Top Spin Tennis
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Top Spin (2003) and Top Spin 2 (2006) are a popular series of award-winning tennis video games developed by PAM Development and Indie Built and published by Microsoft for the Xbox and Xbox 360. Atari published the first Top Spin game for the PC in November 2004. The Top Spin series is considered by many to be the best multi-player tennis game available in the professional sports simulator genre. Players can select from various game play styles including: singles, doubles, exhibition tournaments, career mode or quick play matches. Many professional tennis players have licensed their likeness to be used in the games. Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, James Blake, Lleyton Hewitt, Michael Chang, Tommy Robredo, Sebastien Grosjean, Gustavo Kuerten, Anna Kournikova and Venus Williams are only some of the playable characters available in the Top Spin series.
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[edit] Game Play Modes
The player can work their way up through the amateur ranks to the pros in tournaments all over the world. They can do this by using the various licensed players, or by creating a unique character with looks, playing styles and personalities all their own. The game can be played via the internet with XSN Sports and Xbox Live for online match-ups.
[edit] Quick Match
This mode contains the basic features that let the player get into a match as quickly as possible. The characters can be selected from the professional players available, or by importing custom characters from the career mode option. A match can be held on the various available courts, ranging from Grand Slam venues to practice facilities.
[edit] Career Mode
The career mode in Top Spin begins with a very complete create-a-player interface which begins with, DNA type. There are many strands to choose from with each containing a different skin color and unique player traits. Create a character continues with many face and body modeling options and apparel choices, making it easy to create a striking likeness of the person playing. The career mode begins with an option to choose a continent that has various opportunities for a player to better their rank by training and tournaments. A player must also make "coin" (money) in order to pay for training which increases attributes such as power, serve, forehand, backhand, and volley. Coin is earned by being sponsored by one of the corporate tennis apparel icons by performing commercials and other public relations duties for them which are completed by scoring well in various stroke or serve exercises. Tournaments come in various types across the globe, from simple pro to major Grand Slam events. Winning tournaments increases your world ranking, with more difficult tournaments taking much more precedence. Being number one in the career mode and keeping that status is a long and extremely difficult task which adds to the longevity of game play.
[edit] Multi-Player
The Optimatch feature, while part of every Xbox Live sports title, works well in Top Spin allowing the user to be very specific about the match that will be played including surface type, venue and how stiff or flaccid the competition will be.!
[edit] Custom Tournaments
This mode is for players who enjoy the increased difficulty of tournament play without going through the career mode. This mode is generic, but is configurable in any way possible. Top Spin also allows users to load their career player into the tournament mode (and other game modes as well). Custom tournaments also make a good practice site for those wanting to improve their skills before tackling the career mode.
[edit] 2004 XSN World Championship
In 2004 XSN began a tournament to decide who was the best in each of the XSN titles. Each winner then went to Los Angeles to compete for the XSN championship. The winner of the feeder tournament received $1,000 and their entry into the tournament. The winner for Top Spin was Josh Thurman from Leesburg, Georgia.
[edit] Controls
Gameplay has a shallow learning curve, intelligent control configuration, and realistic reaction to user input. The various swings include: flat, top spin, slice, and lob, with swing velocity increasing with each moment the buttons are depressed. Everything from jumping and stretching to full horizontal diving is appropriately selected by the game engine. Serves are executed in similar fashion, but with the addition of an on-screen power meter started and stopped with either the top spin, flat, or slice buttons. On the Xbox the controller's trigger buttons place you into a “risk mode” with a similar power meter, but the outcome of the shot is determined by how close to the center of the meter the user can set a rapidly moving power bar. A quick tap of the right trigger starts the bar moving, a second tap will stop the meter and attempt either a power serve or a power groundstroke. The left trigger attempts either a "spoon" serve (looks like an underhand softball pitch) or a drop shot, both used to combat those who play deep behind the baseline. Another component to the “risk mode” is the "ITZ" (In-the-Zone) meter which builds up as momentum is gained with won points, making future risk shots easier to hit. The player can also express their character’s emotion after a point by pressing buttons to choose a positive or negative reaction. These reactions, shown in a brief additional cut scene between points, range from fist pumping to a racket throwing gesture.
[edit] Graphics & Audio
The graphic interface creates a great amount of depth and is well rendered. Objects, people, and locations are accurately detailed, such as the snowfall outside a window of an indoor arena. Motion effects on the ball depending on the strength or weakness of the shot are also very impressive, as players watch vapor trails and blur effects appear, or pitch a lob and see a yellow stream map out its trajectory. The renderings of the characters are solid giving the game a very realistic feel when working with the motion captures. Whether a player bounces the ball before the serve, dives for a shot, or jumps up for a volley, it all looks as it should without anything appearing out of place. Pro players look extremely realistic down to the player's exact hair style and facial features. Graphics in the career mode scenes and trophy ceremonies help make Top Spin the leader of sports tennis games genre.
The soundtrack incorporates sounds which appear fit for a high energy tennis match. From sneaker squeaks and racket snaps to player grunts, the sound effects are accurate and add great realism to game play. Crowd noises are complete with cheers and jeers, down to fans even yelling out “we love you”. Announcer commentary also adds realism to the game.
[edit] Awards
- Best Tennis Game, Blast Magazine, November 2003
- Best Sports Game, Dallas Morning News, December 2003
- Gold Award, Electronic Gaming Monthly, December 2003
- Best Sports Game, ESPN.com, December 2003
- Editor's Choice Award, GameSpot, October 2003
- Editor's Choice Award, IGN, November 2003
- Best Sports Game, Kansas City Star, December 2003
- Best Sports Game, New York Journal News, December 2003
- Best Games of 2003, Official Xbox Magazine, February 2003
- Editor's Choice Award, Official Xbox Magazine, December 2003
- TeamXbox Reader's Choice Awards 2003
- Best Sports Game, TeamXbox, December 2003
- Best Sports Game, Official Xbox Magazine, February 2004
- Tennis Game of the Year, PLAY Magazine, February 2004
- Best Sports Game, Press Enterprise (CA), January 2004
- Best Sports Game, Providence Journal, January 2004
- Best Tennis Title, SportsTicker, January 2004
