Top Spin 3

Top Spin 3 - (Wii)
Developer: Pam
Format: Wii
Genre: Tennis

Tennis, done properly!

This game might put a lot of people off, especially those of us addicted to the Wii's cartoon serves and volleys. But Top Spin 3 attempts to put the real life skill, shouts and spins back into the game.

It's all about timing when you first get onto the court. Holding and releasing the shot button needs pinpoint accuracy (similar to some of the golfing game mechanics around at the moment), in order to get your desired shot's spin, direction and power. After a little mastering, you'll be slamming those serves home. And you'll be rewarded with a little vibration feedback of the perfection of our timed volley.

What's also apparent very early on and again takes a little getting used to, is the physics of the players as they jostle their stance and positioning. Leap to the left to return a serve and you might be surprised at the level of realistic inertia that will carry you past the point you wanted to be. In a funny sort of way, this is all about relearning how to play a tennis game properly. Once that's in your head, this will dig its addictive hooks into you.

Of course the more running around you force your chosen player to do, the resultant increase in sweat and blood pressure, heart rate and reaction time will come into play. A tired player will perform increasingly erratically, especially depending on which surface the matches are taking place (turf, clay) and the particular difficulties these courts throw up.

A host of players and courts and all the above attention to detail makes tennis come alive again for those tiring of the cartoon quirkiness of other titles.

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