Top Spin

"Nearly perfect. Top spin is the best tennis game to date. Period."

Now before I start, I should point out that I have never played tennis outside of elementary school gym class, but that I have always been a big tennis fan. I to this day continue to watch pro tennis on television. I point this out to prove that you do not need to be a tennis player to enjoy this game. My cousin for instance is not a big tennis fan, but he enjoys this game almost as much as I do. That being said, let's get down to business.

First off, if you even remotely liked the Virtua Tennis series, stop reading now and save yourself some time and go get Top Spin. It is superior in every way. It is clear that Power and Magic, the wonderful developers behind this game, used Virtua Tennis as a model for Top Spin. They did much to expand and improve on what was previously the best tennis game to date.

Graphics: 10

Wonderful, lifelike, realistic graphics. The player models are highly detailed, and the stadiums look gorgeous, but nothing compares to the animations. The players move and perform like humans. It is a sight to see.

Controls: 10

The controls are simple and effective. Four different types of shots (lob, slice, safe/flat, top spin) are mapped to the four face buttons and drop shot and risk shot are on the triggers. The risk and drop shots are hard to get used to, but once you master them, you are unstoppable. Beware about abusing risk shots online, however, you may make people very angry.

Sound: 7

The sound is dead on, but the audio is lacking. There is virtually no music, and the absence of a custom soundtrack baffles my mind. Hopefully these issues will be addressed with the next edition.

Replay value: 10

The offline alone warrants a purchase of this game. I spent the first three days playing offline and didn't think twice about it. On live, this game is really entertaining, and with XSN on the way, I can't wait to see what fun it will bring.

Hits:

Great graphics and control.
Live is incredibly fun.
Extreme character customization.

Misses:

Long load times.
Lack of audio and custom soundtracks.
Occasional ''blue screen of death'' and DDE's.

Overall: 9.6 out of 10

This is one of my top five games of all time, and the closest to perfection I have ever rated a game. I will be entertained with this game until Top Spin 2 hits the shelves. Do yourself a favor and go out and buy this today.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/03