Top Spin 4 Review

It’s been three years since 2K Sports have made another Top Spin game for tennis fans. The tennis series first made its debut under the shortly-lived Microsoft’s XSN sports brand before PAM Development made ports to the PlayStation 2 and Windows PC. With realistic animations, brand new innovated control scheme, 2K Sports and 2K Czech have decided to get the series closer to the actual tennis matches with Top Spin 4, but the question is: Is it worth your time?

Developers have always tried to master the atmosphere of real tennis matches for years. In fact, it’s taken the Top Spin series three tries to grab the U.S. Open Cup but seem to always came short in their deliverance to making what we see in tournaments translate well into digital form. There is just something awarding to see the rubber ball bounce across the net, to hear the excitement of the crowd builds as they come closer to scoring a point that makes the experience of tennis amazing. Sure, you can go enjoy the arcade style tennis games. But to some fans, that just is not enough.

Top Spin 3, let’s be honest here wasn’t the game should have been with very complex controller issues. It never felt right. With this fourth installment, 2K has trusted the franchise to one of their division teams that have been known for making first-person shooters and adventure games, 2K Czech.

2K Czech has stepped up to the challenge with Top Spin 4. Not only is it visually appealing, but the game also handles smoother as far as controlling your characters movements goes. It’s become more simplified so people can enjoy the game whether players decide on choosing to become their favorite tennis star or create their very own, and it’s all thanks to a new system that allows players to have their own signature style that is unique to them. Each character has it, and if you create players, they can have their own signature style as well.

Graphically, Top Spin 4 is very well designed from the character animations to the virtual arenas themselves that represent the real life arenas from all over the world with 40 counts with 7 of those arenas licensed. Characters look like their counterparts of whom they are supposed to resemble. The overall presentation felt really solid from my experience. The camera will takes you near the locker room area, where you will see the characters prepping up for the upcoming matches and gives the entire package a live event feel with the current stats popping up on each corner, even has the camera default is on TV Presentation while adding slow motion in replays to help bring it to life.

But the roster is greatly impressive this time around. With over 20 tennis stars from Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Ana Ivanovi?, Venus and Serena Williams to even legends of the tennis court have signed on to give show their support with the likes of Pete Sampras and Boris Becker. So, if you get tired of playing around with a created character – the Pros are there.

Only difference you would notice is the added Move support on the PlayStation 3 version of the game. Both PS3 and Xbox 360 have 3D support, which this review is only for the Xbox 360, so I can’t comment on how Move works with Top Spin 4.

Top Spin 4 offers a lot features to help guide players through the new controls. It’s what is called the Top Spin Academy that will give you with task to perform with a created avatar through easy to advanced skills that will make playing Top Spin 4 a lot easier. The game also continues to support its career mode and allows you to make a created tennis character and take them to the highest ranking as possible while gaining fan support and sponsors along the way. Mini-games have also returned to train your character and give them individual XP points that can be used to upgrade their performance on the field, depending on the trainer you pick. Remember, that timing in this game is everything.

Once you think that your character is strong enough, the game allows you to import your character and face others around the world in the new reboot of the World Tour mode for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Compete and you will be awarded by XP points. The World Tour gives you a lot to play around in like, new exhibition modes and 2K’s own tournament called the 2K Open to spice things up for those looking for some real competition.

Sound wise, Top Spin 4 provides a mixture of nice menu music but it will become annoying after a few hours of playing. It’s only a minor problem that doesn’t harm the product nor keep you away from the game. The crowd has also improved greatly, giving you a sense of a real event happening right before your eyes.

Top Spin 4 is overall the choice for tennis fans that are wary of playing a console tennis game that has had a rough history throughout its cycle. 2K Czech has made a wonderful tennis game with it being their first try at the sport. Top Spin 4 is available now for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii platform.

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