Games

Best of 2009 | 08 |07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Top Spin 3

EMAIL PRINT ps3

7.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 36 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: 2K Sports

Developer: PAM Development

Genre(s): Sports, Tennis

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: June 23, 2008

Summary

Top Spin 3 immerses players in a visually and physically realistic tennis experience. Using next generation technology, gameplay and graphics, Top Spin 3 is a tennis experience with dynamic weather changes, evolutionary player visuals and comprehensive online offerings. In Top Spin 3, players compete online and offline to rise in the ranks against current top ranked professional players. Adding a unique user-generated component, players can also use new player creator features that include free-form body sculpting, makeup and tattoos. [2K Sports]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Top Spin

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

MEGamers

If you’re looking for a faithful recreation of tennis, you’ve found it. With immense attention to detail, Top Spin 3 is a must have for any tennis nutter.

Read Full Review >

Pelit (Finland)

Top Spin 3 is much more realistic than the previous games of the series, mostly because of the new control mechanics. It takes more than just slapping the ball around to beat the versatile AI. However, to succeed one does not have to use the whole shot variety, which takes some depth out of the game. [Sept 2008]

Worth Playing

It doesn't reinvent the genre or bring anything amazingly new to the community, but as Tiger Woods has done for golf titles, Top Spin does for tennis.

Read Full Review >

Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

Reinforcing its clear contrast with other tennis games, Top Spin 3 is not a title for the simply curious. The gameplay is difficult and complex, but as soon as you get over the learning curve, you gain access to one of the most rewarding and realistic tennis experiences to date. And if you take in account the different game modes, all the real tennis fans will simply love it. [Aug 2008]

PTGamers

Top Spin 3 may seem hard to master, and effectively it is. It demands patience and commitment, but rewards the player with excellent play.

Read Full Review >

Gameplanet

A fast paced, fluid tennis simulation. The steep learning curve will put off those wanting a quick, arcade tennis bash, but if you take the time to learn the game it is a rewarding, fun experience.

Read Full Review >

PSX Extreme

All in all, if you can get around the learning curve of Top Spin 3 and give it some time, you'll find a solid experience out of this tennis sim. If you're looking for a game that properly represents the sport of tennis, Top Spin 3 fulfills that criteria.

Read Full Review >

AceGamez

A lot of work has gone into this title to make it challenging, rewarding and a lot of fun for the casual player (if a bit tough in places).

Read Full Review >

GameSpot

Top Spin 3 is a great tennis game, offering a deep challenge for diehard fans and one of the closest experiences to playing a grand slam.

Read Full Review >

IGN AU

As longstanding fans of this series, we're partly very impressed with Top Spin 3 and partly let down. On the one hand the new gameplay mechanics have been implemented really well, but on the other we just can't believe the team still hasn't got the risk/power shots right.

Read Full Review >

VideoGamer

Top Spin 3 is by far the best tennis sim on the market, but there's still plenty of room for improvement.

Read Full Review >

GameZone

There is a huge learning curve and some frustration when you, as the gamer, react but the controls are sluggish in responding. However, once you find that flow in the controls, and once you start to work up your player to the point where you can compete well, start getting a feel for the court, serving up aces or returning that power stroke inside the line, the game rewards will a real sense of achievement.

Read Full Review >

Destructoid

The control scheme’s simple hold-and-release button press mechanic belies its depth, and while there’s a steep learning curve that makes the game somewhat inaccessible to newcomers, it’s worth sticking to. The game is beautiful to look at, and it provides a fantastic simulation of tennis.

Read Full Review >

GamePro

The player-creation mode is decent but not great. Those gamers who have mastered the art of rendering their likeness onto the small screen may have a difficult time here.

Read Full Review >

Playstation Universe

Despite its obvious flaws, Top Spin 3 still manages to put Virtua Tennis to shame and provides a solid gameplay experience for both hardcore and casual gamers alike.

Read Full Review >

Gamer 2.0

When all's said and done, Top Spin 3 is very much the best simulation tennis game out there, though it’s not like there's much competition in that corner of the tennis market.

Read Full Review >

Gamers.at

Everybody who just can’t get enough of Tennis Games, should give this game a shot. Everyone else would be well advised to stick with Virtua Tennis.

Read Full Review >

IGN

It’s in the emotional aspect of the sport that TS3 loses steam. There’s so much more to the present-day brand of tennis than what is represented here.

Read Full Review >

PSM3 Magazine UK

An acquired taste, but more rewarding than 'VT3" over the long term. [Aug 2008, p.70]

Game Informer

With more responsive movement controls and a better transition game Top Spin 3 could have been king of the court, but for now it will have to settle for being tagged as a promising but flawed prospect. [Aug 2008, p.86]

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

If you liked the previous Top Spin games, or if you wish to study the grand, majestic sport of professional tennis, then you should definitely buy Top Spin 3. But if you want to play tennis, the game, then you should probably go snag a copy of Virtua Tennis 3 (or even Sega Superstars Tennis) on the cheap right now.

Read Full Review >

Game Revolution

Top Spin 3 latches onto back-to-basics tennis, focusing its full attention on the play, power, and flow of the sport. The result is fairly straightforward but strong enough for anyone to pick up and appreciate the sport for what it is.

Read Full Review >

PALGN

Top Spin 3 is a decent game with an incredible learning curve. Anyone who has the patience to stick with it will enjoy the game, but anyone who is just a casual fan of tennis games will be put off by the steep learning curve.

Read Full Review >

Gameplayer

Casual gamers looking for a pick-up-and-play tennis game are likely to be disappointed by Top Spin 3. But for those who are willing to invest some time in coming to grips with the game’s controls, there’s a seriously good tennis game here that will deliver a lot of satisfaction.

Read Full Review >

DailyGame

The changes to Top Spin 3 are only good for hardcore tennis fans. For most gamers, the new animation-dependent learning curve will replace the fun gameplay elements with literal gameplay mechanics.

Read Full Review >

Cheat Code Central

Virtua Tennis fans need not apply; this is tennis done more accurately...for better or worse. The game may not serve up an ace, but it makes for a solid set.

Read Full Review >

Play UK

As you might have predicted, this is not for fans of pick-up-and-play titles and neither is it necessarily for fans of other tennis games, but for those with the determination and dexterity of an actual tennis player, it offers plenty.

Read Full Review >

GameSpy

The learning curve is steep, but those who enjoy a challenge might just end up embracing the greater level of realistic gameplay that only Top Spin 3 can offer.

Read Full Review >

NZGamer

The game is also limited by what is missing. There is no Wimbledon, no Williams sisters and no Ana Ivanovic, and although Roddick and Murray might draw some interest from the US and UK, they don’t have the same effect at this end of the world. And there is also the fact that it’s a sport sim.

Read Full Review >

PSW Magazine UK

Top Spin 3 really won't be to everyone's tastes, and Virtua Tennis fans needn't bother.

Read Full Review >

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

The most realistic tennis simulation ever made. With realism also comes hard work with challenging training, difficult gameplay and especially a very lengthy career mode. [Aug 2008]

Playstation Official Magazine UK

Why would anyone make a game with not one but two sets of crippled controls? [Aug 2008, p.102]

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

Hardcore tennis fans may enjoy the practice and repetition necessary to master the game, but most gamers will be frustrated by the tedious process of acquiring that expertise. [Sept 2008, p.80]

1UP

It's a bit of an awkward comparison, but I see shades of "Ninja Gaiden" here: It's unassailably gratifying when the mechanics finally click and you start slicing and volleying your way to victory, but at the same time, it's prohibitive to folks who don't want to spend hours in the school of hard knocks, pursuing what should be a relatively uncomplicated act of learning the game's basic rules and logic.

Read Full Review >

NTSC-uk

True tennis fans will probably find some mileage in Top Spin, even if only against similarly minded friends, but for most this will go down as a bland and ultimately disappointing game that takes realism a step too far and squashes any concept of fun in the process.

Read Full Review >

G4 TV

Though it has numerous pros, courts, and options - including a player creation section that would make World Of Warcraft jealous - and looks as good as Wimbledon on NBC, it is ultimately undone by the most obvious of gaming mistakes: bad controls.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Rog P. gave it a9:
Absolutely the greatest tennis game for players seeking a realistic tennis sim! Trust me if you're a regular gamer the controls will NOT bother u. Sure there is a learning curve but the moment u get it you really get it. MILES and miles ahead of vt09 (which i bought 2 weeks ago and have since reverted back to top spin 3). Great game that definitely could use some work, heres to hoping the sequel will be even better

Neel R gave it an8:
While this game is initially quite difficult, over time it becomes incredibly enjoyable. Much better than Virtua Tennis, which for all intents and purposes could be mastered by a monkey.

Maciej gave it a10:
Great game. Unlike Virtua this is a simulation which requires skill and patience to master. There are some annoyances, the ball never clips the top of the net, lethal volleys are hard to come by (perhaps I haven't mastered them yet!) but overall the best tennis game since Smash Court 3 Pro Tournament. Beating Federer in my first pro game was a wonderful moment!

anthony f gave it a2:
Top spin 1 was the best tennis game period...and this is by far the worst yet...i agree this is a game for people with time on there hands, which most of the time people don't.

stephane k gave it a7:
Controls are somewhat realistic, thus the learning curve. After 30mn rallhying is plain fun! Pulling off advanced 'risky' shots is not very well implemented - too random (i..e serving with right stick does not mimic real tennis mechanics). Sound is very poor; no commentary, very dull immersion. The ball boys should hand over the balls to the server but they do not. Players face are not properly depicted and legendary players are not properly rendered in their strokes (since when did Borg hit with a two-handed back-hand). The graphics are ok, they feel like a 3 year-old game and are similar to 2K NBA 08, meaning cartoonish. Overall, a lot of fun for tennis players (like myself) but not a pure adrenaline fun line Virtua Tennis 3; I have both depending on the mood my kids are in.

d b gave it a7:
Decent tennis game but little 'magic' establishing your player early in the game feels more like hardwork than enjoyable. Improves as your player gains 'stats and skills' but surely shouldn't a game be fun rather than a chore?

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Top Spin 3

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases