Top Spin

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28
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  1. Thunderbolt
    90
    Made from the same people that gave us the rather loveable "Links 2004," this really is a game, let alone a tennis game, that you shouldn’t be without.
  2. Game Informer
    88
    Load times seem to be worse. However, the fluid control and excellent career modes are still in. [Nov 2005, p.161]
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  3. GameZone
    85
    One of the most addictively entertaining tennis games you’ll want to play if you’re a fan of the game.
  5. Next Level Gaming
    83
    It's definitely the best PS2 Tennis game out there. But if you already own the Xbox game there's really no reason to switch.
  6. Play.tm
    83
    Two years after the Xbox release and many small compromises leave Top Spin on PS2 feeling not quite as revolutionary as the Xbox version was.
  7. Pelit (Finland)
    82
    Much too easy and the AI players are boring. Career mode is nicely done, but the game is at its best when playing against a human opponent. [Jan 2006]
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  8. IGN
    74
    A fun tennis game, though aside from the play mechanics it feels somewhat dated, and maybe even slow paced due to its lengthy load times.
  9. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    73
    The reason not to like it, namely that it’s a compromised version of a two year old game that itself was a pretender to Virtua Tennis’ crown, is pretty strong too.
  10. GameSpot
    72
    The gameplay still pops, and the career mode still has plenty to offer, but Top Spin just isn't as exciting as it once was.
  11. 3DAvenue
    70
    Top Spin PS2 has come across quite well but really, if you have both consoles, then the Xbox version is the better bet.
  12. AceGamez
    70
    Various omissions and the deficiency in true tournament titles has taken something away from what would otherwise have been a real hit.
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  13. GameBiz
    70
    Not as good as its Xbox cousin but still an enjoyable title with lots to do and will keep a tennis fan happy for ages.
  14. Gamestyle
    70
    The best feature and probably the biggest selling point of Top Spin (at least over Virtua Tennis) is the online mode, so unless you plan on taking this online, grab a copy of the other title.
  15. PSM Magazine
    65
    It's a good, basic tennis game, reasonably enjoyable with solid, if not too demanding game mechics. To quote a phrase, it's "Mostly Harmless." [Oct 2005, p.92]
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  16. TotalPlayStation
    65
    Most of the magic of the original version of the game was the presentation coupled with the online play. With 50% of that largely taken out of the equation, and no extras two years later, this is just a bastardized version of a very good Xbox game.
  17. PALGN
    65
    Top Spin has been ported to the PS2 fairly faithfully, but the game is already two years old and looked better on the Xbox.
  18. Game Chronicles
    61
    Top Spin admittedly fills a much-needed gap in the tennis genre, but if this is the best the sport has to offer it’s time to find a new sport, or at least a new system to play it on.
  19. GameSpy
    60
    Top Spin plays well, has some good online, and basically chokes in every other category.
  20. Cheat Code Central
    60
    The characters look alright, but I honestly think they could've done better.
  21. Operation Sports
    60
    I’d be remiss if I also didn’t mention the unbelievably long load times on this PS2 version. I’ve experienced long waits before, but some of these load times had me feeling very frustrated.
  22. Computer and Video Games
    60
    Game-starved Xbox owners raved about Top Spin a couple of years back, but don't let that fool you into thinking this is anything special. [PSW]
  23. DarkStation
    60
    The sublime Xbox tennis game looks set for a turn on the PS2, but becomes almost unplayable due to its obscenely long loading times and visual glitches.
  24. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    60
    A whole can of polish should have been slapped on to make this one really shine. [Jan 2006, p.91]
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  25. Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
    60
    It just can't match the polish of Sony's "Smash Court." [Nov 2006, p.140]
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  26. GameShark
    50
    If you’ve absolutely positively have to have a tennis game for your PlayStation 2, check out eBay for "Sega Sports Tennis."
  27. Boomtown
    50
    The main fault in this game is the poor attention to detail and the PS one graphics it sports.
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  28. G4 TV
    40
    Why the presentation is so flat is a mystery worthy of Veronica Mars, since there are only two athletes on-screen at once (four during doubles matches).
  29. Gaming Age
    33
    If you’re really hard-up for tennis on the PS2 and have a few friends to play with online or off, go for it. If you don’t fit the prior statement, don’t even bother.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. The_D4RknesS
    Aug 20, 2023
    6
    A game with very good animations and gameplay, but if you put it in pairs, there is no one in the arena except the players.. the game isA game with very good animations and gameplay, but if you put it in pairs, there is no one in the arena except the players.. the game is muted, only making noise from the environment, which makes it annoying. There's no way the best tennis games is VIRTUA TENNIS 2. The fun of tennis is playing 2vs2… Full Review »
  2. Duke_Nukem
    Sep 24, 2015
    7
    Top Spin plays like most mediocre tennis games, it has it moments but it doesn't feel special at all. The presentation of the game is simpleTop Spin plays like most mediocre tennis games, it has it moments but it doesn't feel special at all. The presentation of the game is simple and the graphics are just adequate. The grass and gravel terrains look rather ugly, the hard courts are a bit better looking. The sound effects are just so so: when your player falls on the floor it sounds like someone dropped a big bag of potatoes, quite laughable really.

    But how about the control and gameplay? After all that is the most important part of a sports game. Well, the controls are not bad and the game is easy to pick up and play. The x-button makes your character perform a normal ground stroke, the square button makes him perform a slice, the circle button a topspin ball and the triangle button a lob ball.

    The introduction of special moves performed by holding the R1 or L1 button is in my opinion a really bad idea. It makes the computer player perform not very realistic winners, but for the human player it mostly makes him play the ball out off the court or in the net. There are no buttons to give effect on the ball after you hit it, which is a pity.

    Another miss hit from this game is the choice of camera positions. There are only 2 camera positions: close and far. The close camera position is not practical at all, it's simply too close to the back of your character. When the players change courtside, your character goes to the far side of the court and the only way you can get a camera position at the back of your character is by chosing the close camera position (yep, the one that's not practical at all!).

    Top Spin is not a bad tennis game but also not a very good one. The problem is that there isn't any really good tennis game on the market for PS2. If you're looking for a fun arcade tennis game on the PS2 you could consider going for Virtua Tennis 2 or even Slam Tennis. Both those games are older than Top Spin, but they are better looking and the gameplay is also pretty smooth. Unfortunatelly they suffer from the same problems as Top Spin: a bad camera position when you're changing courts (Slam Tennis even has only 1 camera position!) and the redicilous special moves (except for Slam Tennis). I give all three games 7 out of 10.    … Full Review »
  3. VahndD
    Oct 18, 2005
    6
    Just another tennis game. but it's quite a little bit improvement better than once i played in dreamcast. the hard spin gauge aliitle bitJust another tennis game. but it's quite a little bit improvement better than once i played in dreamcast. the hard spin gauge aliitle bit difficult to do for the first time. but in the end it makes me a little bit annoying.… Full Review »
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