After an agonizing thirteen-year hiatus, Top Spin is finally making its grand return in 2024, and with this news, a lot of tennis fans are returning to the classics to experience everything the beloved series has to offer. While there have been a plethora of tennis games that have been released over the last two decades, it was really Top Spin that set out the basic template for how these games should play back when it was first released in 2003.
There were a total of four mainline Top Spin games released throughout the 2000's for multiple consoles, and while they all have their own unique gimmicks and mechanics, there are some that a lot of fans argue are much better overall for their immersion, animations, content, and just how fun they are to play in general. Before taking a look at how these games rank, it should be mentioned that because some of the ports and handheld versions are much different in quality, they will also be considered below.
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8 Top Spin 2 (DS)
Metascore: 51
- Developer: Indie Built
- Publisher: 2K
- Release Date: March 29, 2006
The whole concept of putting a Top Spin game on a handheld system may sound like a good idea on paper, but unfortunately, resulted in a pretty poor port of the otherwise very good Top Spin 2, which looked and felt far worse than its counterpart. Because the animations are incredibly poor, it means that both players on the court often feel like they are skating on an ice rink, and will often teleport to the ball rather than moving towards it in a realistic fashion.
The graphics also don't help the situation, as the choppy visuals can often make it quite difficult to actually follow the ball, especially when the AI is pulling off a high or risky shot. While there is at least a fairly deep shot system that players can mess around with to get the drop on their opponent, this port offers little else in regard to depth or strategy.
7 Top Spin 4 (Wii)
Metascore: 54
- Developer: 2K Czech
- Publisher: 2K
- Release Date: March 15, 2011
While Top Spin 4 for the Wii is packed with fun and exciting game modes to jump into, especially the King of the Court mode which is a blast when playing with friends, the game struggles to keep up quick and fast rallies due to the unresponsive Wii motion controls. While pulling off a basic swing isn't too bad, the game also makes it so that players will need to swing the remote in a very precise manner to pull off other techniques like a slice or drop shot.
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Since the Wii motion controls are poorly optimized for the game, it's a common occurrence for players to try and use a particular swing, only for something completely different to come out instead. As mentioned before, this really harms quick rallies, and it can also be pretty difficult for newcomers to the sport to become familiar with. If players can get the hang of the controls though, the game still runs well and actually looks extremely polished for a Wii title.
6 Top Spin 3 (DS)
Metascore: 65
- Developer: PAM Development
- Publisher: 2K
- Release Date: July 11, 2008
After the disastrous reception of Top Spin 2 for the DS, PAM Development clearly put a lot of effort into making the sequel much more compatible with the system, and while it still has its fair share of downsides, it's a massive improvement from what came before. The game features sixteen top players from around the world to take control over, and although there are only a handful of stadiums, they all still manage to look very vibrant thanks to the colors, which have been much more emphasized this time around.
The core gameplay is pretty much the same as its console iteration, with players having access to a basic swing along with some of the more risky ones such as the smash and backhand if they feel brave enough to pull them off. The slightly clunky movement does admittedly make it very easy to cling onto the ball, which does end up creating a big disadvantage for the opponent, but this is still the best the series has ever been on a handheld system.
5 Top spin 3 (Wii)
Metascore: 68
- Developer: Pam Development
- Publisher: 2K
- Release Date: June 23, 2008
Rather than being a simple port from the original Top Spin 3 on consoles, the Wii version is almost an entirely different game, primarily because it does away with all the deeper systems and mechanics in an attempt to create a much more casual and accessible experience. The much stricter swing commands have been dialed down and made much easier to perform, and while this definitely appeals to younger fans or those who might be new to tennis in general, it does also sacrifice a lot of the competitive nature in the process.
The game looks just as good as its console counterparts though, with realistic players and beautiful stadiums that really are quite impressive for the era that the game came out. Top Spin 3 for the Wii might not have that intense competitive edge to it that many players look for, but it's ideally designed for anyone who just wants to jump in and have a few easy rallies with their friends,
4 Top Spin 2 (Xbox 360, PC)
Metascore: 75
- Developer: Indie Built
- Publisher: 2K
- Release Date: March 29, 2006
Top Spin 2 is a fast-paced and fluid tennis game that introduced a few extra mechanics from its predecessor to help flesh out the core gameplay, and while this is great for tennis players who are already in the know, it can admittedly be a little overwhelming for newcomers. While players will have the four basic swings that they can use during a match, including the reliable safe swing and a slightly more unorthodox top swing, there are also eight others that can be executed by using up a portion of the Momentum Bar.
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This adds a little more strategy to the gameplay, but because these additional swings are often so risky, it means that the player will need to learn exactly when to use them in order for them to prove effective on the court. The career mode, while fairly bland in its actual story, is still a blast to play through, and players are also able to create their very character before jumping in, which adds a lot to the overall immersion. As mentioned before, Top Spin 2's intricate and fairly complex mechanics can be a little jarring for those new to the games or the sport, but longtime tennis fans will still find a lot here to enjoy.
3 Top Spin 3 (PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360)
Metascore: 78
- Developer: PAM Development
- Publisher: 2K
- Release Date: June 23, 2008
2K made the bold decision to make Top Spin 3 a little more realistic in order to add to the overall immersion of the experience, and while it undoubtedly makes it harder as a result, it also gives players plenty of room to improve and perfect their swings over time. Players can't just run up to a ball and press a single button to respond to their opponent, instead, they will have to time their release with their swing, which is indicated by a slight vibration in the controller.
This simple mechanic already makes the game much more difficult, but it also rewards those who have dedicated the time to practice before hitting the court. There's also been a few other changes that try to steer close to the real-life game, such as how risk shots are now dependent on how difficult it will be to actually hit the oncoming ball, which creates a nice risk-reward system for this popular move. The intense learning curve might not be for everyone, but with a staggering amount of content and some downright stunning visuals to boot, Top Spin 3 is still an excellent game for die-hard tennis fans.
2 Top Spin 4 (PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360)
Metascore: 84
- Developer: 2K Czech
- Publisher: 2K
- Release Date: March 15, 2011
Because Top Spin 3 had started to feel a little overly complex in its mechanics to some people, 2K decided to tone this down slightly in the fourth game, while still providing a high skill ceiling for anyone who aims to become the best of the best. The four basic swings are assigned to the four colored buttons on the controller, and while they're much easier to pull off than in the previous game, and will get the player through a rally just fine, they're encouraged to test out the other techniques in order to reliably score points every time.
One of the biggest examples of this is the modifiers assigned to the shoulder buttons. These can drastically change the trajectory of a shot, and although they are much harder to use effectively, their speed and power can also come in handy for breaking an intense rally. The career mode has also been greatly improved in this game, featuring a pretty interesting story that is paced extremely well, making those matches against the likes of Federer and Nadal all the more exciting when they eventually show up.
1 Top Spin (PlayStation 2 / PC / Xbox)
Metascore: 89
- Developer: Indie Built / PAM Development
- Publisher: 2K / Microsoft Game Studios
- Release Date: October 28, 2003 / November 10, 2004 (PC – EU Only) / September 26, 2005
While the original Top Spin is without a doubt a very easy game to jump into, especially since there are only a handful of swings, players are also able to get better at the game by familiarizing themselves with the multiple unique systems that they can use to get a step-up over their opponent. The most important of these is the "In the zone" gauge, which will fill up if a player manages to keep playing well without dropping the ball. The meter itself will judge the player's chances of pulling off a risk shot, and while this might not be as realistic or immersive as previous titles, it's still an incredibly fun mechanic that ensures that there's always a risk associated with these tricky techniques.
Despite being the first Career mode in the series, it's actually the best one yet in the eyes of many people, mainly because it mixes in so many other activities with the matches to help break up the pacing, such as seeking out sponsorships and small fitness minigames. Pair this with some fantastic graphics that still hold up today, and a massive roster of star players, and it results in what many consider to be the most enjoyable entry in the series to date.
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