Given that one of the first and most iconic videogames ever created was a representation of tennis, it's surprising that there have been so few great tennis games since Pong. Luckily, we have Virtual Tennis from Sega, one of the finest sports games ever created – with that game in mind Top Spin has an awful lot to live up to.
Thankfully, Microsoft's venture into the world of tennis is utterly intoxicating. Top Spin is perhaps the finest sports game you will play this year. There's a loving attention to detail at every level of the game.
The learning curve of Top Spin is beautifully weighted and anyone will be able to pick up and play the game right away. The left stick is used to move the player and direct shot direction. The ABXY buttons each correspond to a different shot or serve, so we have safe shot (A), topspin (B), slice (X) and lob (Y). Twitch timing isn't required and the player can begin charging up a shop once the ball has passed over the net. It's this simplicity that draws one in to the game making it so immediately accessible.
The trigger buttons are used for trickier risk shots. One tap reveals a moving bar the object being to hit the button again when the bar is in the centre. It's very tricky in practice but progression through the game isn't dependent on mastering the risk functions. When a player is on a winning streak, winning several points or smashing aces the In The Zone (ITZ) bar is filled. A full bar makes it easier to nail the risk shots but it's something that many players will need to master if playing online.
Alongside the traditional exhibition games is the expansive career mode. Upon beginning, this mode it seems almost like an RPG. The level of detail one can go into when creating the player's physical appearance is staggering. Being a sentimental type, I decided to recreate my girlfriend within the game as my main career player. The player creation is fun in itself and one could while away hours tinkering with nostril width, jaw line strength, eye colours etc. After ten minutes or so, I had a reasonable facsimile of my significant other – even though I didn't quite manage to capture the cuteness of her nose.
The career map features continents containing competitions, training areas, accessory shops and sponsors. The aim of the career is to become world number one and that's a long road ahead. Winning events or gaining sponsorship earns money that can be spent on more apparel and accessories for the player and more importantly, training to improve the player stats. Training schools take the form of mini-games that serve to teach the player new skills and improve the accuracy and power of the controls.
At times, the career mode is reminiscent of Pro Evolution football games in the lack of many recognisable players. The game does feature a small number of real tennis stars such as Anna Kournikova and Pete Sampras, but it's hardly representative of the current top flight among both male and female tennis stars. However, the world rankings in the game feature numerous stylistic and graphically different developer created players to keep the player occupied.
The engaging single player mode is complimented by the inclusion of great online player courtesy of Xbox Live and the XSN sports system. Games are lag free and great fun – especially when laying down some verbal whupass via the Xbox Live headset.
There are few sports games that look and move as well as Top Spin. Each of the player models is very detailed with superb motion captured animations that seamlessly blend between different moves. The courts, from park practice courts to grand slam final stadiums, are all rendered in great detailed with full 3D crowds. Incidental details, such as the working serve speedometer, show the level of care and attention put into the visual elements of the game.
Sonically the game doesn't really wow. The correct thwacks of tennis are there and cheers from the crowd. But for a sports title it lacks the kind of commentary we have come to expect from sports sims these days.
The real joy to be had in Top Spin is taking the game online. Xbox Live games are lag free and a whole lot of fun, especially when engaged in some sledging via the Xbox Live headset. The experience is a little different from the action games where you can drop in and out, but in my experience people playing Top Spin stick around to finish the matches.
