{"id":10869,"date":"2011-03-24T16:08:00","date_gmt":"2011-03-24T14:08:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T22:00:00","slug":"top-spin-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/reviews\/10869-top-spin-4","title":{"rendered":"Top Spin 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed on Xbox 360, also available on PS3 and Wii<\/em><\/p>\n

Tennis is a sport which lends itself rather well to video game adaptation. The fast paced and varied nature of the game means that it translates well to our favourite pastime, and is particularly well suited to console gaming. While Top Spin 4 offers up all the high intensity and pace we would think necessary for a successful tennis game, it also provides a refined sense of depth, which is important for a sport whose basic premise is to hit a ball back and forth over a waist-high net until somebody makes a mistake.<\/p>\n

Top Spin 4 offers a comprehensive set of tutorials which guide you from the basics of shot selection, placement and timing right through to the more complex gameplay strategies, as well as various special shot types. It really is best to play your way through this portion of the game before venturing any further, as it explains the subtle differences between the three basic shot types and when they should ideally be used.<\/p>\n

From the outset of the tutorial, I was impressed with the game’s feel. Animations are superbly rendered, physics solid, and gameplay engaging. The tutorial projects a gentle learning curve, starting off by explaining the three basic shot types: flat, slice and topspin, each of which are allocated to a separate button.<\/p>\n

Simply pressing the appropriate button will cause your player to hit the ball back. This is a standard shot. Then there are ‘power shots’: holding the button in before release will cause a power meter to fill up, and this, combined with the timing with which you release the button to execute the shot, will determine how hard your return is. You can also direct your shots using the left analogue stick just before you hit the ball. There are also special placement shots: a quick tap of the appropriate shot button at the right time will unleash a super accurate return. The combination of flat, top-spin and slice shots with power-shots and placement-shots forms the fundamental basis of the gameplay in Top Spin 4, and provides a very compelling and rewarding experience. 2K Czech has developed a system which does a fantastic job of capturing some of the enjoyment inherent in tennis. Timing shots perfectly is a challenge, but when you do, just like in real tennis, you can’t help but feel a tingle of accomplishment when you execute a perfectly timed winner.<\/p>\n

The tutorial also guides you through special shots such as lob-shots and drop-shots, and it provides challenges which really help you get a grip of the placement system which is easy to get the hang of, but tricky to master. Serving is also a satisfying affair, and requires deft precision and meticulous timing to perfect. Toward the end of the tutorial, you are introduced to some of the broader tactical approaches and how they are linked to each player’s skill. For instance, a player with a big serve and lightning quick reflexes is likely to adopt an aggressive serve and volley approach, while a light-footed and accurate player might choose a baseline defensive game plan. There are a number of different tactics on offer, and numerous different unique stats which will affect how each athlete plays.<\/p>\n

By the end of the comprehensive tutorials you will know everything you need to in order to create your own player and kick-start a career. The player customization options are pretty thorough, but in all honesty I was dying to get into the nitty gritty of competing and so I sped through this bit, ending up with a guy who looked like a mixture between Pete Sampras and Al Bundy. Suffice to say, with a bit of time, creativity and dedication one can make their player look however they want.  You are also given a few skill categories to focus on from the outset to get your player moving in your desired tactical direction.<\/p>\n

Once your player is created you are not limited to only using him\/her in the career mode. Any experience gained during matches outside your career goes towards your player’s skill attributes. The career mode is a robust affair, allowing players to participate in two events per month. At first choices are limited to practice matches and minor tournaments. As you gain fans and player rank, you unlock higher level tournaments until eventually you are taking on the best in the world at the various Grand Slam tournaments. You will also be able to participate in extracurricular activities, such as charity soccer matches, parties and so on. You will not actually experience these events, but your player will earn experience points from them and gain fans.<\/p>\n

Like an RPG, player levels are staggered and you must accrue experience points to level up. Each time you reach a new level you can upgrade certain skills. It’s a basic system which doesn’t shatter any conventions, but it works nicely and the improvements to your player’s performance from upgrading skills is quite noticeable.<\/p>\n

2K Czech made one interesting design choice which is likely to divide players. Instead of playing full matches in each career mode match, you play tie-breakers. I think you’re supposed to imagine that your player auto-played most of the match, and it is your job to come in at the end and win the tie-breaker. There are a few exceptions, but this is how the vast majority of tournaments work. On one hand, you don’t get the sense of immersion that a full match would provide, but on the other, you are able to fast track your way through the career mode since a match can be completed in under 4 minutes quite easily. I was a bit apprehensive about the system at first, but came to appreciate it for the purposes of the career mode. There is still the option to play full games outside of the career mode.<\/p>\n

You will continue to unlock points to invest into your player until level 20. At this point your characteristics will be locked down, and your player is supposedly fully matured player. His skill levels should be roughly comparable to the game’s top players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who you will compete against. As you level up, you will also gain access to new coaches. Each coach will have their own set of challenges, which upon completion grant you skill bonuses. Challenges include things like “hit 30 winners” or “serve 10 aces” etc, and are a bit like the contracts available in Call of Duty: Black Ops.<\/p>\n

Technically, Top Spin 4 is proficient, and in some cases very impressive. The animations are particularly excellent, and I was pleased to notice that they even vary on different surfaces. For instance, players will slide and glide on clay courts, while they will stick rigidly to harder surfaces. In general visuals are solid, and the sound is also decent. Interestingly, 2K Czech opted not to incorporate commentary, so the primary in-game sound will be that of the ball, grunting players and squeaking shoes. Crowds will cheer, and an announcer will update the score after each point, and for the most part the sound perfectly complements the tense competitive atmosphere of the game.
The biggest disappointment in Top Spin 4 was the online multiplayer. Due to the fast paced nature of the game, the resulting lag of playing with people half way across the world made the experience quite hopeless. Of course, this is not the game’s fault, but it is something to consider if you were hoping to get stuck in to online multiplayer.<\/p>\n

Overall, Top Spin is the best tennis game I have ever played. Admirable production values, innovative and compelling game design, a wide variety of real world locations and players to enjoy, and a dynamic and engrossing career mode to keep you busy in the long term make for a game which any tennis fan is bound to love.<\/p>\n

Discuss Top Spin 4<\/a> in the forums<\/p>\n\n\t\t