Top Spin 3

Top Spin 3
Players Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick appear on the U.S. cover art for the game. Roddick was replaced by Andy Murray (UK version) and by Rafael Nadal (Spanish version)
Developer(s)	PAM Development
Publisher(s)	2K Sports
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 Wii Xbox 360 Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	EU: June 20, 2008[1][2][3] NA: June 23, 2008[1][2][3] AUS: June 27, 2008[1][2][3] Nintendo DS[4] NA: June 23, 2008 PAL: July 25, 2008
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Top Spin 3 is the third title in the Top Spin series of video games. The game was developed by PAM Development and published by 2K Sports. New game elements include real-time weather effects, more options of professional tennis players, an in-depth character creation tool and new unparalleled gameplay mechanics. It also features impressive advancements in an audio/visual sense with improved Dolby Digital surround sound and "Evolutionary" visuals.^[5] Top Spin 4 was released as a sequel about three years later.

Features

Top Spin 3 incorporates various new features including:

• The incorporation of the right thumbstick, allow for more precise movements and shot variety
• World tennis players' movements and likeness are accurately depicted along with apparel.
• Tennis Legends are now included in the roster of playable licensed players.
• All-new soundtrack: New music is included featuring Jamiroquai, Calvin Harris, Boys Like Girls, The Go! Team, The Stone Roses, and Franz Ferdinand with 'Huddle Formation' being the menu song.
• World Tour: Players are given the opportunity to participate in ranked online tournaments and matches. A new season starts every 1st and 16th day of the month.

Wii version

The Wii version features motion controls, several venues including three Grand Slams, and multiplayer party games. It features 16 licensed players. This version does not contain online multiplayer gameplay nor does it contain career mode. It runs on a modified Top Spin 2 engine, and features stylized graphics.

Players

Top Spin 3 includes 20 playable professional tennis players including today's superstars, and past professionals.^[6]

Selectable Venues/Courts

Grand Slam Majors:

• Roland Garros - Paris - Clay
• US Open - New York City - Hard
• Australian Open - Melbourne - Hard
• Brinsley Carlenton Court (Replacement for Wimbledon Championships) - Dublin - Grass

Tour Venues:

• Pacific Life Open - Indian Wells - Hard
• Sony Ericsson Open - Miami - Hard
• BNP Paribas Masters - Paris - Indoor
• Canada Tennis Center (Rogers Cup) - Toronto - Hard
• Madrid Indoor Sports Arena (Mutua Madrid Open) - Madrid - Indoor
• Cincinnati Tennis Center (Western & Southern Open) - Cincinnati - Hard
• Stadio San Alessandro (Internazionali BNL d'Italia) - Rome - Clay
• Hamburg Stadhalle (Rogers Cup) - Hamburg - Hard
• Moscow Tennis Arena (Kremlin Cup) - Moscow - Indoor
• Seoul Colosseum (Kia Korea Open) - Seoul - Hard
• Thorsten Brom Stadium (BMW Open) - Munich - Grass
• Casablanca Tennis Complex (Grand Prix Hassan II) - Casablanca - Clay
• Amsterdam Tennis Park (ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament) - Amsterdam - Hard
• Buenos Aires Tennis Center (Argentina Open) - Buenos Aires - Clay
• Barcelona Tennis Arena (Barcelona Open BancSabadell) - Barcelona - Clay
• Estadio do Sol (Estoril Open) - Estoril - Hard
• Westside Drive (U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships) - Houston - Clay
• London Tennis Club (Aegon Championships) - London - Grass
• Texas Arena (Dallas Open) - Dallas - Hard
• Vienna Tennis Center (Erste Bank Open) - Vienna - Hard
• Boston Bay Tennis Center (Boston Open) - Boston - Grass
• Abhijava Stadium (Delhi Open) - New Delhi - Hard

Others:

• Dubai Sports Complex - Dubai - Indoor
• Silvije Krleza - Omis - Hard
• Rio Beach Tennis Center - Rio de Janeiro - Indoor
• Teranga Tennis Court - Dakar - Clay
• Stavgaard Tennis hall - Stavgaard - Indoor
• New Hampshire College Court - New Hampshire - Grass
• Tennis Park - Hamilton - Hard
• Chicago Public Courts - Chicago - Hard
• Atlanta's Doves - Atlanta - Hard
• Mediterranean Leisure Club - Zakynthos - Hard
• Kobe Community Tennis Courts - Kobe - Hard
• El Sol Spring Camp - Mexico City - Hard
• Suva Sports Resort - Suva - Indoor
• Tokyo Tennis Box - Tokyo - Indoor

Nintendo DS Exclusive:^[7]

• Shanghai Challenge - Shanghai - Hard
• Indoor!! - Houston - Indoor
• Amazon Jungle - Amazon - Clay
• Beach Night - Hawaii - Hard
• Garden - Athens - Grass
• Rooftop - New York City - Grass

Note: along with the exclusive ones, the only available courts for the DS are the 4 Grand Slams, Indian Wells, Miami, Rome and Chicago.

Critical reception

• German website 4Players gave the game 64/100, citing awkward controls and a steep learning curve as the game's downfall.
• GamePro Germany rated the game 89/100 with the reviewer claiming excellent gameplay.The reviewer believed the gameplay, although having a steep learning curve, offers great depth and a more realistic simulation of tennis.
• IGN AU awarded Top Spin 3 an 8.0/10, one of the only downsides being that the risk shot system 'still isn't right', referring to the previous problems in Top Spin 2 and the original.
• Xbox World 360 awarded the game 90/100, saying that it would "take stiff competition for Top Spin 3 to be anything other than the best sports title of 2008", praising the game's emphasis on skill and calling it as big a step forward for tennis games as Skate was for skateboarding.

It was a nominee for Best Sports Game for the Nintendo DS by IGN for their 2008 video game awards.^[9]

References

External links

• Official website
• Top Spin 3 at DMOZ
• (ITST) International Top Spin Tour