Top Spin 4

It may be just me, but I've always struggled to get a spark out of tennis games. They never seem to bring the level of excitement or strategic approach that the sport itself emanates in real life. Top Spin 4, however, has been receiving some praise. The game builds upon its franchise to make a more intriguing representation of video game tennis.

Most games I have played before have simply asked their players to whack a ball over the net and hope the other misses. While that's all good and well (essentially how the first-ever video game started), there's much more to tennis that is offered in typical gameplay. Type of spin, placement, and strategy, to name a few. So does Top Spin 4 actually feature all this?

The Ball's In Your Court

The impact of effort into delivering a complete tennis experience is noticeable from the start screen. Top Spin 4 features several game modes that cater to various players approaching the game - from die-hard tennis fans to casual party players. It may seem trivial, but it attracts an extensive player base. So does the gameplay match its intrigue?

It's surprising to say, but in comparison to other tennis games, Top Spin 4's gameplay is excellent. The sport's mechanics are refined with an accessible control scheme, easy-to-learn with a more hard-to-master approach to the in-depth strategies of winning games. It can be as casual or competitive as you like without the entertainment expiring.

What puts Top Spin 4 into a more elite sports game is the visuals, animations, and sound is all on par as well. Character models move realistically, the court sounds all strike a node of immersion, and all the environments are packaged neatly. The multiple game modes exploit the well-designed gameplay to ensure that the fun doesn't drop and your tennis experience is genuine.

If we had to pick out some downsides to the Top Spin 4 experience, there wouldn't be many - but not to say they aren't there. They mainly root in the customization options that were much better in the game's predecessor. We can excuse this, though, considering it appears the focus was on making the gameplay as engaging as possible.

It's a Racket!

Even if you aren't a tennis fan, there is enough that Top Spin 4 offers for anyone to enjoy. Newbies to tennis will just have a laugh whacking the ball in every direction. Enthusiasts will revel in the different strokes and strategies they can perform to beat their opponents - even the online ones. The game is probably the best tennis experience out there.

Pros:

• One of the most complete tennis experiences on the market
• Controls, animations, and mechanics are all slick
• Multiple game modes tailored to every type of player

Cons:

• Lack of customization options for characters and careers