 
|
|
ESRB: 
Platform: XBox 360
Category: Sports
|
Graphics 8 |
Sound 6 |
Gameplay 7 |
Tilt 7.5 ||
Overall 7.7
Author: Shad F
|
Developer: PAM Development
Publisher: 2K Sports
Features
1-2 Players
Online Multiplayer: 1-2 Players
EDTV: 480p
HDTV: 720p/1080i
Online Stat Tracking
I think the challenge in making a tennis game is how you differentiate it from the inevitable comparisons to a game of Pong. Although I am a fan of tennis games I really didn’t get into Top Spin 2 all that much as I found it to be quite unbalanced. I recently was given the chance to review the third chapter in the Top Spin series though, Top Spin 3 and to be perfectly honest I wasn’t sure what to expect. After some time with the game, in both single player and multiplayer modes, I must admit that I have come away from my playtime fairly impressed.
Graphics
The graphics in Top Spin 3 are pretty good, often in their own subtle way. Animations are fluid with the occasional hiccup occurring if your player isn't positioned properly when hitting the ball. It should be noted these hiccups did not detract from the overall gameplay experience. In terms of the player's likenesses I do have to admit that I have seen far better likenesses in other games but the faces definitely do the job. Amazingly you will see players sweat as their match progresses and they will even burn if they are playing under the hot midday sun. Clouds often cast moving shadows on the court during a match too. These little touches are subtle but are a very nice effect which added to the realism of the game's visuals.
The same cannot be said about the crowd though. The crowds while three dimensional; seem flat and lacking in individuality. The spectators all seem to move in unison when they react to the play, making them look kind of like a field of wheat. I know that crowds have always been tough to get right, but you would think that with the number of sports games out there that crowds would be much more refined and realistic.
Sound
Tennis is not an incredibly sound intensive game to begin with, but overall the sounds in Top Spin 3 were somewhat disappointing. Most prominent is the thin and unresponsive crowd noise. They just don't sound all that great and don’t do anything to really make you feel like you are there. This seems to be an issue I have across most 2K Sports games. Perhaps it’s the fact that the crowd noise doesn’t really surround you and isn’t loud enough when compared to the other sound effects in the game.
All the little things that one might associate with tennis games are represented well though. Players will grunt as much or as little as you’d like them to and you’ll hear the clay crunch under someone’s feet as they slide to make a great shot. However, the lack of any sort of commentator made me shake my head. In this day and age of “next-gen” consoles, I would have thought commentators in any fashion would be the norm.
Gameplay
Much like NHL ‘07 forced hockey players to essentially relearn a control scheme, Top Spin 3’s new swing control system may be a bit intimidating at first. Having to hold and then let go of the button to swing at the ball feels awkward at first, but stick with it and it becomes quite natural. This really helps to enhance the gameplay beyond the typical Pong comparisons. Everything is physics based now so you cannot just run side to side with your button mashed and ready to go. You have to factor in where you are in relation to the ball and timing comes far more into play, just like in real tennis. Obviously there's a learning curve but I believe that Top Spin 3 is a better game because of the new controls.
Risk shots have also been refined and the gameplay is better for it. Gone is the meter from Top Spin 2 and risk shots aren’t so automatic any more. Hold the R trigger while making a shot to go for extra power or hold the L trigger to go for a more precise shot towards the line. You can also hold both triggers down for even a bit more powerful shot. All this provides a very nice feeling of risk/reward. But be forewarned, you must be in proper position and put a well timed swing on the ball in order to be successful with these shots.
There is a new stamina meter for the players in Top Spin 3. This meter is affected by such things like the heat, how much you run during rallies, and even how much you start and stop. This meter is nicely visible before each point begins and adds a layer of strategy into the game. Running your opponent around the court now offers a reward. As that player fatigues, they become less effective much like you would expect to see in a real game of tennis.
Career mode is pretty linear but with no main hub/world like we have seen in previous games. When starting your career you first create a player. This process allows for a ton of options to customize the visual look, however you cannot map your own face using the Xbox VISION camera, and I think 2K missed something here. Being able to add your own face via face mapping would have been a cool feature. After you create your character you then play up through the ranks to the pro tour and then on to play legends like Borg and Becker on their best surfaces. You gain points to rank up along the way.
While the career mode is quite linear, upgrading and new items are always accessible at the in-between matches menu. So, even if you are in the middle of a tournament you are able to upgrade your player before the next match. I thought this was a nice touch. Playing through the early levels can be a bit of a grind but the game gets a lot more enjoyable as your stats improve allowing you to start hitting the ball with far greater precision and power.
It is a treat to see the US, French and Australian Opens all well represented and there is a good selection of tennis players in the game. However, I'd like to see more playable pros and Wimbledon included in the game. 2K’s strong online options continue with the ability to play four player doubles matches and a fun ranked World Tour mode. Top Spin 3 also offers excellent online stats tracking. Other sports game developers should take note of how 2K Sports do their online features.
That said, there's something lacking to this game and I think it is the intensity and impact, or lack thereof. While great steps have been taken to improve the variety of rallies and matches, Top Spin 3 still gives me that “been there, done that” feeling. It also just doesn't feel like you're hitting a ball hard for whatever reason. Maybe it is the sound, but regardless of what it is I just can’t place my finger on it. It just doesn’t have that “oomph” I was hoping for. I should also note that the gameplay feels somewhat slower than a real tennis match. Perhaps this is done for gameplay reasons but I think it takes away from the intensity that tennis can provide.
Conclusion
I approached Top Spin 3 with open expectations and walked away rather impressed. The new controls may not be a revolutionary step forward but they feel like a natural evolution in the series. However, I just can’t get over that feeling that I’ve done this before. Minor complaints aside though 2K has done a good job in creating a game that is more refined and offers more variety than previous tennis games that have come before it. I would have to say that Top Spin 3 is a game worth adding to your collection, especially if you are a sports orientated videogamer.
|
 pic 1.JPG)
 pic 2.JPG)
 pic 3.JPG)
 pic 4.JPG)
 pic 5.JPG)
 pic 6.JPG)
 pic 7.JPG)
|
»
||
|
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to our RSS feed of Reviews boxart.JPG)
