TopSpin 3

After reading the previews, compared to the Xbox and PS3 counterparts, the Wii version of the game seems pretty gimp. Inferior graphics, no character creation, reduced pro roster, and fewer venues are all the disadvantages when compared to the other platforms. Unfortunately, the unique controller experience of the Wii doesn't save its platform's version of the game.

I first experienced the Top Spin franchise with the original game on the original Xbox, released in 2003. That version of the game had most of the current All-Stars. It allowed me to create my own character, where characteristics like height and weight affected gameplay. In a career mode, I could develop my character stats among four different categories and earn money with which to customize my gear (I even had the overpriced Xbox shirt for doucebags). And, I could take my character online via Xbox Live and play other people.  This current Wii version has none of that. The Wii version has as much depth as what I'd expect on a handheld, a Jakks Pacific handheld.

I need to make clear that the version I'm reviewing is the Wii version, because it's apparent that the 360 and PS3 versions don't have similar downgrades. Obvious omissions on the Wii are customer character creation, online play, and some notable absences from the roster, including moldy oldie Bjorn Borg, grunt pioneer Monica Seles, and wrist-band-on-the-knees, punk-ass, current world #2 Rafal Nadal.

Here is what you get with the Wii version. You get 27 players (each with two outfits, Woot for customization), 16 of which are real people, 11 are fictional. One is a Brazilian floozy with Sideshow Bob hair, booty shorts and a halter top of the Brazilian flag. The other 10 do help round out the international roster, for the UN-friendly, "it's a small world afterall" feel. Each character has an arbitrary 5-scale rating over 3 stats, which ultimately don't seem to make much difference. You get 10 Venues, 5 of which are licensed, 5 are fictional. There are three surfaces and three venue types, but whoop-de-doo, they all seem to play the same.

The game has four main sections: Exhibition, where you play a single match (either singles or doubles); Road to Glory, where you progress through a series of eleven objectives; Party Games, which, according the box, are "hilarious mini-games for single and multi-players are a blast while improving your technique"; and Tutorials, the inconvenient truth is that these are Gore-like boring 10 slides of a PowerPoint presentation. That's right, the tutorial is nothing more than a slide show presentation. No interactive practice or training to be found in the game.

The lack of a training mode is key on this system, since the Wii's control scheme is unique to console and this game uses the controller in a unique way. First off, the game has you turn the Wii-mote on its side, with your thumb on the side and the index finger pointing forward, controlling the B-trigger. This position eliminates access to the other buttons, but it does place the controller in a way that's more natural for swinging a tennis racket. The nunchuck controls character movement, aim and a couple of variations on the shots. Lefties be warned, you'll be swinging the racket right-handed. Supposedly, the breadth and speed of your gesture determines the power of your swing, but I couldn't see much difference. Also, drop shots and slice shots are done by swinging in an upward or downward motion, but I couldn't really seem to make that work. Oh training mode, how we miss ye!

One of the problems is being tethered to the nunchuck - that three-foot cord limited my motion. Also, I noticed that it didn't matter if it's a backhand or forehand swing, you could make the gestures on either side of your body but the character would make the appropriate forehand or backhand swing. I think they could have utilized the Wii controls more effectively.

While there is no online play, you can play up to four people in your living room, assuming you don't whack the hell out of each other. So, if this is a game you and your peeps enjoy, there is some replay value to be had there. Though, there's no split screen, so people playing on the far court are playing backwards. This isn't too much of a problem though, since the character uses the forehand or backhand appropriately regardless of whether you swing left or right. There are some variations to multiplayer, where you can participate in a round robin tournament in the party games.

There are three party games, The Keys (Singles and Doubles) and The Invincible Man. The Invincible Man is a kind of king-of-the-hill tournament. The Keys involves playing a match, but winning the match is only one of the criteria necessary to win the party game. You compete on 12 different stats and whoever wins the most stats wins the game. The Keys were "hilarious" with stuff like "The Metronomes" and "The Calorie Burners" ROFLTIPIMP!

Road to Glory has you playing through 11 different and varied scenarios. Win a three match tournament in Classical. Win a three match tournament consisting of nothing but tiebreakers in Speedy Event. Play a three match round-robin tournament in Final Square. You get the drift.

Most of the time spent in this game will most likely be in Exhibition. Since playing matches is really what this game is about, it's the quickest way to set up and play a match. For gameplay, this Wii-version does have some saving graces. It is fun to swing like a real racket, and having to move your character and then aim the direction of the hit provides a more in depth experience than the simplistic Wii Sports Tennis. The matches play very much like the original Top Spin, just that the buttons from that version are mapped to Wii controls. You get two types of serves, easy mode where you just press a button, and skill mode where you throw the controller up and make a time-controlled swing based on an onscreen slider. Boris Becker's slider behaved differently than Maria Sharapova's. Go, go depth. My first exhibition, I went straight for Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Wozniacki, you know, to test out the graphics.

Graphically, the game is on par with the original 2003 edition. Except for the audience in the stands. They are 8-bit, flat, late-80's audience graphics found in the arcade. There's a cut scene to the speedometer that exposes the audience in their retro-beauty. Audio is sparse. There are three licensed tracks to experienced only in the menus, none in game. An announcer makes the calls and announces the score. The audience cheers loudly for aces and boos loudly for unforced errors. Overall, the audio sufficiently describes the action, and I find this preferable to the craptastic color commentary from most sports titles where the same, stupid, five or fewer sound bytes are repeated over and over and over and over.

True story: it only takes about three matches to get the basics of the controls, though it takes much longer to truly master them. One thing that I consistently have trouble with is using the thumbstick for controlling both movement and aim. I'm constantly trying to aim when the character moves on me and vice versa. But, with practice, you'll occasionally hit a zinger top spin shot. However, if I get hit in the body by the ball one more damn time, I'm going to to whack my opponent with the racket, once I find out what that gesture is. Overall though, I just didn't feel much variation in either the characters or the courts, so there just isn't a lot to the gameplay. The could have done so much more in terms of gameplay variation.

With TopSpin 3, I was looking for a good, realistic tennis sim that takes advantage of the Wii's unique controller. I'm sorry to say this game didn't go there. At the end of the day, which is about as long as it takes to get through this game, this one is only worth renting if you're looking for a more sophisticated tennis experience than what you get with Wii Sports. Overall, big disappointment.