Wii Fanboy Review: Top Spin 3

The team behind the Wii version of Top Spin 3 was not exactly working in an enviable position. It seems a little funny to call a pack-in game a juggernaut, but that's exactly what Wii Sports is, and any game that sets out to deliver a realistic sports experience to Wii owners is up against that suprisingly excellent set of mini-games. Every tennis game, realistic or not, on the system is going to be compared -- probably unfavorably -- with a game that was free, and that's got to chafe.

Unfortunately, it looks like someone was all too aware of that inevitable comparison, and worried besides, as Top Spin 3 tries too hard to be too many things to too many people. Not only did PAM Development and 2K Sports strive to create a top notch tennis simulation, they also tried to make it easy to pick up and play ... and the two don't exactly go hand in hand when it comes to a deep sports game.

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The good news is that the control scheme in Top Spin 3 works really well ... after a lot of playtime. The system isn't terribly intuitive, and there's a lot going on. Figuring out how to best aim and make your shots takes a lot of practice, and again, compared to Wii Sports tennis, it's not as fluid right out of the gate. But if you happen to be a tennis fan, or love tennis simulations, and are willing to spend some time waiting for the rumble while you prepare your shots, then Top Spin 3 is going to work just fine for you.

For anyone less dedicated, however, Top Spin 3 might not be a good match. Part of this is due to the learning curve, and the rest is simply because of the way the game itself is set up. For instance: the manual sites Exhibition Mode as the quickest way to get started, and if you're not looking for a party game (another mode), then it certainly is. Choose your player, your opponent and venue, and right after that, you're serving up the ball.

So you expect to spend these first few games getting your butt kicked, sure, or at least missing some easy shots while you figure out the controls. First match is always a sacrifice, right? Make that the first several matches here, because exhibition mode is only three games long. That's the whole match. It's not enough time to even begin to get a grip on the controls. Just as you start to get a grip on things, the match is over, and you've either been beaten soundly, or you've managed to pull off the accidental sort of win that you couldn't duplicate if your life depended on it.

That leaves Road to Glory, the main mode, which features many different events. This is a little better for figuring out the controls, except you can also expect to play through here a few times as well, just to get a grip on the controls. The manual does a passable job of explaining the controls, and the game offers tips as well, but there's a lot to keep track of, and since a lot of it doesn't feel particularly natural. As above, it just takes time, and since Road to Glory is just that, it's not really ideal for training.

There is a tutorial section, at least. But the truth is that it's hard to just jump in to Top Spin 3 ... while the lion's share of the content feels like it was designed for quickplay. It's almost as though two designers were working on different games and they crammed them onto one disc at the last minute.

There's a lot missing from the game, too, and all we get in return are the motion controls. Online mode? Nope. Left-handed control scheme? Nope again. Forget games like No More Heroes -- this is shaping up to the be the ultimate niche title, catering only to serious fans of professional tennis who lack internet connections, and who also happen to be right-handed.

There are a few other quibbles to be made: the game doesn't look so hot, for one, particularly in comparison to what's on offer with the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. All the character models are a little blocky, from the audience members to the players. Further, a few more winning and losing animations would go a long way toward making this look more polished. The same few are repeated constantly.

If you're just looking for a few friendly games of tennis? You've already got the best on offer if you own a Wii. If what you want is something you can labor over, calculating each shot, positioning each move, then this is a worthwhile game. Despite the missing online mode (sigh), Top Spin 3 delivers a grueling tennis experience. It's just not an experience that's for everyone.

Final verdict: 6.5/10 -- Solid enough for what it is, but a bit of a tough learning curve. Multiplayer is fun, but not a patch on Wii Sports tennis. Lack of online mode hurts.

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