Top Spin 3 (Xbox 360) Review
Posted by John Curry on 07.24.2008
A tennis game that people who like tennis games will like.
Now before we even get into the review of this game I think it is only fair of me to make it known that while I do love tennis games , I have not watched a single tennis event since the last Agassi vs. Sampras match. I have played tennis before but I am in no way even a casual fan of the real sport, however, I have played almost every tennis game to ever come out. There is just something so simplistically cerebral about the sport of tennis that intrigues me. It is really the most simple of sports I can think of that is played between two people. A ball, two rackets and a net, that is all it takes to play tennis physically. Mentally is a different story. Every tennis game brings something new to the world of tennis in some form or another and is always an advancement on the original tennis game, Pong. The question is how well they execute their game. Now I have played Top Spin and Top Spin 2 before and found them to be one of the most enjoyable tennis series I have played and was very interested in checking out Top Spin 3 for the Xbox 360.
Gameplay
I don’t claim to know all of the proper lingo or terminology for the sport of tennis so I ask t hat you at least bear with me while I use the terms I am familiar with. The gameplay is one of the most complicated I have seen from a tennis game in a long time. The goal of 2K Sports was to present what they called the “most authentic tennis video game,” to of which I can say they succeeded, however, at a cost. The controls are frequently upsetting and confusing. In order to execute any shot you must consider the shot, your players momentum and the ability to center or line your play up for the shot you plan to execute. This means if you want to have a front forehand shot from the right hand you must line your body up accordingly and execute it properly. This method of swinging your racquet can be confusing to the point where you actually are frustrated but after a few matches you should have no difficulty using the shots.
The second issue I found with this game is the randomness of the AI of your opponents when it comes to a match. No matter who you use in this game and who you play against you will find yourself facing an opponent who is being aced on a 60mph serve and then returning a 140mph serve. You will find yourself missing “risk” shots (high risk shots that have big payoffs) as much as your opponent, then all of the sudden your opponent will tear off three or four risk shots in a row. The AI on this game is questionable but still provides an enjoyable time playing.
The multiplayer is the most enjoyable aspect of this game. Simply playing against someone makes this game better as the confusion of the controls felt by both players adds a little parity to the game. However, outside of simply reading the scores or rankings if you prefer, most of us had no clue as to who a vast majority of the players were. If they had not been in a Canon commercial we didn’t know who they were, which led to most selections being based solely upon the ranking systems.
The one part of the game I enjoyed was the ability to create my own player which allowed me to customize them completely down the style of grunts I wanted my character to have when I hit the ball. The game also has the online option which allows you to have single or doubles matches online. While this is a great part of the game, I did not find that there were very many people online playing Top Spin 3 which was a little discouraging for me.
Graphics
This is the strongest aspect of the game. The graphics are absolutely top notch and move at a very fluid rate without any glitches or lagging whatsoever. The greatest part about the graphics is the attention to the little details that many people overlook when they make sports games like this. For instance, each one of the different styled courts and venues is impeccably done to mimic the real location. If you are on grass you slide a little differently than if you are on clay, which is apparent in the graphics. After so long of playing a match you will start to notice your player may be covered in red clay, with sweat pouring down their face and them hunched over with fatigue. While these don’t play into the actual game very much, they add tremendously to the authentic feeling 2K Sports is trying to achieve. The only complaint I have about the graphics is, while the game is played from a top down style, it does seem as if you are miles away from the action.
Tell me this doesn’t look almost like a televised match.
Sound
The sounds on this game are amazing as they mimic the true atmosphere of a tennis match. There is no music during the matches and it is relatively silent until someone scores or a great back and forth match ensues. When the crowd does get in on the action it is well done and does not come across as canned. While there is going to be a certain consensus that there should be music during matches or anything that mimics the more “mainstream” sports games, those who play this game will appreciate the high quality sound and the accuracy of fan involvement at a major tennis event.
Lasting Appeal
This is difficult for me to really breakdown the lasting appeal of. The fact is that tennis games have almost an unlimited amount of lasting appeal if someone enjoys tennis. The problem is what style of tennis you like. If you prefer the more cartoony aspect of tennis such as Mario Tennis or Sonic Superstars Tennis then this isn’t going to last very long for you. If you enjoy the more authentic tennis experience then this game will last forever for you. Either way you will enjoy this game for a decent amount of time.
The 411
2K Sports took two steps forward and three steps back on Top Spin 3. They have managed to capture one of the most authentic and real tennis games to ever hit a game console while at the same time making the control system so complicated and annoying that the game loses the enjoyment that Top Spin is known for. Is this the worst tennis game you could purchase? Absolutely not, however, you must know going in to this game that you will have to adjust yourself to the new control system and give the game a chance before letting your frustration take over. If you do you will be rewarded with a great tennis experience that sets the bar for future authentic focused tennis games.
Graphics
9.0
Not much to complain about except I would like to have seen a closer camera angle that the mile high cam.
Gameplay
7.0
The game is fun but the controls are very hard to figure out especially if you are a pick up and play person.
Sound
10.0
The epitome of what a tennis game should sound like.
Lasting Appeal
7.5
The game is fun for single player, multiplayer and online fun. There are many different tournament styles, courts, players and more to keep you occupied for a while. However, if you don’t enjoy authentic games you will not keep this game as long.
