Games for Lunch: Top Spin 3
In a nutshell: Mario Tennis it ain't.
12/8/2008 7:06 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 3
Developer: PAM
Publisher: 2K Sports
Release Date: June 23, 2008
Systems: PS3 (reviewed), Xbox 360, Wii, DS
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site
0:00 My exposure to tennis games is mainly limited to the Mario Tennis series and
Virtua Tennis on the Dreamcast. I preferred Mario Tennis, and it's not just because I'm a Mario fanboy. It's NOT! OK, maybe it is.
0:01 So I accidentally put this PS3 version of the game into my Xbox 360 and then wondered why it wasn't working. It's too early in the morning here...
0:02 Maybe the Xbox 360 move was wishful thinking, as I'm forced to download the 47-MB "version 1.1" patch. This is the first time I've seen the PS3 download progress bar in full HD. It's still just as annoying.
0:04 Well that wasn't TOO bad. We're all installed and ready to go.
0:05 Or so I thought ... the game has to install itself on my hard drive as well. This is not optional. ARGH!
0:09 I've taken this opportunity to watch a bit of "A Garfield Christmas" on the excellent
BetaMaxMas. So far it's been the best part of the game.
0:11 A GoBots commercial just came on the BetaMaxMas. I don't know how this game can top that!
0:12 Finally installed and ready to go, for real this time! A bunch of shots of guys making some basic baseline shots in the opening cut scene. A lot of baseline shots. Hey it's Andy Roddick! They all look very lifelike, as long as you don't look at their faces. The music is incredibly loud and peppy, but when I get to the menu screen it's quiet and sedate again. What's up with that?
0:14 Before I go into Career Mode I have to create a player. Aww, I wanted to play as Venus Williams and watch her finally lose something!
0:17 I proceed to create a 6'11" muscular Adonis with almost no body fat. This is the Andre the Giant of the tennis world here.
0:18 I could play around with the facial editor for days. As it stands, I just sculpt my guy's forehead to give him an imposing Neanderthal ridge. A bad-ass scar tattoo above the eye completes the effect.
0:20 I name my creation Andre Giant, in homage to his wrestling inspiration.
0:22 "Welcome to the Top Spin 3 career mode," reads the on-screen message. "With custom attributes and honed skills, you will achieve the greatest career a tennis player could dream of." WOW! Not just that I could, but I WILL! This game is like an overbearing father.
0:23 Heh ... Andre's name is displayed as "A. Giant." And he is!
0:24 We're off and running in the Amateur tiebreak challenge. The players do some ridiculous warm-ups.
0:25 My strategy of hitting the X button when the ball gets near me is a total failure. Apparently the square button is the one that swings the racquet? I'm down 2-0 before I figure this out.
0:26 Or perhaps square ISN'T the swing button, since a ball just sailed right past me despite my mashing on it.
0:27 I think I've got it now ... square for forehands, circle for backhands. Right? But what are the other two for?
