Customer Reviews

Top Spin 3

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Top Spin 3, the latest in the series started by Top Spin on the original Xbox, revamps the rather simple control system of the first two games into one that is quite a bit more complex and intricate, but eventually more rewarding. Holding the shot button does not automatically move you into position, nor does it guarantee a good shot - now you must watch the ball, manually move into the correct position, and release the button at the correct time in order to hit a decent shot. Being in the wrong position or mistiming the button release leads to weak shots and errors. There is a "Tennis School" section devoted to helping players learn the new system and unlearn habits from the previous games, but only with repeated practice does the system become second nature. When everything starts to click, though, the game becomes very satisfying - you know it was your skill and experience that let you hit that screamer down the line, not the computer's automated hand-holding.

The character and ball movements have been slowed down, putting a greater emphasis on timing and precision. Two buttons have been mapped to have your character quickly run to either the center of the baseline or the net, but at the expense of stamina. This new stamina system ratchets up the tension and realism of the matches. Play well and run your opponent ragged, and he will start making loose errors as his heart rate increases. Likewise, your own timing and concentration must be maintained as your avatar's stamina decreases and his potential for making mistakes becomes greater. This gives a heightened sense of drama to the longer matches that was missing in previous games.

Other high points are a very well-done character customization feature and the usage of fictional characters on the tour (so that one isn't playing an inexplicably unskilled Federer in the first round of some random tournament). Tennis aficionados will appreciate the detailed stat sheets after matches, the increased frequency of aces, and the improved effectiveness of the service game. No longer are serves just a perfunctory start of a point - now it is much easier to hold when serving well, and conversely much more difficult to simply pound returns into corners.

For me, the flaws of this game are a period of frustration when learning the controls, and a rather dull presentation to the career mode, especially compared to the globe interface of Virtua Tennis 3. I don't play online, so I can't comment on that.

In all, this is an excellent game that achieves its goal of being a detailed tennis sim. As long as one is not expecting a pick-up-and-play experience like that of the older games or the Virtua Tennis series, and is willing to put in the effort to learn the new gameplay system, the benefits of the increased complexity quickly pay off.

Everyone is writing how difficult Top Spin 3 is and giving it a low rating because of that fact. I have no argument with the fact that the controls are challenging to master. In fact, I have far from mastered them at this point. However once you are able to nail down the timing on the shots and you start to play by feel, the game is awesome and success is very gratifying.

I'm currently playing through my career on easy mode for the sake a achievements. Occassionally I change to normal mode for more of a challenge. Unlike Top Spin 2, you can't just play the baseline and keep hitting power shots. You need to master drop shots, lobs and net play.

If you want to be able to sit down with the game and master it in 10 minutes, this is NOT the game for you. It is precisely that reason that I really like Top Spin 3. Don't let the mediocre star rating dissuade you. If you like a challenge, you will definitely enjoy this game!

I may as well throw in that the graphics are great and the animations look awesome. The character creator is very thorough as well, although the character weight is generated by how you design his or her physique. I have found their weights seem to be a bit light for how I have designed my characters. This does not affect gameplay, so I don't really care.

Also, Rafael Nadal is not available a character in the game. You should know that going in, so you are not disappointed. From what I understand, it has to do with licensing and Sony exclusivity for the PS3. If you're dying to play as him, you'll need to get the PS3 version.

Don't believe the reviews that the controls are horrible. The layout of the controls couldn't be any better in my opinion to achieve the level of realism Top Spin 3 does. It is very close to playing real tennis in strategy, positioning, and timing of the ball. If you are pushing A for every shot and wondering why you're getting destroyed, this game isn't for you.

Use some tennis knowledge and you'll do much better.
For example:
The best position to get the max power isn't when the ball is as close as possible to your body, but where the arm can be fully extended.
If going cross court, use top spin.
If the ball is coming fast, use backspin to give yourself time to get back in position.
Don't hit backspin forehands if you can help it.
etc.

It's a great game for someone who knows how to play tennis. I recommend it 10 times over the mindless ball bashing games that take no skill whatsoever (Virtua Tennis).

This game's not bad but I find it difficult to do well unless I'm playing on the easiest setting. I play a lot of Xbox sports games and I'm fairly good on most of them, but I've found Top Spin 3 difficult to pick up on. As a result it hasn't been that much fun to play. I'm going to stick it out for a little while then thinking about selling it back.

I disagree with the majority of people who think the game is a letdown. If you played real tennis in your life then this is the game for you! It is done very realistic. You gotta time the ball well, you gotta move to the ball, stop, get balanced and then hit(release). Pretty much a lot like in real tennis.

Plus the graphics are amazing, the characters swing like the real ones.

But yes, it is a very hard game for a person who does not understand the specifics of tennis.

Great game though!

Like my title says, wait for Smash Court Tennis 3. I played the Japanese version of it last year and was greatly pleased. I didn't try too much of the career mode because the text was all in Japanese.

Back to Top Spin, I was a huge fan of the first one, but both sequels have been total letdowns. The graphics are amazing (a major improvement compared SCT3), though the player models STILL aren't up to par (Fed's face looks like he ate a few Big Macs before the match). The new controller layout and gameplay is going to leave quite a few people miffed before they finish a match. Other little details like: not being able to challenge line calls, poor career mode setup, and players moving akwardly at times (all things SCT3 does better) make this game no more than a rental.

This game is very realistic but also very slow. Every few times when serving, the game seems to become laggy/choppy. Gameplay is very slow and the players movement (or lack thereof) is frustrating. I would recommend Virtua Tennis 3 unless you are a die hard tennis lover or play tennis yourself. On a positive note, the added changes such as player fatigue is fantastic. Player models and attitudes are very realistic. One last lame thing is no Nadal (no rights blah blah) and no Wimbledon. Doesn't seem like tennis without Wimbledon :)

I like it, but the only thing is that I find this game a little bit complicated on the controlling hits. It doesn't follow the normal methodology compared to the other games, or even the other TopSpin versions. I like it though. Great graphics. For the ones who love tennis, you'll notice how similar the player's moves are.

Top Spin 3 is, simply put, my favorite sports game I have played on a console. Now, granted, I am a huge tennis fan, but this is seriously an awesome game. The mechanics of the game take awhile to get used to (it's pretty picky about timing and such), but once you get the hang of it, it is so much fun to strategize out your shots, hit an awesome forehand down the line, and smash a serve on the T! I am currently using the Career mode, which allows you to design your own character, then advance your abilities as you play through your career. It is exciting to play as yourself, and it's a lot of fun to see your player get better and better. You get to choose which areas in which your player advances, so you can have a really good forehand or backhand, lots of power, great serves, etc. I've probably played around 30 hours so far, and I'm not even halfway through the "Pro" level (still have "Veteran" level to go!). If you're a tennis fan and have enough patience to learn how to play the game, this is well worth it!

I enjoyed the first two topspin games. This one is horrible. They tried to add in new features but butchered the playability. Unless your stats are high in an area, you will be worse than a first time tennis player. Don't bother playing this.