easily game, set and match to International 3D Tennis.

Presentation 90%
Ten camera angles, including definable one. One or two player practice mode, four skill levels, four surfaces, superb Tournament and Season options with Save/Load facility.

Graphics 75%
The vector graphic players look a bit strange and the ball moves somewhat erractically. But great choice of perspective compensates.

Sound 94%
Great music, including the Wimbledon theme tune. Crystal clear sampled umpire speech and various crowd FX.

Hookability 94%
Flashing players make it very easy to hit the ball - unlike most other tennis sims. Supremely playable.

Lastability 91%
79 international tournaments with a hundred different computer opponents make for a great long term challenge.

Overall 92%
The best tennis sim around, just in time for Wimbledon.