Top Spin 3 (Xbox360)
- Publisher:
- 2K Sports
- Developer:
- Pam Development
- Release Date:
- 27.05.2008
- Number of players:
- n/a
- Sport Type:
- Traditional
- Sport:
- Tennis
We play Top Spin 3...
PAM Development’s Top Spin titles have long been the leading tennis games on the Xbox, so it’s only fitting that they’d release another. Top Spin 3 continues their fine tradition of tennis games, but a few of the major changes to the series serve to make the game far less accessible than it was before, even if said changes will appeal to the tennis hardcore.
The most significant change to Top Spin’s gameplay is immediately noticeable. The vast majority of tennis games up to this point work in a pretty similar way; the player presses a button to hit the ball. Top Spin 3 turns this control system up on its head. Rather than just simply pressing a button, Top Spin 3’s hits are initiated by holding the button and letting it go when you want to make contact. It might not sound like much, but it significantly alters the way the game plays.
Whereas before Top Spin was touted as a tennis game that was easy to pick up and play, but harder to master, the game now has a much higher learning curve. It will take players quite a while before they learn the exact timing needed to unleash a decent shot – and don’t expect the computer to go easy on you while you do. The computer controlled players rarely make any timing errors. Players also have to take note of a number of other factors, like the power and direction of the shot, and their balance when making it. There are a whole heap of different shot types and modifiers you can place onto a shot or serve.
On top of that, the risk shot mechanics have changed. Fortunately, this change is for the better, as players no longer have to worry about getting an indicator to a certain part of a meter for the shot to be successful; you merely have to make sure you get the right timing and don’t overload the shot’s power. As a result, risk shots are easier to learn to fully utilise, and become a much more important part of your arsenal. It is highly recommended that players go to the Tennis School to learn the fundamentals of Top Spin 3’s control system before tackling any other mode.
Top Spin 3 features a number of different play modes; exhibition, career, tournament, and online and offline multiplayer variations. 2K has licensed over 40 different professional players, including current stars like Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, James Blake and Amelie Muresmo, as well as legends of the game such as Boris Becker and Monica Seles. Unfortunately, recent Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal is exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version of the game. You can also create your own player with the fairly robust player creation tool.
The career mode takes a slightly different path from the previous two games, making players compete in amateur challenges before they can join the junior, and later professional tour circuits. Once you’re on the circuit, you get the choice of two tournaments each month, one easy and one hard. As you beat the competition and win tournaments, you gain experience points to increase your attributes, unlock points for buying new clothes, and cash. The harder the competition, the more prizes you will win. When you reach the top of the professional circuit, you can enter the Hall of Fame challenge, where you will play against the best players to grace Centre Court.
Alternatively, you could just play in the Tournament mode, which brings together 20 of the 40-odd tournaments from the career mode over into one self contained game. 2K secured licenses for the majority of the major events and grand slams, like the US Open, French Open and Australian Open, but unfortunately, the All England Club did not grant them the Wimbledon license. Top Spin 3 has a fairly robust online mode. Players can opt to play one-off singles and doubles matches against friends and random players, or they can choose to enter the World Tour. The World Tour is sort of like an online version of the career mode, offering the same sort of tournament/prize/points structure, except that all of your opponents are real players. While online play is relatively lag free, many of the online players are particularly talented, making it difficult for new players to get into the game.
Top Spin 3 is a pretty good looking game. Many of the licensed players look pretty close to their real selves, but the really cool thing is that PAM went to the effort of making sure they move and play like themselves too. More impressive is the painstakingly accurate recreation of the various tennis courts from around the world, especially Roland Garros and Rod Laver Arena. The frame rate does get a little boggy at the start of a match, but is fine during gameplay. Various licensed music tracks play on the menus, but most of the in-game sound is from the umpire’s calls, player grunts and the sound of racquets smashing balls.
The latest Top Spin game should appeal to tennis fans looking for a game that takes some of the more intricate aspects of the sport into consideration. Unfortunately, in doing so, Top Spin 3 seems to veer from the series’ mantra of accessible to anyone. Still, with a deep single player career mode, and a robust online component, Top Spin 3 has plenty to offer anyone looking for a solid tennis sim.
Top Game Moment: During my first tournament on the Junior circuit, I’d breezed through the rounds but met some stiff competition in the final. In deuce in the final game of the match, a well-placed but off-balanced risk shot landed just in front of the baseline, helping me to win the match.
The most significant change to Top Spin’s gameplay is immediately noticeable. The vast majority of tennis games up to this point work in a pretty similar way; the player presses a button to hit the ball. Top Spin 3 turns this control system up on its head. Rather than just simply pressing a button, Top Spin 3’s hits are initiated by holding the button and letting it go when you want to make contact. It might not sound like much, but it significantly alters the way the game plays.
 |
 |
|
| Two legends share strategies | A cocky, yet effective shot |
Whereas before Top Spin was touted as a tennis game that was easy to pick up and play, but harder to master, the game now has a much higher learning curve. It will take players quite a while before they learn the exact timing needed to unleash a decent shot – and don’t expect the computer to go easy on you while you do. The computer controlled players rarely make any timing errors. Players also have to take note of a number of other factors, like the power and direction of the shot, and their balance when making it. There are a whole heap of different shot types and modifiers you can place onto a shot or serve.
On top of that, the risk shot mechanics have changed. Fortunately, this change is for the better, as players no longer have to worry about getting an indicator to a certain part of a meter for the shot to be successful; you merely have to make sure you get the right timing and don’t overload the shot’s power. As a result, risk shots are easier to learn to fully utilise, and become a much more important part of your arsenal. It is highly recommended that players go to the Tennis School to learn the fundamentals of Top Spin 3’s control system before tackling any other mode.
Top Spin 3 features a number of different play modes; exhibition, career, tournament, and online and offline multiplayer variations. 2K has licensed over 40 different professional players, including current stars like Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, James Blake and Amelie Muresmo, as well as legends of the game such as Boris Becker and Monica Seles. Unfortunately, recent Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal is exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version of the game. You can also create your own player with the fairly robust player creation tool.
 |
 |
|
| Smash it down court! | Don’t blame the racquet |
The career mode takes a slightly different path from the previous two games, making players compete in amateur challenges before they can join the junior, and later professional tour circuits. Once you’re on the circuit, you get the choice of two tournaments each month, one easy and one hard. As you beat the competition and win tournaments, you gain experience points to increase your attributes, unlock points for buying new clothes, and cash. The harder the competition, the more prizes you will win. When you reach the top of the professional circuit, you can enter the Hall of Fame challenge, where you will play against the best players to grace Centre Court.
Alternatively, you could just play in the Tournament mode, which brings together 20 of the 40-odd tournaments from the career mode over into one self contained game. 2K secured licenses for the majority of the major events and grand slams, like the US Open, French Open and Australian Open, but unfortunately, the All England Club did not grant them the Wimbledon license. Top Spin 3 has a fairly robust online mode. Players can opt to play one-off singles and doubles matches against friends and random players, or they can choose to enter the World Tour. The World Tour is sort of like an online version of the career mode, offering the same sort of tournament/prize/points structure, except that all of your opponents are real players. While online play is relatively lag free, many of the online players are particularly talented, making it difficult for new players to get into the game.
Top Spin 3 is a pretty good looking game. Many of the licensed players look pretty close to their real selves, but the really cool thing is that PAM went to the effort of making sure they move and play like themselves too. More impressive is the painstakingly accurate recreation of the various tennis courts from around the world, especially Roland Garros and Rod Laver Arena. The frame rate does get a little boggy at the start of a match, but is fine during gameplay. Various licensed music tracks play on the menus, but most of the in-game sound is from the umpire’s calls, player grunts and the sound of racquets smashing balls.
 |
 |
|
| Can you beat the king? | Roddick is class on grass |
The latest Top Spin game should appeal to tennis fans looking for a game that takes some of the more intricate aspects of the sport into consideration. Unfortunately, in doing so, Top Spin 3 seems to veer from the series’ mantra of accessible to anyone. Still, with a deep single player career mode, and a robust online component, Top Spin 3 has plenty to offer anyone looking for a solid tennis sim.
Top Game Moment: During my first tournament on the Junior circuit, I’d breezed through the rounds but met some stiff competition in the final. In deuce in the final game of the match, a well-placed but off-balanced risk shot landed just in front of the baseline, helping me to win the match.
