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Top Spin 3

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

7.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 47 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 23 votes
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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 Top Spin 2

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

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...

Official Xbox Magazine

All of this boils down to gameplay that is slower-paced, more realistic, and lightyears more satisfying than "Top Spin 2's" or anything with "Virtua" in its name. [June 2008, p.74]

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360 Gamer Magazine UK

A more realistic tennis sim you will not find anywhere. Top Spin 3 brings proper simulation to the sport. The arcadey fun play is gone and a serious sporting challenge has emerged from this series to mark it out from the other tennis games available.

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

A revolution. The controls alone render the competition obsolete. [Aug 2008, p.82]

Games Master UK

A superb sports title that manages to be both accessible and deep. [Aug 2008, p.80]

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]

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]

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.

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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.

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WonderwallWeb

The only thing that would make this game more authentic is Strawberries and Cream and perhaps Cliff Richard singing when it rains.

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TeamXbox

Revamped risk shots pay dividends. Revamped character movements backfire.

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GameFocus

A little too realistic.

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DarkStation

2K Sports has done Top Spin 3 a great service with a lot of the improvements that the game has gotten.

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Cynamite

Concerning the gameplay, the Wii version can’t play in the same league as its next gen colleagues. On next gen the game is definitely brilliant.

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Gamer.nl

The realistic look is one we like. You just want to keep on playing.

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Eurogamer

Yes, the often exhausting depth might prove to be off-putting for those who prefer the more intuitive Virtua Tennis, but that's precisely part of Top Spin 3's more simulation-minded appeal. With fantastic online play and an obsessive career mode to dive into, it's the thinking man's tennis title.

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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).

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X360 Magazine UK

It's just finally captured the skill and fortitude that comes with playing a real game of tennis, an achievement we sense it's always been working towards. [Issue#34, p.90]

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Official Xbox Magazine UK

Superb tennis sim, but where's Wimbledon? [July 2008, p.85]

IGN AU

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. Still, don't let that stop you giving this a try.

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VideoGamer

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

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GameZone

While the controls will take a while to get adjusted to, once you get used to them you will find depth and a challenging game that will last for months on end.

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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.

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Gamervision

Probably the most realistic tennis sim ever created. Whether or not you’ll have any fun playing it is a matter of how willing you are to dedicate some time to mastering the game’s nuances and surprising level of depth.

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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.

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XboxAddict

When it all boils down to it, Top Spin 3 is a simulation game that will be perfect for many tennis fans, but will be extremely frustrating for the casual pick up and play gamers.

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Gamers' Temple

Just as in the real sport, it will take you some time, practice, and patience to succeed in Top Spin 3

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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.

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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.

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Da Gameboyz

I approached Top Spin 3 with open expectations and walked away rather impressed.

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Xbox360Achievements

This game will frustrate a lot of people before they've even made it through the tutorials and the season mode is fairly light too. Worth a play but only if you have the patience to practice, practice and practice some more.

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MS Xbox World

I've enjoyed playing Top Spin 3, but I fear that many first time players won't get to grips with the non accessible control system.

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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.

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Gaming Age

Top Spin 3 looks great and offers a deep game for anyone willing to dig into it and learn it. But the incredibly steep expectations at the beginning of the learning experience won't be worth it to those looking for a quick game of video tennis. This is not a pick-up-and-play game.

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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.

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ZTGameDomain

Overall, Top Spin 3 does a great job approximating the real talent it takes to play tennis at a competitive level.

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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.

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GameTrailers

The lack of notable stars, the flat atmosphere, and the by-the-numbers career mode are disappointments. Yet, for better or worse, it's the control scheme that ultimately defines Top Spin 3. Once acclimated, you'll find that it brings you closer to the on-court action than any tennis game before it, but it’s also unforgiving.

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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.

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games(TM)

Upsets the balance between fun and realism maintained by its immediate predecessor. [Aug 2008, p.108]

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.

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Thunderbolt

Top Spin 3 isn’t your friend, it’s not going to hold your hand and take you through the motions.

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Level7.nu

This is definitely not a tennis game you'll master in an afternoon, but once you've invested enough time to come to grips with the gameplay you'll be awarded with a great tennis experience. A nice career mode and an equally nice online mode makes this a great package for all those interested in the genre. If you want an arcade experience, Virtua Tennis is more you cup of tee. If you want a more challenging experience, this is for you.

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Console Monster

Top Spin 3 is actually one of the better tennis games I have played in some time, however its ridiculously weak tutorial system will completely put off the potential gamers before they even have the chance to see the same kind of admiration I have.

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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.

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Game Chronicles

Again, I’m just a casual tennis player and not a sim-enthusiast, but as a game, a tennis game, Top Spin 3 is one of the worst I’ve played. Sorry 2K…better luck next year.

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GameDaily

We dig the Career and Tournament modes, and the ability to create your player from the ground up and play online tournaments is cool, but Top Spin 3's inaccessible and sloppy controls killed our high expectations.

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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.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 23 User Votes

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

Jason N gave it a0:
What a waste of time. This game has ruined the Top Spin series of tennis games. Who thought it was a brilliant idea to change the game play, remove power meters and just generally mess up a good game? Thanks 2kSports, I will no longer be purchasing your games if this is what you do to them.

Job A gave it a5:
I'm telling you...I played and played and this game is terrible.Read my review on Top Spin 2, I gave it a 9.6,cause it was great.This game tries to be to real which makes it slow and complicated.That does not make it real by the way to all you reviewers.If you ever watched tennis or played it,it is fast and intense.I am really disappointed with this title cause I love tennis and have been a fan since I played tennis on the Atari.This title deserves a 5 and nothing more.

Kyle gave it a9:
The best tennis game I've ever played. If you love tennis and you always wished tennis video games were more like real tennis, this is what you've been waiting for. This game gets me pumped up. When you win a tough rally you can't help but yell, "Come on!"

Dan A gave it a9:
Easily the best tennis game I've played. Someone said it's "boring"... no. Someone gave it a poor rating because it's not "IWIN BUTTON" possible.. sorry but invest more than 30 minutes in this game and you will definitely see its value. You will progressively improve as you play in career mode, it does take a bit of playtime to master the timing and controls but when discover how to hit a forehand smash right down the baseline for a winner, you will leap off your seat and yell! Very responsive, good controls, excellent physics and graphics, plays like real tennis, looks like real tennis... is BETTER than real tennis :)

Stephane J gave it a10:
Keep in mind that this game is very hard, so if you're looking for a quick game once every three moons, this is not what you're looking for. But in a time where every game seems to be toned down to suit every type of player (except, perhaps, the real, hardcore gamer), it is very nice to see a no-compromise title stand out! A must.

Lars B gave it a10:
this game really makes my dreams come true. The gameplay is a manifestation! Thank you Take2 for the courage to realise this pearl of Tennis-Videogame!

Dustin H gave it a9:
I don't think this game should be discounted because it's challenging. It makes moving up towards legendary status feel more rewarding. You don't just go through the motions, you have to earn it.

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Top Spin 3

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