2003 tennis video game
2003 video game
Top Spin
is a 2003
tennis
video game
developed by
PAM Development
and
Indie Games
and published by
Microsoft Game Studios
for the
Xbox
, later published by
Atari Europe
for PC in 2004 and by
2K
for the
PlayStation 2
in 2005. It is a simulation tennis game in which players compete in singles and doubles tennis matches and exhibition tournaments. Gameplay modes include a career mode in which players develop skills and rise through the ranks of an international league.
Top Spin
featured an expanded control scheme compared to its contemporaries,
[3]
and introduced several innovations including 'risk shots', in which players can execute more difficult serves and shots.
Top Spin
was developed as a partnership between French company
PAM Development
and
Microsoft Game Studio
's Salt Lake subsidiary
Indie Games
, with the aim of creating a more realistic and accessible simulation tennis game. The developers modelled the game on the design of previous console tennis titles including
Virtua Tennis
.
Top Spin
was developed to take advantage of the online capabilities of
Xbox Live
, with the game released as part of the
XSN Sports
brand and supported expanded online features.
Upon release, the Xbox version of
Top Spin
received generally favorable reviews, with praise directed to the game's intuitive and accessible control scheme and graphical fidelity, with some critiques of the limitations of the game's career mode. The PlayStation 2 port of the game received mixed reviews, with attention directed to the reduced quality of the game's graphics. Following release,
Top Spin
received several sequels, with
Top Spin 2
released in 2006.
Gameplay
[
edit
]
Top Spin
is a simulation tennis game that recreates single and double tennis matches and exhibition tournaments, in which players compete against a computer or other players in either local or online matches. Players can perform several
tennis shots
using different controls for flat,
top spin
, slice, and
lob
swings.
Serves
are executed using a 'power meter' that affects the speed of the shot. Players can also use the trigger buttons to perform a 'risk shot', which is more difficult to execute. If the player is able to land the shot in the center of the meter, their shot will be harder to return. The chances of success of a risk shot are increased by an 'In the Zone' meter, which increases as the player wins games throughout the course of a match.
[4]
[5]
Top Spin
features several game modes. In 'Exhibition' mode, players can create customized matches by selecting one of sixteen playable professional players or a custom character,
[3]
and set the match as a men's and women's singles or doubles match, the number of games per set, sets per match, and a range of venues categorized from small courts to
Grand Slam
facilities.
[5]
In 'Career' mode, the player is able to create a custom character with a
create-a-player
interface to rise through the ranks of an international tennis league. In the career mode, the player is able to compete in tournaments, seek sponsorship from companies, and complete
minigames
in training sessions that improve the performance of the player in skills, including player precision and the ability to return serves, swings and risk shots.
[4]
Players progress by winning 'coin' from tournaments and sponsorship challenges, allowing them to pay for training sessions and purchase new cosmetic upgrades. The game's tournaments, taking place across the globe, feature an increasing level of difficulty, from 'Minor Pro' to 'Grand Slam' tournaments, with the player increasing in a global ranking based on their performance in tournaments.
[5]
Top Spin
features local system link play and online multiplayer play for up to four players. The Xbox version of the game featured enhanced online features under
Xbox Live
as part of the
XSN Sports
series. Online matches included 'Exhibition' matches that were identical to local matches that did not affect the player's online ranking, and allowed the player to specify the desired type of match, venue and difficulty of competitors. 'Official' matches, supported by
XSN Sports
, allowed players to participate in matches with their custom character against a global ranking for official tournaments. Players were able to use the
XSN Sports
website to monitor leaderboards and game schedules, and record and share detailed performance statistics, including the player's ranking, rating, skills and career data.
[3]
[5]
Development
[
edit
]
Top Spin
was developed by a partnership between French developer
PAM Development
and
Indie Games
, the
Salt Lake City
division of
Microsoft Game Studios
.
Indie Games
had previous experience with developing sports
Xbox
titles, including
Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding
and the
Links
series of golf titles. Program manager Matthew Seymour stated that
Top Spin
was conceived as an
Xbox
competitor to the
Virtua Tennis
and
Mario Tennis
series, with the desire to create an "immersive tennis game" that "would also have in-depth and realistic tactical elements" absent in contemporary tennis titles. The developers experimented with several control schemes in creating the game's control scheme, settling on a "balance between ease of play and depth" by creating a series of 'safe' and 'risk' shots to introduce a tactical element "to make it true to (the) sport".
[6]
Top Spin
was released by
Microsoft Game Studios
under the branding of
XSN Sports
, a series launched in 2003 following the launch of
Xbox Live
in the previous year with enhanced online capabilities for
sports games
, including for players to set up leagues, build tournaments and review data on the website.
[7]
The game was supported by a roster of sixteen professional players, including
Tommy Robredo
,
Jan-Michael Gambill
and
Michael Chang
,
[8]
with the cover of the
Xbox
version featuring
Lleyton Hewitt
,
[9]
and the
PlayStation 2
version featuring
Roger Federer
and
Maria Sharapova
.
[10]
Motion capture
technology was used to create a realistic likeness of the players and animate their movements.
[11]
Reception
[
edit
]
According to
review aggregator
Metacritic
, the
Xbox
version of '
Top Spin
received "generally favorable reviews" and the
PlayStation 2
version received "mixed or average reviews".
[26]
[25]
Several critics praised the Xbox version of the game as the best tennis simulation of its generation and a superior successor to
Virtua Tennis
,
[12]
[13]
[17]
with
GameSpot
describing the game as "the most well-rounded, feature-rich game of tennis to be found anywhere, on any system,"
[4]
and
GameSpy
assessing the game as the "best arcade tennis game to date".
[20]
Reviewers generally praised the game's accessible control scheme and learning curve.
Electronic Gaming Monthly
praised the game's "easy access", writing that "the game's intuitive controls mean anyone can pick up the controller and play competitively."
[12]
GameZone
found the controls of the game to be accessible and player-friendly, whilst "evolving" in difficulty and presenting a challenge for players of all skill levels.
[22]
GamePro
similarly described the gameplay as "responding intuitively and naturally right from the start", whilst noting the game "has its own quirks", such as power-up shorts and serves being "more challenging than they should be."
[17]
GameSpy
praised the "smooth and accessible" gameplay and "wide variety of shots", but critiqued the game's risk shots as "not implemented well and too difficult to pull off in comparison to normal strokes".
[20]
Critics praised the game's visual presentation and animations. Describing the visuals as "eye-catching" and "one of the game's best features",
GamePro
praised the game's "slick" camera.
[17]
Game Revolution
highlighted the game's graphics, writing that the players "look great and move smoothly and accurately" and commending the realism of the courts and crowd animations.
[16]
GameSpot
wrote that "the look of the game is unmatched", particularly its "realistically rendered" courts, "clean and realistic" lighting and "fluid" player animations.
[4]
GameSpy
similarly praised the game's "sharp-looking courts" and "gorgeous character models".
[20]
Game Informer
expressed that the game's graphics easily surpassed its predecessors in the genre.
[15]
Reviewers also praised the inclusion and implementation of online play.
GameSpot
wrote that the inclusion of
Xbox Live
support put the game "head and shoulders above the competition", praising the "good number of play options" and XSN Sports features.
[4]
IGN
similarly highlighted the online features for their "leaderboards" and "number of opponents available for play", although wished "some original modes like point challenges" to "make the online component even more fun".
[3]
Hyper
praised the game as an "integral part" of the XSN Sports lineup, stating "it's pretty obvious that multiplayer is what this game as built for."
[27]
Critics expressed mixed views on the design of the career mode. Assessing that the "career mode could use a bit of beefing up",
IGN
described the mode as "competent and enjoyable", but lacked the "great mini-games" of
Virtua Tennis
.
[3]
Eurogamer
noted the career mode "could have been a lot better", citing the limited tournament pool of sixteen players and "lack of real competitions".
[13]
GamePro
commented that the pacing of the career mode was "a bit off as it's easy to train up your player too quickly."
[17]
Despite finding the career mode to offer a "good amount of entertainment",
Game Revolution
critiqued the game's skills system and training sessions as not "very thrilling", and the cash system to be "sort of useless" in its use to purchase cosmetic upgrades.
[16]
Game Informer
considered the career mode to have a "distinct lack of star power" due to its the absence of major tennis stars and real-world venues.
[15]
The
PlayStation 2
port of
Top Spin
received less favorable reviews due to the reduced graphics.
IGN
noted that whilst the PlayStation title was "wholly the same" as the
Xbox
release, "its presence on the PlayStation 2 is marred a bit by the PS2's lesser hardware".
[23]
GameSpy
similarly wrote that the "excellent animation, lively arenas, (and) lighting" on the original release were "not to be found" on the PlayStation 2 version, with the character models being "just not good", the audience animations being "especially horrid", and the "graphics (hurting) the actual play".
[19]
Describing the game as a "half-hearted translation",
GameSpot
dismissed the "bland visuals" of the port and "dumbed down" character models, also faulting the game's "slow" transitions between menus and loading times.
[18]
Accolades
[
edit
]
The
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
at the
7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
nominated
Top Spin
for "
Console Sports Simulation Game of the Year
", which was ultimately awarded to
Madden NFL 2004
.
[28]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Justin Calvert (October 28, 2003).
"Microsoft serves up Top Spin"
.
GameSpot
.
CBS Interactive
.
Archived
from the original on January 9, 2018
. Retrieved
January 14,
2018
.
- ^
"Atari announces Top Spin for the PC"
.
Archived
from the original on February 8, 2022
. Retrieved
February 8,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Kaiser Hwang (October 29, 2003).
"Top Spin (Xbox)"
.
IGN
. Ziff Davis.
Archived
from the original on February 10, 2018
. Retrieved
January 14,
2018
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Ryan Davis (October 31, 2003).
"Top Spin Review (Xbox)"
.
GameSpot
. CBS Interactive.
Archived
from the original on January 9, 2018
. Retrieved
January 14,
2018
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Top Spin: Game Manual
. Microsoft Game Studios. 2003
. Retrieved
August 7,
2023
.
- ^
"Top Spin Q&A"
.
GameSpot
. October 27, 2003.
Archived
from the original on August 6, 2023
. Retrieved
August 6,
2023
.
- ^
Hong, Quang (August 28, 2003).
"Microsoft Debuts XSN Sports"
.
Game Developer
.
Archived
from the original on August 27, 2021
. Retrieved
August 3,
2023
.
- ^
Varanini, Giancarlo (March 10, 2003).
"Partial Top Spin roster revealed"
.
GameSpot
.
Archived
from the original on August 7, 2023
. Retrieved
August 7,
2023
.
- ^
Calvert, Justin (March 11, 2003).
"Top Spin gets Lleyton Hewitt"
.
GameSpot
.
Archived
from the original on August 7, 2023
. Retrieved
August 7,
2023
.
- ^
"Federer, Sharapova share Top Spin cover"
.
GameSpot
. July 12, 2005.
Archived
from the original on August 7, 2023
. Retrieved
August 7,
2023
.
- ^
Robinson, Jon (November 21, 2003).
"Lleyton Hewitt: Top Spin Interview"
.
GameSpot
.
Archived
from the original on August 7, 2023
. Retrieved
August 7,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
Greg Sewart; Bryan Intihar; Andrew Pfister (December 2003).
"Top Spin (Xbox)"
.
Electronic Gaming Monthly
. No. 173. Ziff Davis. p. 228. Archived from
the original
on December 5, 2003
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
Ronan Jennings (November 11, 2003).
"Top Spin (Xbox)"
.
Eurogamer
.
Gamer Network
.
Archived
from the original on December 30, 2019
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
Matt Helgeson (November 2005). "Top Spin (PS2)".
Game Informer
. No. 151.
GameStop
. p. 161.
- ^
a
b
c
Matt Helgeson (November 2003).
"Top Spin (Xbox)"
.
Game Informer
. No. 127. GameStop. p. 167. Archived from
the original
on August 18, 2007
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
Ben Silverman (November 2003).
"Top Spin Review (Xbox)"
.
Game Revolution
.
CraveOnline
.
Archived
from the original on April 19, 2004
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
Air Hendrix (October 30, 2003).
"Top Spin Review for Xbox on GamePro.com"
.
GamePro
.
IDG Entertainment
. Archived from
the original
on February 9, 2005
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
Ryan Davis (October 13, 2005).
"Top Spin Review (PS2)"
.
GameSpot
. CBS Interactive.
Archived
from the original on January 9, 2018
. Retrieved
January 14,
2018
.
- ^
a
b
Justin Leeper (October 7, 2005).
"GameSpy: Top Spin (PS2)"
.
GameSpy
. IGN Entertainment. Archived from
the original
on December 12, 2005
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Raymond Padilla (November 1, 2003).
"GameSpy: Top Spin (Xbox)"
.
GameSpy
. IGN Entertainment.
Archived
from the original on April 4, 2023
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
Angelina Sandoval (October 13, 2005).
"Top Spin - PS2 - Review"
.
GameZone
.
Archived
from the original on October 5, 2008
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
Michael Lafferty (October 21, 2003).
"Top Spin - XB - Review"
.
GameZone
.
Archived
from the original on February 29, 2008
. Retrieved
December 30,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
Chris Roper (September 27, 2005).
"Top Spin (PS2)"
.
IGN
. Ziff Davis.
Archived
from the original on January 10, 2018
. Retrieved
January 14,
2018
.
- ^
"Top Spin".
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine
. No. 100. Ziff Davis. January 2006. p. 91.
- ^
a
b
"Top Spin for PlayStation 2 Reviews"
.
Metacritic
. CBS Interactive.
Archived
from the original on January 16, 2018
. Retrieved
January 14,
2018
.
- ^
a
b
"Top Spin for Xbox Reviews"
.
Metacritic
. CBS Interactive.
Archived
from the original on January 14, 2018
. Retrieved
January 14,
2018
.
- ^
Shea, Cam (December 2003).
"Top Spin"
.
Hyper
. No. 122. Next Media. pp. 48?49
. Retrieved
August 3,
2023
.
- ^
"Nominations Announced for 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards"
. GameZone.
Archived
from the original on January 9, 2023
. Retrieved
August 24,
2023
.
External links
[
edit
]