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I clearly remember the awesome feeling I experienced ten years ago when I saw my first ever tennis video game. A white line down the middle, which was the net, a little white square, which was the ball, and two little white lines at either end which were you and your opponent. You moved them up and down to keep he ball bouncing round the court, Ping... ping... ping... ping... Wow! - wasn't it tremendous!!

Now Psion have gone and ruined the fun. This isn't a game - it's the real thing.

No longer can you enjoy imagining the crowd there cheering you on you actually see them, yes, complete with heads turning left and right as the ball bounces across the court.

Instead of a line you have an actual player, scurrying around the court with impressive animation.

The action is taken from a Wimbledon of the future where jumbo-rackets have been replaced by mega-rackets - the racket head is about half the size of the player. This is very useful if you want to actually hit the ball.

Making a stroke takes a little practice: you should stand waiting for the ball with your racket stuck out to the right (forehand position if you're right-handed) or to the left (backhand). As the ball comes over the net you move into position by running forward, back, left or right. Then at the right moment you swing the racket. Pow! The ball zings back over the net.

Because of the follow-through, every time the 'sWing racket' key is pressed, the racket changes from forehand to backhand position, or vice versa. This means that if the ball is speeding the wrong side of you, you can execute a quick swing of the racket to your other side and then swing again to make contact.

The ball itself appears to have been in use an awfully long time, because it's black. But it moves beautifully around the court complete with a shadow to reveal its height. So you can tell when your shot is going to hit the net. And just watch when it does - a ball-boy runs onto the court and picks up the ball!

This is one sight that's good for a giggle. The game instructions say that it's possible to alter both the direction and pace of your shot, according to the timing of your swing, and whether you're moving when you hit the ball.

I found this took considerable practice to achieve intentionally. But it's remarkable how well the spirit of the game is captured. You can rush to the net, put in a couple of sharp volleys, strain to avoid being passed, and then wrong-foot your opponent.

The program's attention to detail is also impressive - you can play either against the computer, or against another human. The game is scored authentically, including tie-breaks if a set reaches 6-all.

Serving alternates correctly, and the players even change ends every two games, although fortunately they skip their one-minute rests.

You can play one, three or five-set matches, and there are three levels of play - quarter-finals, semis, and the final. On the higher levels the ball moves faster.

I have to admit it, my 1974 version of video tennis has been improved upon. Game, set and match to Psion... but I wonder what computer tennis will be like in 1994?