Top Spin 3 (wii: 2008): Reviews

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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Top Spin 3


5.8

based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 27 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

The intuitive pick-up-and-play action in Top Spin Tennis allows gamers to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers in a way that matches the movements players would make on a real court. The Nunchuk controls the player and aim, while the vibration-enabled Wii Remote hits the ball like a tennis racquet and determines the style of shot ranging from a top spin move to a slice. The Wii Remote also allows players to control the power and the quality of the shot and to serve in many different ways. The gameplay in Top Spin Tennis features an array of modes including singles, doubles, mixed and non-mixed matches, exhibition, tournament and more, with four levels of difficulty and ten international venues. It also features more than a dozen licensed tennis stars as well as ten original characters. Up to four players can play Top Spin Tennis using as many as four sets of controllers. To add to the group fun, there are a collection of party games included. [2K Sports]

PUBLISHER:	2K Sports
DEVELOPER:	PAM Development - 2K Shanghai
GENRE(S):	Sports, Tennis
PLAYERS:	4
ESRB RATING:	E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE:	June 23, 2008

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...

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.

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

It's the most realistic tennis game on the Wii and great fun to play. If you have even a passing interest in tennis this is worth a look. [July 2008, p.73]

Games Master UK

The excellent controls are hampered by shallow options and poor visuals. [Aug 2008, p.82]

PALGN

The omission of online support and a purely right handed control scheme is a shame, but if you're looking for a more in-depth tennis game than Wii Sports then Top Spin 3 should be right up your alley.

GameSpy

Top Spin 3 for the Wii is a great departure from what 2K brought to the high-definition systems. It's accessible and presents just enough of an increase in complexity over Wii Sports Tennis to appeal to those who want just a bit more control.

Nintendo Power

If you're a devoted fan of straightforward tennis, you'll likely enjoy the game. [June 2008, p.88]

IGN

It's much more accessible and easy to get into in this version, which is a positive – but it lacks the visual flair and depth featured in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions, which is a negative.

GameZone

Top Spin 3 for the Wii is a case of missed opportunity. The control elements are there, but rather than give the game the staying power of the other next-gen releases, the game modes seem more geared to those who want to invest small amounts of time rather than settle in and stay a while.

Cheat Code Central

As long as you can stomach the lengthy and repetitive events found within, Top Spin 3 serves up some great tennis action complete with good controls, decent visuals, and difficult A.I. opponents.

Worth Playing

Top Spin 3 is best left to Wii-owning children who are pro tennis enthusiasts and can forgive the shady graphics, restrictive game modes and overall unfinished feel of the game.

NGamer UK

Sideways grip may well be more like proper tennis, but it's not comfy. Lefties aren't welcome. [Aug 2008, p.58]

NZGamer

It’s the kind you pick up if you love tennis and have a poster of Sharapova on your bedroom ceiling.

VideoGamer

It doesn't have the cuteness and incredibly simple pick up and play appeal of Wii Sports Tennis and it's not really in-depth enough to be a simulation.

n-Revolution Magazine UK

An attempt at a realistic tennis sim that doesn't quite come off. [Issue#24, p.76]

GameShark

The controls are great, but the rest of the game is lacking in so many areas, that there's no point in spending more than rental money on it.

GameDaily

Its mini-games and four-player action (local only, no online) are somewhat cool, but the lack of a player customization tool and a Career Mode send it out of bounds.

The average user rating for this game is 5.8 (out of 10) based on 27 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Waiting4 TopSpin4 gave it a5:
The game is a fun tennis sim, but it has a few main areas for marked improvement in the next release: 1) Roster: No Nadal for starters, but worse is in the Road to Glory mode you basically play the same 4 people repeatedly with very few alterations. Game desperately needs more star power, which may be tough given the lack of star power in today's tennis. Adding more legends (Agassi, Sampras, McEnroe, Lendl, Chang, Courier, Edberg all come to mind) would be a big plus. 2) Serving: Against the CPU, there is no benefit between crushing a hish risk serve and laying a fat easy one via the "safety" serve option. In fact, its usually to your disadvantage to get a strong first serve in. CPU frequently dumps slow 1st serves into the net, then responds with high risk very fast second serves. Bottom line is that the serving needs to be more advantageous when risks pay off and offer penalties for not serving well (easier to hit a powerful well placed return, etc). Gameplay) Add a target for where the ball will land depending on the shot - responding to lob shots can sometimes be far more difficult than they should be. CPU does same thing repeatedly when returning serves.

Mr Hyde gave it a1:
Disappointed. Just bought it and played one game. In the middle of the rematch I decided to turn it back to its box to never see the light again. I can't see the intuitive controls. Wii sports is more intuitive than that.

wii mad gave it an8:
Yes i agree with all, lacks career mode,does not have Wimbeldon!, but a dodgy Irish imitation. My dream of Federer finally crushing Nadal in the French has gone as well as he is only on PS3, can't create a version of myself and beat Federer at Wimbeldon ,ALL gone. great sim, due to motion controls let down by wiis graphics and lazy developers. Plus as I progress through the game , boy I wish i could turn off the cut scenes between each point, it makes each match twice as long Now onto game play. Whats wrong with people!!! this game is easy and intuitive, everyone must have played wii tennis, its not that different, you don't even have to hit backhand! Yes I can play real tennis and I have played mario tennis to death on the N64 so slotting into top spin should be easier for me but cmon. I have am not up to the Opens yet but have not lost a set yet. Even with my six year old as a doubles partner we managed to squeak out a win. I have found the game very easy to pick up ,though putting away some opponents to win a point can take some time. Let me make it clear I am not that great at this game, I don't hit very many balls with orange or red markings which mean good timing I guess. I have still not figured out the slide serve so I can't understand whats so hard for others to about pick it up and win. Ball crosses net, run to spot, pull back racquet, move stick to opposite side of court to opponent and try to swing in time, repeat till opponent are out of court enough to miss a return, next point. Maybe lin the opens the finer points apply such as timing, drop shots, lobs, top spinning as opponents approach the net or sliding serve returns across court but if you watch any tennis on tv the same rules apply. Love the game play, but yes bring on Top Spin 4.

Yvonne M. gave it a9:
Has a fairly long learning curve, butif you stick with it, very enjoyable and fun. Moves players around court and alows choice of various shots and ability to place them. I'd advise using a wireless nunchuk, or you will cause yourself endless problems. Wish there were more players and more difficult and advancing levels of competition. Maybe the next version?

Harish P gave it a4:
Before purchasing one off the shelf, I rented this at a local blockbuster. Over all it was ok looking graphics and the play looks close to actuality. But one thing I don't like and kept me from buying this: Unlike in the wii sports, the wii remote doesn't solely control the direction of shot. With Nunchuk controlling the direction of the shot instead of the wii remote swing itself, this has become more like a playstation or xbox kind of video game. I hope the creators of this game come up with a better one where the way we hit the ball determines the direction as well as the kind of shot rather than the nunchuk.

Lars B. gave it a10:
what a fantastic play of tennis. In my dreams I´ve waited exactly for this pearl and i´m very very thankful it has been come true! the gameplay is a manifestation! Thank you 2K, more of this!

Tennis Nut gave it a7:
Some quirks and lack of options aside, the best tennis game for lovers and players of the sport thus far. I'm an admitted casual gamer and for the most part picked up the wii solely for the fact that wii tennis was the first active tennis game available. I am an avid tennis player and loved several parts of this game as I saw the direct translation to playing. 1. There is a learning curve: Timing, movement, shot choice and placement are all going to determine success. At times that can get frustrating when you know what you wanted to do vs what you controlled your player to do...but that is true in both real life tennis and any video game. Overall, I felt that strategy and proper preparation were pretty accurate. I would be frustrated if I was a lefty though, I think that was the worst possible omission of any portion of this game....and I'm guessing it was a licensing issue that forced them to keep Wimby out of the tournaments when the other 3 majors are there. I really debated giving this a 6 or a 7 because I know this game isn't going to translate to people who don't want to put in the time to learn the shots and movement or to people who want the extensive game play options that other consoles are going to offer in this genre currently. I opted for the 7 because I think this game lends itself to the market it was going for, people who want to play tennis when they are not actually out playing tennis....then the graphics and lack of modes aren't quite as important. It definitely falls short of a sim though and I'm hoping 2k will up the ante on the next version or someone will beat them too the punch and take this game out of the mix, until then I'll let Mr. Becker show Roddick how power tennis is supposed to be played.