Video Games : Top Spin 3 (PS3)

Rating: - Good game
Have to say this is a lot harder to play that some of the others, as timing the hit can be quite difficult. However saying that, it probably what makes this a little more realistic and less arcade than some of the other games around. The graphics are nice as well, as you get more tired, your player sweats and your accuracy etc. decreases. Very good soundtrack as well. Just could be improved in a couple of areas, would like to see the training area give to some points to improve your player and not just through tournaments and matches. For that Virtua Tennis seems a little more complete......

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Rating: - Top Spin 3
As somebody who owns both Virtua Tennis 3 and Top Spin 3, I have to say that although Virtua Tennis 3 is brilliant, Top Spin 3 is in a league of it's own.

Believe it or not I'm not a real fan of real-life tennis. The reason I bought Top Spin 3 in the first place was because I enjoyed Virtua Tennis 3 so much.

In comparison to Virtua Tennis 3, here are the reasons I believe Top Spin 3 beats the competition:

- Graphics. From the sweat on the players' skin to the crowd, stadium and ball boys, I was very impressed with the attention to detail.
- Gameplay - Top Spin 3 requires you to practice and learn to reach your potential. The power, speed and accuracy of your shots depends on your quick thinking. This doesn't automatically mean the game is difficult, it just means there is substantial scope for improvement.
- Realism - Unlike Virtua Tennis 3, there's no guarantee that your shot will stay within the court. Knowing exactly where and when to hit the ball and the power you use will affect the outcome.
- Online play. Unlike Virtua Tennis 3, Top Spin 3 allows you to play with other users from around the world. However, I believe the Xbox360 version of Virtua Tennis 3 allows users to play online - which I wasn't best pleased about!

Like all games, Top Spin 3 does come with a few drawbacks:

- Online play. Lag can be a problem when playing with some. Sometimes you may even struggle to find or join a game. Unfortunately, another problem is that a few people tend to quit before the game has finished. Basically, if you're looking to purchase Top Spin 3 because you like the idea of multiplayer, don't get your hopes up too much. You'll find that single player provides more than enough entertainment anyway!
- Female players. Unlike Virtua Tennis 3 you'll find that male players (I.e. Federer, Nadal & Roddick) tend to have the advantage, especially when comparing players' statistics (I.e. Power, serving, speed & stamina, etc)
- Player hierarchy - When comparing player statistics, you'll find that Federer, Nadal and Roddick tend to come out firmly on top. Saying that however, I do love Roddick's serving ability!

Finally, don't feel that you have to be an avid tennis fan to enjoy Top Spin 3, or Virtua Tennis 3 for that matter.

If you're wondering whether to purchase Virtua Tennis 3 or Top Spin 3, I would definitely recommend Top Spin 3 beyond all doubt. Although Virtua Tennis 3 is a brilliant game, the makers of Top Spin 3 seem to have taken Virtua Tennis 3's good points, ditched the bad points and launched Top Spin 3 into a league of it's own.

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Rating: - Very Realistic
The realism of this game is superb. Last night my brother walked into the room and asked me who was playing tennis, he thought i was watching tv, and his eyesight is near perfect. Also much effort has clearly been put into reproducing the playing styles of the players, which they have done really well. There are some nice touches too to add to the realism, eg. the plane sounds on the US Open court, Flushing Meadows, just like in real life.

Althoug it is not as easy to pick up and play as virtual tennis, it is very rewarding once you get to grips with it. The career mode is decent imo, although some disagree, however not having wimbledon isn't too big a deal because they've got all the masters tournaments (apart from Shanghai - soon to be O2 arena - at the end of the season) and the other grand slams.

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Rating: - Top Game
After having Top Spin for around a month i can say it's a very good game. When a game is developed that is classed more as a simulation than an arcade it will always put off people that prefer to play these games more casually. It is completely true that this isn't the game you would get if you wanted to have a couple of sets with some mates every now and then (if they didn't already have the game). It is fairly hard to learn. However i would much rather have a game that requires me to perfect my skills and enhance the basic shots, yes it will get frustrating at times but the rewards are much greater when you succeed. Much like in real sport, you have to work hard to get good results. I can't believe people expect games to stay the same, maybe the game should be more like pong where you just need to run to the ball and the computer will automatically hit it for you. The control system is different but in my eyes it makes it much more satisfying when you play the good shots. The graphics are easily one of the best of any sports game, much more realistic than the likes of Virtua tennis, with only EA's franchises posing better character models. Player movement is very good and motion is extremely smooth. Match sounds are also great however in spite of enjoying the menu music it is does get very repetitive. Overall I would highly recommend this game, although it is not for everyone if you are prepared to practice you will find a very enjoyable game in the end.

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Rating: - Solid Game
Top Spin 3 is a fantastic all-round tennis game. I stress the word tennis, as if you aren't really a tennis fan, but want a tennis game I'd go for Virtua Tennis.

The thing about this game is that it takes time to learn the basics and even more time to master them. It is also a slow game, but this doesn't take away from the awesome fun you can have. The fun, for me, comes in learning how to hit the more advanced shots, and eventually going on to the 5th set against Federer or Nadal on a high difficulty setting. The graphics and gameplay are excellent aswell, compared to Virtua Tennis, which is more like an arcade game and doesn't take long to master.

Single player on Top Spin 3 is excellent, and the career mode is well structured. However, one mode that isn't too good is offline multiplayer, against your friends. The game is so difficult to get the hang of that you can't just play it with your mates in the same way as, for example, Smash Court Tennis 2 on PS2. However, if you want to play multiplayer then from what I've heard the online mode is good.

One small, but annoying fault, is the menu music. The music itself is not bad, but limited. It ranges from Stone Roses to Calvin Harris, but overall there aren't enough tracks. In addition, pretty much everytime you switch menu screens the track changes, meaning that you only ever get the first 3-20 seconds of a song. This is a really basic fault and may not seem a big deal but it really does your head in after a while...

Overall this game is excellent, especially if you are a big tennis fan.