Buy Now
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
AceGamezTop Spin 2 takes everything that was great about the original and enhances it with some simply fantastic next generation visuals, adds even more depth to the gameplay and controls, delivers a comprehensive Career mode complete with sponsorship, trainers and even fully customisable bling and new rackets to buy, and provides a lag free and highly enjoyable (when you're winning!) online experience.
-
Pelit (Finland)An excellent tennis game. There is not much to complain about, except for the bit too steep learning curve. Freeform strike-practice wold not have hurt, either. [Aug 2006, p.46]
-
Games Master UKRacquet-chuckingly frustrating at first, but rewardingly rich after a few plays. [May 2006, p.55]
-
Game InformerOverall, Top Spin 2 gets the job done with an attention to detail that might be a bit offputting to casual fans. [May 2006, p.104]
-
The character development elements of career mode are well emplaced and coincide nicely with the unique features of training mode and the participation of your player in different regionals, opens, and slams.
-
A dream title for sports gamers. Not only does it improve upon its forerunner, it completely revamps its gameplay engine making for an absolutely blissful virtual tennis experience.
-
Top Spin 2 usurps its originator in every regard. The amount of detail is breathtaking at times and the career mode exhibits a vast amount of depth, not to mention the open-ended create-a-player feature.
-
2K Games and PAM Development have crafted an immensely satisfying game of tennis that will likely draw in any gamer with the patience and will to make it through the fairly steep learning curve.
-
It does look sharp, and the idea of making your own player and taking him online for his own Xbox Live career is intriguing. And the offline career mode is much better than the first game.
-
The gameplay has been sharpened to create an experience that expertly balances technicality and quick, accessible fun. Add to that a first-rate presentation and some solid solo and multiplayer offerings, and you've got a package that any tennis fan would be foolish to pass up.
-
While there is little new introduced to the series and the presentational side of the game feels a tad dated with hardly better than average graphics to show, the gameplay remains slick and highly pleasing.
-
The spotty player movement, slightly difficult-to-control shots and almost too highly skilled A.I. take what could have been a classic and make it into just a great game.
-
Graphically, TS2 doesn’t look a heck of a lot prettier than it did on its Xbox debut.
-
And even though the character float problem persists, the new tournament save option and improved aesthetics (some really nice lighting work can be seen in some of the outdoor courts) are worth the upgrade.
-
The career mode is loaded with challenges, the online play is suitable (if a bit average), and the create-a-player mode is off the charts in design features.
-
Official Xbox MagazineOn Xbox Live, Top Spin 2 shines just as brightly as its predecessor. There are leaderboards and tiered matchmaking--all of it lag-free. [May 2006, p.81]
-
Electronic Gaming MonthlyTop Spin 2 does a fine job of delivering tense smack-the-ball-back-and-forth action. [May 2006, p.88]
-
They have certainly spent a lot of time tweaking the gameplay mechanics to create something more entertaining and more importantly, fair online, however there are still some minor quibbles that will displease.
-
BoomtownThe game looks and sounds delightful, and is every bit as good as you expect.
-
Even with a number of sloppy audio problems and an overall game that feels strikingly similar to Top Spin on the Xbox, it's still hugely addictive.
-
Edge MagazineDeveloper PAM has reinvented a game that no longer strives to be a thinking man’s alternative to Virtua, but something altogether superior. [May 2006, p.94]
-
This game is listed at $39.99 - which is twenty dollars less than most Xbox 360 games. If you are a tennis fan, you have no reason to not pick this game up.
-
It obviously looks and sounds great being a 360 title, with subtle differences in audio over the different courts most obvious, but you’ll also notice that a little more effort has been made to make the courts more animated than in previous titles.
-
X-ONE Magazine UKJust don't spend much time on your own, as those cheating AI bastards will make your blood boil. [Issue#6, p.98]
-
The next-gen quotient could have been higher (the online area is fairly weak), as Top Spin 2 sometimes seems like a slightly better version of the original. A bit more thought put into the gameplay definition of “next-gen” would have paid large dividends.
-
With all the gameplay mechanics still there, and good graphics, PAM have offered a ‘faster’ sequel, and one that should not be passed up.
-
It's tougher and has a steeper learning curve than its predecessor and is less pick-up-and-playable than Virtua Tennis, however, so it loses some of that instant charm and quick play that gave both of those titles such light touches.
-
Perhaps it was my lack of real interest or the length of time since I played the first game, but the challenge level was a little intimidating.
-
The actual gameplay is pretty polished and the online play makes it easy to keep up a long-term love affair for tennis fans or, I suppose, people who really enjoyed Pong.
-
It doesn’t look as good as it could quite easily have done, and nowhere near enough progression from the first title has been made to justify it being referred to as a sequel. However, the engine is still solid enough to provide an enjoyable and often blister-inducing game of tennis.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 13 out of 25
-
Mixed: 5 out of 25
-
Negative: 7 out of 25
-
JobAdkinsFeb 23, 2008
-
Aug 6, 2014
-
ManoloB.May 25, 2007