Top Spin 2 (360) impressions

[sportdan30]

I don't think this game allows for online tournaments. Am I mistaken? That would be sweet if it did and there's no reason why it shouldn't.

[PhiPsi1]

all i can say is WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! UNBELIEVABLE....man, this is some AWESOME stuff..i'm so glad that i listened to all these impressions.

this game was not on my radar at all because i just didn't get into top spin on the xbox..but oh my gosh...i know it is early, but i am willing to say that this is the "winning eleven" of ALL tennis games...not to say that there has been any sim-oriented tennis games, but from a gameplay standpoint, a game VERY well done...2k sports needs to be applauded for this effort.

from what i have seen, the ai is EXTREMELY varied, and this is on normal difficulty where i am getting my a** handed to me..i played federer with coria (unfortunately the announcer announces it as "korea" instead of coria, but if that is one of the few downfalls, i'll definitely live with it), and just like in real life, coria was getting to everything, BUT the precision of shots and variation by federer was amazing...the first thing i wanted to observe is whether the ai would fall into a consistent hitting pattern...so i would serve out wide to pull federer off the court...the first time i did this, he hit it back down the center of the court, pretty flat, so i put him away with a top spin backhand to the other side of the court....i was on the deuce side serving...then next time i was on the deuce side, i served out wide again...i was like, please, don't do the same thing as last time...and unbelievably federer hit a slice shot down the line and rushed to the center of the court and covered the ground he lost from chasing my wide serve...then i served out wide again on the deuce side, and federer pulls out a drop shot...

you all have NO IDEA how stoked i was to see that the ai would not follow a "scripted" path to the point. it seems also, that it is extremely difficult to break federer's serve (which is the way it is in real life)...he aced me 9 times in the match, not by rocket type like serves like roddick, but more by precise placement!

then i used james blake versus andy roddick...totally different experience...in regards to federer, he was a more all-court magician, coming to the net, utilizing drop shots, and running me from side-to-side..but then when i played roddick, it was all about blowing me away from the baseline and overpowering me. roddick's serve was a freakin' rocket!..if i would make contact and push the left thumb stick just a smidge too much, it would go out, BUT then the awesome thing was if that i layed off the stick, roddick was instantly on the offensive and dictating the point...i actually had triple break point on roddick and was like, alright, i got it now...then all of a sudden, it goes back to deuce and i lose that game....i have never been so happy to lose in my life...

it's just a breath of fresh air, especially for a tennis fan and division I tennis player to finally have a tennis game that very much so attempts and successfully brings the realism of the game to the general public....albeit, i'm sure in a few weeks or so, there may be some things that i will notice and everybody will notice...but the great thing so far is that EVERY POINT i have played has not felt scripted...i feel like i am having a chess match with the ai trying to out-think and predict it's next move. and what's awesome is that this is on NORMAL difficulty using the zoom camera (like how i can be upclose and really in the action)....

sorry for the length, but i'm completely stoked about this game...can't wait to create NADAL and take over the clay court season, and hopefully get some respect on other surfaces, but just like in real life, focusing on the dirt of the french open!!!!

flat out, it's just a fun game!

[PhiPsi1]

did anyone get the "update xbox 360 screen" when they first put the game in?
what was that all about?

[jondiehl]

The character creation is pure insanity. I propose a DSP Freak Tournamnet; make up the freakiest looking thing you can with default points and let's have a tourney!

Hell yeah. You can make some alien looking characters, faces only a mother could love. I'm game.

[10spro]

Sitting on a last minute assigment some 4000 miles away from home and still reeling from the fiasco pricing I had with my closest EB store where I returned the game , I've been reading your comments with great interest.

One of my favourite sports that I play on and off the court and I just feel that I will be so late creating my player that by the time I get back, all of you will be Federer's to beat.

So my question is this: Besides playing tournaments and matches what is the quickest way to build up your player so that when I go online 10 days from now, I can play competitively online?

Has anyone played doubles yet online?

[btmmayor]

Career mode is going to be a lot of fun with all of the major tournaments in this version. I am playing it on the default of normal and have had a lot of 20+ rally points, never had anything close to that in other tennis games.

Is there a way to change the difficulty in Career mode? If there is an option there, I can't find it.

How are you guys approaching the aiming of your top spin and slice shots? From what I can tell, aiming your slice and top spin shots seems to be how long you hold the stick in a direction not how far you physically tilt the stick. By not holding the stick as long to the right or left, I'm having more success in keeping the ball in bounds. I'd like to get some feedback from you guys on this.

All in all, this is one hell of a tennis game. As long as there is not a "money" type of shot in this game like there was in the original Top Spin , I'll be playing this one for a long time.

[Leebo33]

From what I can tell, aiming your slice and top spin shots seems to be how long you hold the stick in a direction not how far you physically tilt the stick. By not holding the stick as long to the right or left, I'm having more success in keeping the ball in bounds. I'd like to get some feedback from you guys on this.

I *just* figured this out not more than 5 minutes ago. I was getting frustrated from hitting the ball right back the middle every time and losing a lot. I thought I read that you aimed during the backswing so I wasn't holding the stick down long and all my returns were going straight to my opponent. I tried holding the stick in longer last time and it seemed to click.

Did you guys get an email from or play Michael Snyder in career mode? I just thought that was funny as hell because that's my son's name. He was the first person I actually beat! My son is not black though

[btmmayor]

I *just* figured this out not more than 5 minutes ago. I was getting frustrated from hitting the ball right back the middle every time and losing a lot. I thought I read that you aimed during the backswing so I wasn't holding the stick down long and all my returns were going straight to my opponent. I tried holding the stick in longer last time and it seemed to click.

I was having the exact opposite problem. If I wanted to hit to the right, during my backswing I would just hold the stick to the right until my player hit the ball. Its what I've always done in every other tennis game. With this game though, all of my top spin and slice shots were sailing out of bounds. The only way I could keep them in was by not moving the stick at all. Now, by holding the stick to the left or right just for a few moments (based on how far over I want the ball to go) and then letting go of the stick I'm having much, much more success. Its an awesome system, and coupled with all of the different shot types and risk shots it adds an incredible amount of depth to the game.

Tennis games have always been just 3D Pong up until now. Top Spin 2 changes that.

[sportdan30]

Yep, I got an email from Michael Snyder about how he couldn't believe he lost to me. Funny thing is that I faced him again in mixed doubles and they defeated my partner and I. Perhaps he'll become my rival. I read something where after a while you develop a rival in the game. Kinda like Fight Night.

[jondiehl]

Yeah, whatever country you pick for your character, the other top player is then your rival. I ended up playing Michael Snyder in season 2 in the 1st tournament (Australian) and beat him 3-1, 3-1. I got Hewitt in Rd2 and he smoked me good, but I got like 4 silver stars just for advancing to the 2nd round. Now I'm doing the French open, so I'm about half way through Season 2 I guess. At this point, I'm skipping minor and major tournaments, as well as special tournaments. I've been doing all training each week, or Masters/Slams since you get more coin and stars for playing in those. Season one I wasn't ranked high enough for them, so it was the opposite (all minors/majors).

[Leebo33]

Its an awesome system, and coupled with all of the different shot types and risk shots it adds an incredible amount of depth to the game.

Tennis games have always been just 3D Pong up until now. Top Spin 2 changes that.

I'm really enjoying this game. Some of the matches have been quite intense.

I've been playing a lot of exhibitions with the Pros at all the different venues and haven't dug too deep into career mode. How do I earn the L trigger shots?

[vader29]

I've been entering the slams in my second season and at Wimbledon I ended up making it to the semifinals before losing in 4 sets. The quarterfinal game I had against Tim Henman was back and forth with us each winning two sets at 3-1 then I was finally able to come through in the fifth set 8-6. For some reason in the fourth set in that quarterfinal game the crowd noise went dead and stayed that way throughout the semifinal game.

I pretty much played this game all weekend and haven't done that since NCAA football from a few years ago. Easily my most favorite game so far on the 360.

[jondiehl]

I've been entering the slams in my second season and at Wimbledon I ended up making it to the semifinals before losing in 4 sets.

Very nice. My 2nd season, I beat my rival in the 1st round of the Australian, but then Hewitt dispatched me pretty easily in Rd2. I just did the French and was taken out in 1st round by some no-namer that was ranked near me (top 20).

For those of you in season 2, how many total bronze stars (out of 60) do you guys have? I think I may start skipping tournaments and doing the training instead, I seem to be falling behind.

[Nozzleman_216]

I was thinking the same thing on skipping tourneys and doing more training. Everyone I play, even guys ranked WELL below me ( i think i am 34 right now) seem to have way more stars then me, some even being all gold LOL!!

[Spooky]

Just curious, but does anyone have any issues with the actual gameplay? I still do not after a few more hours invested. I have yet to read any here yet too. That is really saying a lot.

I have a couple issues with the interface and career mode, but nothing that really changes the game for me.

I am just wondering if anyone has any specific issues around actual gameplay and if anyone at all has run into any 'money' moves or cheese that can be abused (or maybe I don't want to know that ).

That was the ultimate donwfal of the last Top Spin. And, as of right now, I cannot find anything like that (or at least to the extent it was there in the first Top Spin).

[jondiehl]

Just curious, but does anyone have any issues with the actual gameplay? I still do not after a few more hours invested. I have yet to read any here yet too. That is really saying a lot.

Nothing that I've found yet, although I haven't played it online yet. I did play some 2 player offline (against my 8yr old nephew) who handly beat me with Roddick (I had Fed). I used to have to let him win with Top Spin on the Xbox, but he picked it up the first try and killed me. What I found though, which I don't think that you could consider cheese, is that he never used anything but the "A" safe shot. No risk, no advanced shots, just all A. He was a virtual backboard over there. Once he started getting some winners, his momentum would go up, but never go down since he didn't try advanced shots and didn't hit anything out (I'd either hit a winner, he would, or I'd make an error).

[Leebo33]

That's one of my only complaints. There should be more of a penalty for using the safe shot. It should either go out occassionally or maybe allow your opponent to hit a harder return.

[reeche]

I'll have to pick this title up. I had my early doubts as to whether this would be any good....but the impressions sound very good.

[Zeppo]

That's one of my only complaints. There should be more of a penalty for using the safe shot. It should either go out occassionally or maybe allow your opponent to hit a harder return.

I actually really like the new ideas with the 'safe shot.' It's very hard to hit a winner with that shot, unless you get really good power or have top-line stats. Making it so it never goes out, but hard to hit winners with, is what makes this game truly easy to pick up but tough to master. If your positioning and footwork aren't good, those A-button shots can sit up pretty nice for the other guy, so I think there is a bit of a penalty for using it too much.

I love playing it safe and waiting for my opponent (we'll call him Spooky) to get frustrated and impatient and make an unforced error! It's a viable strategy in tennis.

[Spooky]

That's one of my only complaints. There should be more of a penalty for using the safe shot. It should either go out occassionally or maybe allow your opponent to hit a harder return.

I actually really like the new ideas with the 'safe shot.' It's very hard to hit a winner with that shot, unless you get really good power or have top-line stats. Making it so it never goes out, but hard to hit winners with, is what makes this game truly easy to pick up but tough to master. If your positioning and footwork aren't good, those A-button shots can sit up pretty nice for the other guy, so I think there is a bit of a penalty for using it too much.

I love playing it safe and waiting for my opponent (we'll call him Spooky) to get frustrated and impatient and make an unforced error! It's a viable strategy in tennis.

I didn't know that Spooky157 picked this game up as well. I'll keep an eye out for him online to try your strategy out against him.

[jondiehl]

I love playing it safe and waiting for my opponent (we'll call him Spooky) to get frustrated and impatient and make an unforced error! It's a viable strategy in tennis.

That's what my 8yr old nephew was doing against me. Oh well, it was fun seeing how excited he was to beat his uncle (knowing that I was trying my best and not throwing the match). I had the last laugh though, as he was begging my brother for a 360 their entire ride home.

What's neat about the momentum system is that it will start giving you more accurate shots (with just a regular top spin/B shot) as you build up through the match. Also, if you have your meter filled, the safe shot/A can be a real weapon for running around the other guy and can be used for winners too if you make sure to load up with power way early and slam it home. Where I was getting frustrated was that Federer (me) wasn't able to put an easy sitter away from the middle of the court at the service line. He'd hit a weak safe shot and I'd barely move the stick over but my B/Top Spin's would go wide.

[Zeppo]

Where I was getting frustrated was that Federer (me) wasn't able to put an easy sitter away from the middle of the court at the service line. He'd hit a weak safe shot and I'd barely move the stick over but my B/Top Spin's would go wide.

Yes, counterintuitively, it's not how far you push the excellent and accurate 360 analog stick, it's how long you hold it. My problem is I don't know wether to hold it for a little at the start of the backswing, or a little at the end just as I strike the ball. Can't get the hang yet, but already I've improved in some areas enough to know I can get it with more time in the game. Of couse, since the A-button shots work differently, I push the stick to the side or diagonally during the whole swing on those, so it's tough for me to get the hang of the other shots' aiming. I do think it will come, though.

I like the little tips during the loading screen. One of them says risk shots are easier if you have a high focus rating, and if you have full momentum. Good to know!

[Zeppo]

Hmm, one more thing. I finally did a tournament after doing nothing but training for a while. What surprised me was how easliy I was able to handle CPU guys who had as many as 40 stars or more, whilst I only had some 14 or 15 at the time. With no difficulty option in career mode, this is a bit odd to me, but so be it. Maybe they have the stars but are dumb as rocks? I doubt it, and wonder if this game will have longevity v. CPU for really good players.

Luckily, the online game is smooth as butter and very fun, which in the end is the really important thing for me when it comes to longevity.

Very glad I bought it, we should have some DSP tourneys, maybe limit it to career guys after one full year in the game or something. I think default, no-star guys could be fun but there won't be enough differences in play style among the players.

Then again, we could start with a pro tourney and do some kind of random draw for players, maybe eliminating the two with massive extra stars from the draw or something.

[jondiehl]

Very glad I bought it, we should have some DSP tourneys, maybe limit it to career guys after one full year in the game or something. I think default, no-star guys could be fun but there won't be enough differences in play style among the players.

I used to do a league for Links 2004 and while playing rounds with my maxed out golfer was fun (400yd drives) the "zero skills" league that we also did was much more enjoyable (golfers were limited to 0 skill points and we did match play and team match play so that you could verify your opponent's character was at 0 before starting a round.

You're right though, with this game, 0 skills might get old since it would be a rare thing to see quality top spin crosscourt winners with a 0 star character. Perhaps limiting it to 30 total stars might be more fun and create some variety. Saying "1 season" is too vague though, because we might earn stars at a different pace. Plus, that's not something you can verify prior to starting your match online. A ceiling on total stars would be awesome though.

One thing to consider would be how to count the silver and gold stars.

[Zeppo]

Perhaps limiting it to 30 total stars might be more fun and create some variety. Saying "1 season" is too vague though, because we might earn stars at a different pace. Plus, that's not something you can verify prior to starting your match online. A ceiling on total stars would be awesome though.

One thing to consider would be how to count the silver and gold stars.

Well, that's kind of what I was thinking with the one-season limit, instead of a star limit. Yes, people may earn stars at a different rate, but I think over one season folks should have plenty of options to get where they want. Also, this avoids any worries about silver stars etc.; if you get them, fine, if you don't oh well, but everyone at least has the same number of weeks, or sessions to build up their player.

As to verification online of how many sessions or weeks have been played, I tend to presume honesty and fairness among DSPers when it comes to online gaming. We're not playing for prizes, or online ranking, or whatever, we are playing for fun, and I for one trust everyone here to play fair, unless and until I have evidence or reason to think otherwise.

Anyway, some kind of low-level created guys would be great, with whatever kind of limit we can come up with. Also, over the summer it would be fun to do full-career guys. It's one thing I like about the season limit in the game. But for now, as we all are just scratching the surface in the career mode, some kind of low-level guys are the way to go.