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TOP SPIN 4 XBOX 360 REVIEW |
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Thanks to a
few changes in gameplay mechanics, Top Spin 4
feels like the closest thing you'll get to an
authentic tennis game! Developer 2K Czech did a
good job of breaking down the kind of
sophisticated hits you'll be using to deliver
top notch performance on various types of
courts. The last three iteration had shared many
of the same technical imbalances, where half of
the physics were indicative of unexplained
sequences, which are normally found in the
Twilight Zone. To break free from the associated
glitches, 2K Czech has employed shot assists and
great animation to capture the dramatic thrills
that make tennis such an enjoyable sport. In the
previous installments, hitting a perfect shot is
based on pure intuition. However, in Top Spin 4,
players utilize "helpers" that make each ball
contact a much easier order to carry out.
You are given a rating of good, perfect, too
early, or too late depending on your timing
after you hit the ball. Holding down on one of
the face buttons determines how hard you are
going to smack the ball back, while the first
bounce marker dictates where the ball is going
to land when your opponent returns a shot. This
is only to give you an idea of what helpers are
in the game; but it's how you take advantage of
these shot assists that will give you the
winning edge. There are three fundamental play
styles of tennis and mastering these techniques
take time. These styles include the high-speed
power shots of baseline offensive, the accurate
control shots of baseline defensive, and the
sharp plays of quick volley. Despite the various
approaches to rallying, the controls are very
accurate and the physics are right where you
want them.
Top Spin 4 features a very good reward system.
Instead of leveling up your character's
individual attributes such as speed, power and
accuracy, the game offers three major skills set
to tackle - serve and volley, offensive baseline
play, and defensive baseline play. What's nice
about this new reward system is the points are
distributed automatically, which reduces the
lengthy process of stats allocation. Can you
imagine the progress of your career trucking
through each attribute? You might as well forget
your debit card and start writing eight separate
checks to pay for your individual bag of
groceries! On top of the typical upgrades, you
can harness more abilities by hiring a coach
while competing in the world tour. Bonus skills
are added upon completing objectives (such as
100 forehand winners, 40 control shots, or 20
smashes) with him or her. |
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PRODUCT
OVERALL RATING: 8.8 OUT OF 10 |
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You can
choose from (or if you'd like to switch between)
nearly 50 coaches and try to unlock several
other amazing skills to gain permanent
performance boosts. Top Spin 4's incredible
reward system is carried over in netting
valuable experience points. You can gain these
points from taking part in bonus special events,
playing exhibition matches for sponsors, etc.
Your hard work are not just rewarded with
experience points, but also gain a slew of
fashionable wardrobes, hairstyles, and
accessories. Top Spin 4's reward system doesn't
just limit you laborious matches to acquire
leveling up, but also a chance to take part in
endorsements and appearances in TV shows.
Attending such sponsorship events boost your fan
club, which raise your star status and open
bigger and better tournaments for next season.
What makes your season so enjoyable is that each
"Cup" like the US Open is the smart antics of
the crowd watching.
The crowd reacts to how you play. You'll hear
dramatic "Oohs" after slamming a 140 MPH ace.
The crowd mutters as tension builds up in heated
rallies, accompanied by loud round of applause
and cheers when you end the match in an amazing
come-from-behind win! Whether you're playing
single modes or slugging it out against
multi-players, Top Spin 4 looks great
throughout. The detail of each court is amazing.
You can see worn down surfaces as the tide of
the game goes on. You get a nice dynamic
contrast of shadows when certain portion of a
stadium is being scintillated by the sun. The
visuals noticeably increases as the camera
concentrates on the action of the players. The
animation is much better this time around. You
won't have to put up with those "accidental"
slipping and ridiculous diving that force
unnecessary errors.
Though Top Spin 4 is highly praised by our
staff, there are a couple of letdowns that
should be noted. The RB button that manages
speed is relatively clunky. It is unresponsive
and has no bearing effect no matter how hard we
tried to get our player back to a particular
position. Secondly, the skills gained don't seem
to have significant difference whether you are a
starting athlete or a long-time star. We have a
near-perfect tennis player in terms of
attribute, and yet he struggles to manhandle a
low-ranking amateur. We could be firing aces on
our opponents but the invisible handicap seem to
be preventing that from happening, regardless of
which difficulty setting. Despite these
setbacks, we are happy with Top Spin 4's
redesigned gameplay mechanics. It is a fantastic
sport reproduction that remains true to its
tennis roots. Thanks to the new shot assists,
Top Spin 4 delivers top notch experience that
serves both veterans and novice alike. |
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