Top Spin 2 Review

Tennis is one of the closely followed sports in India after Cricket. After the recent success of Lee-Hesh and Sania Mirza, it has become even more popular with the young and old alike. To add to it all, keeping this in mind, Microsoft has decided to roll out a tennis game for the Xbox 360, Top Spin 2.

Overview:

Top Spin was first released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox by 2K games in 2005. The game was a huge hit and so it was followed up for the next gen consoles as Top Spin 2.

Graphics:

The graphics are quite precise and is infact one of the biggest USPs’ of Top Spin 2. The characters are easily recognizable and the stadiums are well done too.

Game:

The game is quite easy to pick up. Basically the four face buttons correspond to the four basic swings that you will need to play this game. The ‘A’ button triggers the safe swing, which is your most straightforward swing. It’s often your go-to swing, because no matter how hard you tilt the left analog stick while stepping up to your swing, the shot will never, ever go out of bounds, while the other three shot types require a bit more finesse to keep inside the lines. The X button nets you a slice shot, which flies low and fast and is great for crossing up your opponent, while the B button delivers a topspin shot that flies straight and bounces high but moves fast and can slip right past opponents who aren’t on their toes. The Y button is used for lob shots, which are to be used sparingly but can be very potent against aggressive opponents apt to ride the net.

So there are four basic shots, however, it takes much more to reach the top position, as you will also have to master many more moves, which require some portion of your momentum meter.

The worst part, in the career option, is that you have too many options to deal with before you can actually play a game. There are loads of choices which allow the player to make a profile, by selecting from a host of choices such as hair, eye and skin color, and many, many more. You can actually personalize your player to your wants.

Basically, there might be a little too much technical tennis jargon attached to Top Spin 2. Nevertheless, as you play the game, you will learn new techniques, and of course, you will finally reach the stage when you can actually play in the tournaments. Top Spin 2 allows you to fully create a profile and make a career for yourself, with the most realistic and detailed options available. This can be a little tedious at times, but you can create your own look-alike with this option. There are also three party games included which will keep you occupied too.

Overall, Top Spin 2 is an amazing sports game. It will give you full satisfaction if you are a hardcore tennis fan.