Top Spin 3

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.

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

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

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]

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.

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.

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]

Revamped risk shots pay dividends. Revamped character movements backfire.

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

A little too realistic.

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

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.

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

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]

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.