Topspin 3 (360)

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:53 pm

Probably licensing issues for both Wimbledon and Nadal.

Don't you do the career mode with a created player anyways?

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:20 pm

I picked this up as I've been looking for a tennis fix after watching some of the Wimbledon matches this week. I'm not ready to really say if its a good/bad game at this point as I've only been through some of the tutorial sessions and a quick exhibition match but I will say that graphically it KILLS Virtua Tennis. The way the players move and react to the balls is much more realistic and they seem to have a pretty varied amount of animations when hitting the ball.

The gameplay is fun but it really takes some getting used to if you've played a ton of tennis games before this one. Right now I'm not feeling the "press and release" gameplay and I'm having a tough time getting my swings off but after a few days I'm sure I'll come around. It's cool to see Boris Becker in there but why no Agassi? no Sampres?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:34 pm

I think Sampras and Agassi had previous contracts which may still link them to their respective marketers, but I welcome the addition of my all time favourite B. Borg. Apparently Nadal has a contract with Sony and therefore his absence for the 360 system. Can't understand why the big 'W' is not included though.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:14 am

My quick impressions after about 5 hours with the game:

First thing I did was jump into a match as Andy Roddick against James Blake and proceeded to lose 6-0, 6-0 on normal difficulty, I think I only scored two points the whole match. If I would have played a demo of this game with the new hold and release controls I probably would have skipped this game completely but playing around with the training mode for a couple of hours helped a lot.

I then tried a match with Sharapova against the lowest ranked girl on very easy mode to see how that would turn out and I ended up winning 6-1, 6-0 so I bump it back up to normal mode and take Federer against the lowest ranked guy and lost 6-0, 6-0, but I did manage a couple of deuce games during this match but it does look like it is going to take a while to get competitive against the computer on normal mode and the two higher modes of hard and very hard.

Graphics are very good, smooth framerate, wish they would have added annoucers, McEnroe in the booth would have been nice.

The game is more sim like than the previous two versions, didn't see any diving at all but I didn't play on clay yet only played on hard courts. Once I get more time in with the new controls I think this will be a very fun and challenging game, love using the right stick for serving.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:41 am

I would love to see unforced errors in the game. Have you guys seen them yet? Anyone else getting the game? I am just torn now between Live and having Nadal with the PS3.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:49 am

10spro wrote:I would love to see unforced errors in the game. Have you guys seen them yet? Anyone else getting the game? I am just torn now between Live and having Nadal with the PS3.

I'm seen a couple double faults and some balls hitting the net here and there on normal setting.

Its growing on me a bit more after playing through some of the career mode matches. The learning curve is a little steeper than I'm used to for a tennis game but once you get the hang of how the players move and react it gets better.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:38 am

Can any of you comment on the available playable camera angles? I'm thinking about picking this one up before the weekend. Thanks.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:20 am

GTHobbes wrote:Can any of you comment on the available playable camera angles? I'm thinking about picking this one up before the weekend. Thanks.

Edit:
There are 6 camera angles: TV, TV Close, TV Far, Zoom, Zoom Far and Zoom Close.

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:41 pm

I really want to get this game but the fact that the first Top Spin 360 was $40 on release and this is $60 is holding me back. Tennis games are also prime candidates for quick price cuts as well.

Still, its killing me reading about the control scheme and mechanics of the gameplay....it sounds awesome.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:01 pm

btmmayor wrote:I really want to get this game but the fact that the first Top Spin 360 was $40 on release and this is $60 is holding me back. Tennis games are also prime candidates for quick price cuts as well.

Still, its killing me reading about the control scheme and mechanics of the gameplay....it sounds awesome.

Agreed, this game will go the VT3 route, $16.96 at your local Circuit City clearance bin within 6-8 months.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:15 pm

Or maybe after Wimbledon (which they may have been aiming for their release), after the initial spike, they'll cut prices to move it.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:50 pm

macsomjrr wrote:
10spro wrote:I would love to see unforced errors in the game. Have you guys seen them yet? Anyone else getting the game? I am just torn now between Live and having Nadal with the PS3.
I'm seen a couple double faults and some balls hitting the net here and there on normal setting.

Its growing on me a bit more after playing through some of the career mode matches. The learning curve is a little steeper than I'm used to for a tennis game but once you get the hang of how the players move and react it gets better.

Wow, no kidding about the learning curve!

Just hitting the ball takes some practice, let alone playing decent shots. I haven't come close to winning a game, let alone set or match on the medium difficulty setting. Reminds me a bit of how bad I was with Pro Evo soccer the first time I played until I built up some experience with the game. Love the graphics and hopefully I'll get better soon!

Best wishes,

Doug

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:13 am

Demo is out.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:32 am

I cannot decide if I love or hate this game...it's so incredibly frustrating with some of the clunky controls (mainly the slightest touch in a direction moves your player 4 steps so you better not lean one way or you are screwed). I understand the concept behind the press and release shots...but it seems to be poorly implemented. They really should have continued to use the right stick for all shots...you know, mimmicking the actual swing. But it is what it is and they apparently didn't have time to get it right. Fine...but it just feels unfinished.

However...this is the first tennis game that has been a real challenge. The amount of shots you can hit and the variety (actual errors when you start using the left and right triggers to "hug the line" or "hit with some more power"...it's very good conceptually. So...it really is hard to tell which is a bigger plus or minus. Right now I'm in the middle...there are definite issues and there are things I really really like. Guess it will take a little more time.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:50 pm

The demo must be set on easy mode because I didn't have problems winning in my Tiebreaks whether I was Federer or Roddick. Instead I spent more time trying the new controls and I found that more difficult that trying the demo itself. Hitting shots while pressing LT-RT and then A, X, or B is a bit strange, not only that, you have to be in a perfect position to time your shots.

I think the PS3 controller would be a bit easier to control with their flatter shoulder buttons, and it doens't seem that we have enough people with the game for poker nights. The gameplay once you get use to the controls is awesome.

I think the key thing is to keep your finger always pressed to A or X, whatever shot you want to execute after your initial release and always be positionally sound.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:41 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I cannot decide if I love or hate this game...it's so incredibly frustrating with some of the clunky controls (mainly the slightest touch in a direction moves your player 4 steps so you better not lean one way or you are screwed). I understand the concept behind the press and release shots...but it seems to be poorly implemented. They really should have continued to use the right stick for all shots...you know, mimmicking the actual swing. But it is what it is and they apparently didn't have time to get it right. Fine...but it just feels unfinished.

However...this is the first tennis game that has been a real challenge. The amount of shots you can hit and the variety (actual errors when you start using the left and right triggers to "hug the line" or "hit with some more power"...it's very good conceptually. So...it really is hard to tell which is a bigger plus or minus. Right now I'm in the middle...there are definite issues and there are things I really really like. Guess it will take a little more time.

I'm in the same boat. Can't decide whether this game is going to suddenly get really really good or if I'm going to continue to be confused by the ball physics, the ways the players move, and the how to hit the ball consistently and with more accuracy. I swear there have been times where I've performed the exact same swing on the same shot and totally missed the ball completely or hit it out of the lines.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:52 pm

macsomjrr wrote:I'm in the same boat. Can't decide whether this game is going to suddenly get really really good or if I'm going to continue to be confused by the ball physics, the ways the players move, and the how to hit the ball consistently and with more accuracy. I swear there have been times where I've performed the exact same swing on the same shot and totally missed the ball completely or hit it out of the lines.

I really don't have a problem with the shots not being identical. It's the silly physics engine that causes me the most trouble. The momentum is overdone...especially for the quicker players. It shouldn't take 4-6 steps to stop and turn around and then run the other way. Plus, if I'm pushing all the way left on the stick before the other guy has hit his shot...my guy shuffles his feet and sidesteps to get back to the center position when he should be in a full sprint (this is a pain in the ass when you're getting run from side to side). If I want to shuffle back to the center position, then I should just use LB (on the 360 anyway).

Mishitting the ball and having it go wide or in the net is part of the unforced errors game that I actually am happy is included. I shouldn't be able to hit every single ball in play without error.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:22 pm

The demo has done nothing to sell this game to me. I actually think the demo sucks. Graphics are good and presentation is nice but the gameplay does nothing for me. It seems so unnatural for some reason.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:34 pm

Thinking more about the game I really haven't given it a fair shot to get used to how it plays but it seems as if I'll have to totally relearn how to play tennis games and unlearn all of the past games I've played to get any good at this game and I don't feel like doing that. To me an evolution in gameplay should be natural like NHL 07 was. It was a completely new way to play a hockey game yet I didn't feel like I had to unlearn other hockey games.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:03 am

I don't think it's a case of re-learning how to play the Sport, in fact I think 2K tries very well to bring the gameplay to the real life counterpart. They do have a problem in executing that concept to you and I though. Unlike VT where a player could get to a ball almost everytime, therefore its arcadey nature, this game focuses more on your position and your reaction as you're about to hit the ball. How the ball comes at you and at what speed should affect the way you return the ball. If I am pulled high and wide on my backhand, chances are that I will return that shot back but probably more as a block in defense than an outright winner like VT would try to do.

I picked up the PS3 in the end and I found the controller easier to use for this game. Once you get used to the controls, I think the gameplay will come to you.

BTW, I am not trying to say VT is a lousy game, not at all, in fact I still play it on my PSP, but TS3 seems more sim like if you wish. But it does has its faults, could they have made the execution of the shots easier? Sure thing, but like their Hockey game, once you get used to the new controls, you'll be enjoying your matches more often.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:00 pm

I am also in the "undecided" boat on this one. It plays SO DIFFERENT from Topspin 2. It doesn't feel natural to me to release the shot button WAY BEFORE the ball hits the racket. Wouldn't it make sense to release it exactly when you want to hit the ball? It just feels weird to me. Imagine this concept in TW Golf where you "swing" the controller and release the button
BEFORE you actually hit the ball?

I like that the game isn't easy like VT. I thought that game was too "pick up and play" and quickly got bored with it. I really liked Topspin 2 and was hoping to just minor tweaks to that engine. I am not sure why 2K Sports went so overboard on these controls. The footwork seems so "plodding" and not quick enough.

Why can't someone make a tennis game where you mostly use the 2 thumbsticks to move and hit the ball? I think 2K missed the boat on this game.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:04 pm

I just saw that a new Smashcourt Tennis for the 360 is coming in Aug.
I think I am going to hold out for that one. Topspin 3 will probably just be a rental for me.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:49 pm

JackB1 wrote:I just saw that a new Smashcourt Tennis for the 360 is coming in Aug.
I think I am going to hold out for that one. Topspin 3 will probably just be a rental for me.

That's the one game I'm really going to miss out on the PS3. That game was awesome on the PS2. Sounds like you should definitely wait it out Jack.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:43 pm

Well I had a junior match with my created player who's skill level is in his 30's playing a guy in the 50's and was down 2 games to none and came back to win in a tie breaker 10-8, was a very fun match to play. That's my only win so far in the juniors as my records is at 1-6.

Still can't beat the pros at default level yet, lost a match 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 as Federer against Blake, but it was much more competitive now that I am used to the controls as there were a lot of games that went to deuce but I just can't get over the hump yet to win some of those.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:47 pm

After spending some more time with the PS3 demo last night, I think I'm definitely going to pick this one up today. It's a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.