Top Spin 2 - CNET Review

Following a slapdash PlayStation 2 port of Top Spin last year, PAM Development has gotten its tennis game back in order with Top Spin 2 for the Xbox 360. Top Spin 2 offers little that hasn’t been seen in other tennis games–the original Top Spin included–but the gameplay has been sharpened to create an experience that expertly balances technicality and quick, accessible fun. Add to that a first-rate presentation and some solid solo and multiplayer offerings, and you’ve got a package that any tennis fan would be foolish to pass up.

Top Spin has always offered a slightly more technical game of tennis than Sega’s standard-bearing Virtua Tennis franchise, though it’s still quite easy to pick up. The four face buttons correspond to the four basic swings you’ll use. 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.

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