2K Sports' Top Spin 3 seems like an ideal game for the Nintendo Wii, with motion-sensitive controls, four-player match-ups and mini-games. However, it's not much fun to play, thanks to ridiculously difficult computer opponents and too few extras.
First off, Top Spin 3 lacks a Career Mode, something other versions (even the DS) have. 2K Sports replaced it with a Road To Glory mode, with a number of pre-set challenges with various tennis superstars, such as Maria Sharapova and James Blake. Unfortunately, this mode is shallow and lacks variety. Furthermore, you can't create a player or track your individual stats.
To its credit, this game is much easier to play than its counterparts. Serving is done with the Nunchuk or manually with a swing of the Wii remote. As for returning the ball, you simply hold the Wii remote on its side (as you would a real racket), press and hold the B button and swing, occasionally hitting the Z button on the Nunchuk for top spin or other ball effects. You still, however, run the risk of missing a swing or walking into the ball.
Although the controls are decent, the computer-controlled opponents are vicious. Even on the easiest difficulty, you'll barely get any balls past these pros. Just when you think you're in the clear for a smash shot, they somehow react with superhuman strength, dive over and hit the ball, leaving you scrambling before it bounces out of bounds.
Mini-games are available outside of the exhibition and Road To Glory modes. These are broken into three groups: The Keys (Single), The Keys (Double) and Invincible Man, which challenges you to play each match until you lose. The Keys' events, however, feature various tennis matches. One has you playing your way through a classic Mexican tournament, while another pits you against three other players in a Final Square match. Again, though, the computer plays too aggressively. Find three friends to play alongside you, however, and it gets better. Unfortunately, the game doesn't support online play, so you're stuck with local competition.
Even though Top Spin 3 comes up short in many areas, its below-average presentation is its worst issue. There simply isn't enough bang for your $50. Its visuals are a huge step down from the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, with poorly rendered players (even Sharapova doesn't look hot, and she's always hot), very little crowd activity and occasional slowdown problems. Some of the stadiums look decent, but have GameCube quality graphics.
As for audio, the sound effects are sub par. You can hear the ball smacking off rackets, slight crowd reactions and ball bounces. That's it. No player voice work, no lively announcers, nothing. Libraries produce more noise than this.
Unless you're a dedicated tennis fan, there's no reason to consider Top Spin 3. The computer is on steroids, the presentation is watered down and the lack of player building and career options are a disappointment. Save your cash for Sega Superstars Tennis instead, or just stick with the tennis game in Wii Sports. It's ten times more fun than this.
Reader Comments (2)
Seriously, this review was horrible, you kept repeating yourself, and you said things twice. I want my five minutes 300 seconds back. It's three in the morning and I can still tell this review was garbage.
hire new editor, or stop repeating yourself, be sure to hire new editor.