Top Spin 2 Preview

Tennis games had generally either gone for realism (the Tennis Masters series) or arcade-style (Virtua Tennis). Then Top Spin appeared on the Xbox (recently ported to the PlayStation 2), and offered a happy compromise between the two styles, taking the accessibility and mini-game approach from Virtua Tennis and coupling that with multiple shot-types and match-types. To complete the package it provided a full-on online experience.

Given the success of the original, it was obvious that a sequel would come to light at some point, and so with a new generation comes a new Top Spin game. First things first: in terms of what to expect from Top Spin 2, it’s fair to say that it’s Top Spin, but shinier. The build I played was far from complete and was lacking features and the visual polish that should be found in the version you’ll play next year.

That said, as we get ready to embrace the HD-era, the graphics are the first thing people will notice and expect to be different. Well, based on what was seen (and remember what I said above), don’t expect to use Top Spin 2 as a showcase of what the 360 can do. Sure, it looked crisp and clear, and the player likenesses are better than before (Lindsay Davenport was quite scary), but unfortunately the build shown didn’t do the game any justice: none of the facial animations were present and only one court was available; so, as a graphical showcase it would be hard to say one way or another. Still, the crowd is fully 3D and there are various lighting and shadow effects that your current consoles couldn’t dream of. So, next-gen graphics? The jury will reserve judgement until final code is available.

As to what the game played like, well, it’s tennis. This is no revolution of the genre, nor was it ever promised to be – it’s Top Spin, but a little bit more. The game felt slightly sluggish to control (although this was apparently due to the code not being optimised, so could well be sorted for release), and the ‘risk’ shots that were one of the unique selling points of the original title weren’t present either. This left only the basic shot selections, which all worked as you would expect. Control with the 360 pad was comfortable, and everything worked as it should. Those familiar with Top Spin will slide into the groove in no time, whereas Top Spin virgins who fancy a tennis fix will also be able to get into the swing of things quickly enough – it’s been said that you can play relying solely on the A-button to get through the game, although it won’t be easy.

23 stars from the world of professional tennis will be included and many features from the original game will return: mini-games to hone your skills, player customisation (with plenty of options to make your avatar look unique), and player coaches. The career mode will now span five seasons, giving you ample opportunity to reach the dizzy heights of world number one, with plenty of tournaments including all the Grand Slam events. Chuck in all the online functionality, and the potential for the first great sports title on the 360 is certainly there.

We’ll let you know how it turns out in a full review early next year.