Anyone playing Top Spin on Xbox?

TST is working out wonderfully for me. The game has got layers of playability, maybe you could call it depth. Starts out on the A-button safe shot level, but in less than an hour or two, becomes something more like real tennis--but with very few errors. Then there's an advanced form of using the basics and the variety given to you to play tennis matches like real-life play, without errors (so the course of rallies are different a bit). And then eventually the level of risk-shot abuse, where it's hell for those that can't deal with it, but most likely a real challenge and interest-keeper for those who can use everything they've developed their character for, to negate incoming risk shots, and fire risk shots back.

The game is real good at capturing an arcade version of tennis, and I'm loving it more the more i play it.

Top Spin fortunately has more errors than VT2/Power Smash 2/Sega Tennis 2K2. But it's still very arcadey and so errors are a sort of rare occurance. Without many errors, percentage tennis in real life is a bit different than percentage tennis in the game. But it is interesting that some percentage tennis principals came to you through the game (namely from the baseline, forehands to your left, backhands to your right, unless you open up an inside-out forehand on the backhand side).

The common complaint of arcade tennis is that you do end up with something cimilar to pong or ping pong when you can keep attacking down the line (and yet, even in ping pong, you down the line is a short distance so you don't always want that).

Anyways, in Topspin Tennis, I've been finding myself in all sorts of rallies, but many of them actually similar to real-life rallies. Ideal recovery position, opening up angles, cross-court rallies, etc... I definitely end up with a lot of purely down the line rallies too, since the risk of down the line is much lower than in real life (but hey, some professional players hit down the line super consistantly too, usually with only one side though).

Some things that really stands out in Topspin Tennis that is realistic to me:

-I look at the safe/flat shots as drives with topspin, but nothing excessive. The term flat, just doesn't work for me... but anyways, the safe shots do well in this game because they're like the bread and butter, you're going to penetrate more with these shots, but they're going to be returned to you just as fast if not faster.

-Topspin has a stronger effect in this game than most other tennis games. It's subtle, but it's enough to create large as hell angles that pull your opponent on the stretch, or punishes them for not making their wide shots and drop shots not good enough or played in the right situation.

-Slice has a good effect and can be used to junk up rallies and buy you good time to reposition.

-Passing shot skill becomes super-vital when you play against a character with good volleying ability (and speed especially). Volleying is very powerful in this game, which leads me to the next point: positioning.

-Positioning is always big in tennis games, but it's huge in Top Spin tennis and I love it for that. If you're character is fast, he can be scary playing percentage baseline tennis and making use of the Ideal Recovery Positions without as much punishment. Slower characters will have to be a bit more predictive and play the mind games. Net rushers will love positioning when they get it down, being able to fend off normal shots, passing shot attempts, lob attempts (though aggressive lobs will be harsh on these types of netrushers, ones that play the percentage positions), and often risk shots. It is when risk shots come into play that things will become very different. However, like almost all tennis games, there are some positioning bugs or poor-choice in the script in rare moments where they shouldn't happen.

In the end, I am super-pleased with this game. I'll admit that I will hate playing as an aggressive baseliner against a player that can risk shot like crazy. But, I think I could handle it with a counterpuncher and a serve and volleyer.

The risk shot definitely brings an extra layer to the game. I won't say layer of depth, but it changes the rules a bit. For better or worse, if you can risk shot a lot, you're gonna drive people crazy unless they force you way out of position first, drop shot you a lot, and have the speed and return-risk-shot skill to sustain good rallies with you back and forth. I haven't seen anything game breaking about the risk shot yet, but I can see where it can make the game more frustrating and that the only ones who can handle it, are those with the patience and persistance for it.

-Chanchai

 

I finally got an Xbox and I've been playing this game for a few days now with a friend. I got this to replace Virtua Tennis 2 which I traded in for it.

My impressions at the moment are that while it is a very good tennis game it doesn't seem to do certain things as well as VT2.

In VT2 as in real life hitting the ball on top of the bounce was a big factor in getting power and angle. In TSP the timing is simpler, just get behind it and don't worry about how the ball bounces.

Depth was another crucial factor in VT2 (again as in real life) since it would give the opponent less time to build power or angle on their shot but in TSP it seems to play a much smaller role, you get behind the line of the ball and build power and it doesn't matter if the ball bounces right at your feet. Running also looks strange when you can change direction at full tilt with no slip or stumble making it look unrealistic.

Risk serves are far too easy to use and the chances of getting an upper hand with these is quite high.

The vollying animation and feel are nowhere near as satisfying as in VT2. It may be effective but it doesn't look right which may explain why some of you were shunning it.

Although there are fewer buttons used in VT2 most of the shots in TSP are covered quite well by them. Normal shot in VT2 can mostly cover both Top spin and safe shots. You can create wide angles if you use the bounce of the ball corrctly and choose the right depth. Slice can be used the same way as in TSP but can also be used for drop shots and depending on when you take the ball vey wide angles and for all chracters curve serve.

 

You're kidding, right? Topspin has oceans more depth than VT2. You're basically comparing a coin-op to a fully developed sim game.

I'm not saying your grievances with TS are unfounded, but the sheer variety of shot, ball control and ability to replicate real tennis styles is what's so incredible about TS. You say that VT2 lets you do stuff like tpospin by taking the ball early? wtf, that's not real tennis is it? In general topspin is produced on balls than are allowed to fall more prior to contact, wheras taking a ball early usually generates more pace and less rotation.

One other thing worth mentioning is serving. Although risk shot is easy on serves, VT2's serve game is totally urealistic, favouring receiver over server. A game of Tpospin played at high level will generally go to serve, just like real tennis.

 

In regards to the top spin shot I meant in regards to extra angle depending on how you time your shot but no it doesn't have the other aspects such extra bounce etc.

As to the serving element in VT2 Im sorry but your just totally wrong there. It may have been terrible in VT1 but in VT2 serve is one of the most powerful things in the game. I've played the game with a friend for a long time and our matches often go to tiebreaks or are decided by a single break. I can't remeber the last time I had my serve broken in the arcade. The one time we had VT2 at the Dynamic League nobody broke my serve or barely even took a single game off me. Serve is well balanced since you can use max power serves on the lines with accurate timing and curve serves which are great on grass and clay. In TSP risk serve is alot easier to use.

This is the thing with VT2 though very few people played it competitively and therefore got even half of what was possible out of it as proven by my results in competition. This may be partly down to the games arcadey image and I guess the same could be said of VIctorious Boxers manga image making it seem childish instead of the mostly realistic boxing sim it was.

It surely can't be argued that the vollying animation is horrible in comparison. Groundstroke and serving animation in TSP does look better though.

My main gripes are with the core fundamentals of timing and depth of shot which just feel less satisfying and realistic for the reasons mentioned above.

BTW do you know why VT1 was so horribly broken and how VT2 went about fixing and balancing these things cause you should if you played both to a decent standard. Thats 1 thing I can catch reviewers out on when they stupidly say VT2 didn't bring in enough changes.

 

Hey, glad you're trying it out.

I finally setup an account with X-Box Live so I play the game every now and then. Still not used to occasional moments of lag on crucial moments in a point... but for the most part, I'm impressed with the online play.

First on Volleys... In Topspin, I've got a much better hold on how volleys work in the game lately. It's kind of awkward when you think about it... but using the topspin button usually leads to the way better volleys, and much nicer looking volleys (especially with 4 or 5 star volley). This is counterintuitive in the sense that there's no topspin... My experience with the volley buttons:
-Flat: mid-court and deep volleys that are sorta flat, but sometimes very soft depending on positioning. I don't use this that much, but it seems to be excellent against incoming volleys at times.
-Slice: Traditionally the best volleys should be using slice I'd imagine? But I think the designers wanted to make the slice volley similar to general sliced groundstrokes, so you get a slower pace ball with quite a bit of underspin. Deep carrying balls that can be hard to return if opponent is on the run and practically runs to the bouncepoint.
-Topspin: Okay, I've hit a ton of crazy volleys with the topspin button. If you want to hit the ball short or use tough angles, use the topspin button (again, sorta counterintuitive at first). In fact.... I HIT A TON OF DROP-VOLLEY LIKE SHOTS WITH THIS BUTTON. Kinda crazy, but you can hit balls that bounce twice quite a ways before the service line.

I can totally understand your preferences in VT2... But I think there's more to TS than you're giving it credit for... but in terms of bounce, I totally agree with you because of how crazy bounce and ball-height at contact played in VT2.

Bounce is still a factor in TS as far as I'm concerned. Indeed however, it's not as crazy a factor (crazy is good) as VT2, where half-volleying balls resulted in some really nice drives. You'd feel like Agassi or Federrer with those shots (they're similar to risk shots in TS imo).

It's sort of odd, but probably just different... but in TS you have options above and below the on-the-bounce ball of VT2. If you use the risk shot, you can generally create automatic angles (unless you're like me who hits too wide half the time). People who are good at this, I'll admit, annoy the crap out of me online. But oh well, it's in the game and I've used other means to prevent it or throw their timing off a bit. The other option is to get your timing right on adjustments steps (that is, when you decide to hit the shot button of choice and your guy makes those steps as you go for hitting the ball). At the very least, you can use topspin to pull some tight angles and I'm having an easy time hitting crosscourt on the run (as opposed to VT2 without a half-volley).

In TS, to hit extremely big shots on the bounce, it feels like you have to have a pretty darn good 4 or 5 star stat on your groundstrokes with a power-based character. My Marat Safin and Andre Agassi created characters have done quite a bit with the half volley, hitting things that feel a bit better than risk shots, but it's not that common. It's not something you just count on all the time, at least me anyways. Generally, I haven't been able to do it with a one-handed backhand character.

Not being able to get a feel for being able to power drive a back-court half-volley at will definitely doesn't create the type of intensity or turnaround factor of VT2. In VT2, it made the rallies get really intense.

LOBS....

I'm not saying lobs are useless in VT2, but I for whatever reason, I always felt I was easily able to get away with not lobbing and was able to deal with lobs against me. However, a definite effort did have to be made. But in TS, I feel lobs are freaking huge in the game. I will admit that one factor is that it's easier to return overheads in TS than in VT2. Also, I think VT2 is a bit more forgiving in terms of allowing overheads (but of course, nothing was as forgiving as VT1 where you could cancel missed overheads--I do miss shot cancelling a lot... could make an argument that it was also a sort of split step button too....).. Nonetheless, lobs will probably save you in both, but I feel much more of an urgent need to use lobs in TS than in VT2. I'll be confident that it works if I don't mess it up, but also, some situations will just screw you if you don't use either the lob or the drop shot button while way out on the run stretched out.

SERVES... How do I put this.....

I feel what you're saying in VT2 because serves always feel effective in VT2. Good service returns are awesome in VT2 as well... I'll admit, Topspin doesn't have the "intensity" that VT2 has in serving. But I feel Topspin has a lot of things going for it in its serve and return game.

In VT2, you served bullets, but manageable bullets. The returner had to be positioned well for sure. Also, the different timings of serves for different characters had effects and were well implemented in the game (Rafter's got a slug-paced serve meter). If the returner was positioned well and estimated the placement of the serve right, he'd hit a damaging as hell return. But a misguess and the returner would be screwed.

In TS, it's becoming more apparent to me how big the return of serve skill is (the upgrade skill). Fortunately, it's not everything.... but something that is highlighted is that you can do weak returns virtually everytime a serve comes out. That is, it's rare for an ace to happen, but it can happen.

What I like about TS serving.... The variety does play a roll. You can setup some interesting serve and volley patterns by doing zero-power slice serves wide... but you can also shoot yourself in the foot if the returner outguesses which angles you'll cut off. You definitely want good volley stats if you're going to approach that. The underhand serve is alright, but it's easy to see. However, even if it's easy to see, it almost always sets up good volleyers with excellent opportunities forcing a dropshot return or more likely, a lob return.

Topspin serve is big imo. It's not 100% effective, but it's excellent when guessed properly enough. The reason is that if you place it right with the right pace, you'll jam your opponent into a weak return. Against heavy high-risk return players, topspin serve is probably the one reliable serve I can use, but it's tricky, I really have to outguess them online. It usually throws off the high-risk meter of the returner depending on ball's position in relation to returner's position. Sometimes they'll be in the worst position and dink return. Sometimes they'll be in the right position and blast a winner (which sucks). Sometimes the timing of their meter will be so off they'll hit a bad return into the net or out wide or long.

For good measure, using the flat serve (as opposed to risk serve) is sorta just there to beat out over-predicting returners. Also, I sometimes use it into the body and have sometimes been successful at getting weak returns. On the same subject, that's pretty much the case with the Risk Serve... I tend to serve into the body to ensure a manageable return I can attack. However, if I notice that the returner over predicts and likes to go for broke, then I will mix it up down the T and out wide.

Something I really like about TS, and it does take a little while to get used to making the game play this way.... Crosscourt does matter. It's more subtle than some people (whose beliefs sometimes border on dogma, but usually are quite sound) would like.... but crosscourt is still strategically important because your opponent will still have an open court to hit to if they easily get to the down the line shot. Once you get used to the controls and timing those adjustment steps, you'll easily be able to hit crosscourt, especially with topspin.

Anyways, that's my assessment in Topspin for today. I prefer Topspin over VT2, but VT2 is just so darn good and really, people can pickup and play (though not that great, they start out playing stronger than when they start Topspin). However, I have to admit that VT2 is a much more intense experience thant Topspin--Topspin's explosive shots do more to annoy the receiver than say, VT2's explosive shots are manageable but quite cool because they still push you. I guess it is kind of hard to explain it to someone who hasn't played both.... But I feel that both games have a lot of subtlety in their gameplay that makes them very replayable.

-Chanchai

 

Quick followup...

-VT2, You have to position yourself so well to get good (or GREAT) returns.
-Topspin, you want to position yourself, but the game is much kinder to you about it except in some cases where you get retarded returns for having certain body parts in line with the ball.

-VT2 Gripe is that I feel I get into more down the line rallies than in TS (but no, NOT ALL THE FREAKING TIME LIKE SOME PEOPLE CLAIM, just more often).

-Reason TS risk shots (explosive shots) are annoying is because it's a drastic change of pace, but that's a good thing in some regards. Also, the fact that they aren't that.... risky.... is what makes them more annoying than anything else.
-In both games, you'll clearly see what kind of options they have though.

Weird thing about TS.... If I don't play it for a long time, and just start, the game feels pretty fast.... but after awhile, I swear I'm playing wood-racquet tennis, the pace reminds me of that. In VT2, it's clear to me the game's pace is always fast.

-Chanchai

 

Chanchai, seeing as you now have live do you fancy a game somtime? I haven't played in a few weeks but keen to get back into Tpospin.

my Gametag is: maximum01

The same invite applies to other people with Topspin and a live account.

 

Hey Max (may I call you max? hehe),

I'd love to sometime. I don't play online that often, but it would be great to schedule something sometime.

My gamertag is.... Chanchai (tee hee).

I'm still not completely comfortable online, but it's been fun. Glad the new update lets us see the stats and skills of the other player, as well as a connection indicator so we have some idea of how play might be.

On a side note... sometimes I wonder if people purposefully cause spikes by transferring large packets of whatever (via PC/Mac) during gameplay.... It hasn't been horrible so far, but there have been times where lag pops up on me at the most annoying times, on certain big points. But I've been able to deal usually.

However, the game seems to try to play fair by keeping the experience between the two players the same so to speak.

For the most part, online play's been fun /versus/images/graemlins/smile.gif

-Chanchai

P.S. To Max again, technically you get a good amount of topspin on half-volleys in real life tennis, especially if you really drive the sucker. Sort of a consequence of it being a rising shot. But... yeah, it's not really comparable to say, blasting a full-western forehand that's chest high (something like an Andy Roddick forehand hehehe, topspin can probably be considered excessive there). I do wish TS would let you customize the grips and stroke styles (beyond 1H and 2H backhands and some service motions) during character creation. The Serve-style change seems to be a set of stroke changes though, changing some forehands and particularly backhands (one-handed anyways). I think the game would benefit with that sort of variety implemented and heavy topspin forehands would be heavy and kick up higher--some of my hopes for TS2 (assuming they make it) anyways.

 

I do think TS is a good game it's just some areas in the game that Im not liking after years of VT2 when I was expecting a full upgrade.

One other thing about TS is that it seems to me that due to the timing system there you can't position yourself around the ball the way you want. You had that freedom in VT2.

In VT2 If the ball landed to my left (right handed) and I had time I could run around my backhand and hit it with my forehand to create a tighter angle to my left with more power. Another example would be if the ball landed a little way to my right I could postion myself slightly left side of the ball (rather than directly behind it) and pull the ball across me to generate a tighter angle to my left due to having more leverage. In TS it seems the computer takes over your postioning when you get within a certain range of the ball and you just choose shot and direct it. I don't think you can postion your player exactly where you want to take advantage of bounce or angles.

The slice button certainly worked very well for volleys in VT2 as it would change function to safe volley at the net so if someone gives you a half volley off your serve you can use the slice button to get down and dig out it out as you approach the net.

 

Good stuff, I'll add you to my friends list and hopefully see you online sometime. I didn't know about the update with stats and all.....that sounds cool.

Concerning the lag spikes, all it takes is another person to be browsing the net witha shared connection and matches will suffer badly. I know this because several times I've been playing flawless matches online and then by gf starts surfing on the laptop.....the game then grinds to a halt.

Speaking of real tennis, I suppose you could impart topspin on a half volley but it's not exactly conventional play. Actually, one of the hardest but most satisfying shots in real tennis is a high drive volley from mid-court. The margin for error is huge but if you hit it right the tennis ball will dip down quickly despite the tremendous pace.

I don't hit these kind of shots much in tournament matches but good fun when you're messing about with friends on the court.

 

hehe... those lag spikes really are driving me mad, but that's online play for you...

I love driving half-volleys in real life. Lately, especially on my one-handed backhand. In terms of watching pros.... watching Andre Agassi and Roger Federer hit the ball off the bounce is amazing. Marat Safin as well, but not as much as the first two guys.

Yeah, the high-drive volley is a high when you nail it. I don't use it when a good ball is struck at me, but I use it everytime I force weak returns and attack the net /versus/images/graemlins/grin.gif Of course, that's pretty much the only time it's not a high-risk shot.... but yeah, in a normal rally with normal or fast pace, I don't think I could hit it to save my life. Then again, I can't even volley to save my life....

-Chanchai

 

[ QUOTE ]
Shoju said:

I do think TS is a good game it's just some areas in the game that Im not liking after years of VT2 when I was expecting a full upgrade.

One other thing about TS is that it seems to me that due to the timing system there you can't position yourself around the ball the way you want. You had that freedom in VT2.

In VT2 If the ball landed to my left (right handed) and I had time I could run around my backhand and hit it with my forehand to create a tighter angle to my left with more power. Another example would be if the ball landed a little way to my right I could postion myself slightly left side of the ball (rather than directly behind it) and pull the ball across me to generate a tighter angle to my left due to having more leverage. In TS it seems the computer takes over your postioning when you get within a certain range of the ball and you just choose shot and direct it. I don't think you can postion your player exactly where you want to take advantage of bounce or angles.

The slice button certainly worked very well for volleys in VT2 as it would change function to safe volley at the net so if someone gives you a half volley off your serve you can use the slice button to get down and dig out it out as you approach the net.

[/ QUOTE ]

You guys, is this true, you can't postion yourself around the ball manualy in TS?

It's pretty dam shocking if you can't /versus/images/graemlins/mad.gif!

 

I thought you said you'd played the game? As far as I know you can - the canned animations only kick-in once you've pressed a shot button, in the same way as VT.

Just went online for a game this eveining to check the new live update. Must say it's a big improvement, being able to see your opponents ranking win/loss ratio and network speed is a real plus. The new stats even tell you how your ranking will be alterded given a win or loss. Only down side is the system has lost all my previous wins..... Never mind, that just gives me an excuse to play more and reclaim my former glory...he he.

Forgot how great Topspin is...just finshed an epic match online with a dude about the same trength as me. It was mind games all the way - wrong footing maneuvers, varying pace and lots tense break situations.

 

I've been able to run around backhands and hit the inside-out forehand a lot. I don't think it's as powerful as I'd like it to be, but certainly possible. Generally, when you get into that lock-on phase where the ai almost takes over control in terms of positioning your character, if you push a bit more towards the other side before hitting a button, you should run around the ball (of course, if you have time to), and then in the middle of that, you can start winding up the forehand. I haven't had problems hitting the angles I want with it, but getting really strong pace from it is anther matter.

I rarely use it, especially online, but I'll try doing it more with a forehand-heavy character to see if I can get some sweet results. Even with good results, I don't think I'll get the type of inside-out forehand that I would in VT2 though. I'm sure having the topspin skill would help as you would get that outward arc on the ball.

-Chanchai

 

I'm getting top spin as these tennis games are amazingly fun to play. I have no knowledge of real life tennis though, and hearing you guys using all the terms amazes me that they translate into the game. I'd like to play against someone with real life tennis knowledge and have them explain to me how these situation apply to the game form. I think I'm pretty good at VT2, but I would like to know how I compare against people who apply real life tennis strategy to the game. Maybe TS will allow me to do that.

 

Yeah I've done it when I've had alot of time and been close to the ball but with the timing method required here it seems to punish you for it by giving you a less powerful shot. It doesn't seem worthwhile here.

Maximum you've either forgotten VT2 or not found out certain intricacies. You can postion yourself freely around the ball and time shots according to bounce there and the computer doesn't normaly move you towards the ball once you get within a particular range (though there are a few instances).
In TS you have to hold the button down long before the ball gets to you whereas in VT2 you don't and that's where the differences start.
I'll look forward to playing you online Maximum /versus/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

 

He he...the old Topspin/VT battle continues.

Points taken, I haven't played VT or VT2 in a long while but don't get me wrong - I love these games - but just happen to think Topspin has taken videogame tennis to a new level. It's the sum of its parts, rather than anything particular about its gameplay, that make it such an great game - perfect ball physics, amazing graphics/animation, realistic court surface reaction, huge choice of shots, online play and more importantly the ability to apply real tennis strategy to the game and get results. I accept that VT2 has allot going for it, not least speed and very precise control, but for me it lacks the real tennis atmosphere of Topspin. Anyway, I feel I'm repeating myself from earlier post now and stating to ramble.....

That's cool if you're getting live also Shoju ( and Strider ). Once everyone's up and running we should get together and have a mini-league/tournament.

 

Yeah that'd be good. Although Im definitely getting the live kit I don't know when as I've got to decide between that and the half price PS2 modem with CON and Fight Night 2004. I'll probabley be a bit restricted by people using the internet as well if that creates alot of lag (don't know how it all works). Id have to play late at night most of the time to make sure my matches don't get interuppted /versus/images/graemlins/tongue.gif.

SRIDER: In my experience with both TS and VT2 real tennis knowledge or understanding of what happens in matches on TV does really help.

Im able to comment better on VT2 as I played alot of different people at that and because it's in the arcades I played people who look to be just gameplayers without tennis knowledge.

You can do all the things I've mentioned in this thread about VT2 in real life. Use of angles, tactics, postioning and timing (especially hitting on top of the bounce) in tennis all help to give you a head start in the game as the ball physics are close to perfect. I could beat people time and again in the arcade and the dynamic league with this advantage. Depth of shot is one of the main factors in the game, hit deep give them less time and bounce to work with then take charge of the rally . Also realise that shorter lengths create more acute angles especially when you have time to build your shot power. Forehand create wider angles to your left and backhands to your right (righhanded).

Vollying is the next step in the game. Beginners will struggle here since good movement, postioning and knowing when and how to come in are crucial to establish yourself there. Again deep volleys will push them back and get them on the run where you can then use short length volleys for low bounce and tight angles. The closer you are the more you can cut off angles early but the greater the danger of being lobbed. A big serve on the line can force the opponent to lift the ball high and slow which makes it easier to finnish the ralley with a volley. On returns you can do what Henman likes to do and slice the ball deep and take the net. If they serve wide you can slice down the line (as deep as possible) and force the opponent to one side of the court where he'll struggle to hit across you. This allows you to postion yourself just inside the center line and cover both angles early with a volley.

 

I’d say knowledge or experience of the real game helps allot when tackling tennis videogames, and interestingly the converse holds true as well.

With VT and TP it’s clear the developers had a good knowledge of the game and balanced the gamplay and tactics around this. Just a few examples of real tactics that work in TS:

Varying pace – this is one area where TP excels imo. By varying the pace and depth of shot you can break an opponents rhythm and instinctive placement of his player. For instance, if you’re engaged in a long rally using normal power shot, by quickly switching to a soft topspin or slice shot you can totally throw your opponent off balance.

Wrong footing – this is a basic psychological tactic involving forming a pattern of hitting the ball in certain directions depending on player positioning then suddenly switching the side you place the ball to trick your opponent. Again, due to the excellent conveyance of momentum and recovery in Topspin this is one of the key tactics to employ, particularly against defensive player who stay back.

Lobs – Nothing is more satisfying than luring a player into net and lobbing then, or being pushed on the stretch to recover a ball and using the lob to recover a bit of time and get back in the rally. The lob implementation in TP is just perfect.

Slice – In real tennis is an aggressive player is hammering you into defensive positions all the time your best bet is to apply backwards rotation on the ball to slow its motion and give you time…. that’s slice. In TP slice works really well, not just for recovering position but also for tricking a players timing and rhythm. It’s also used as a shot to approach the net with if your opponent is held back at the baseline.

Topspin – Topspin not only creates acute angles to pull an opponent wide it can also be used to keep an opponent at the back by nailing him with a heavy high bounce that’s difficult to return. Both methods work in Topspin. A particularly satisfying tactic is to keep an opponent back with heavy topspin then quickly execute a drop shot. If you time it correctly the player has no chance of reaching the ball as it dies beside the net.

I could go on but I fear sending folk to sleep. That’s just some of the tactics that work in Topspin and give it its authenticity.

 

Yeah playing these tennis games as well as watching on TV has made me realise how much more I could have applied to my game in terms of tactics, postionings and set ups when I played the real thing.

The new generation of consoles really upgraded animation in tennis games by applying polygons and motion capture making it look like the real thing. I think you could actually learn the swing motions for certain shots by looking at them.

Maximum in regards to your sig have you seen that report earlier this year at IGN about Shenmue 3? In an interview with the guy from Sega (who brought Shenmue to the DC) he said it's in development and going to the Xbox. Nothings been said since so I don't know how true this is but it's a possiblity.