Top Spin 2

[Shoju]

I don't find that at all, I can position my self for back or forehand shots long before I have to get onto the relevent button, and still have enough time to hold it for full power. Infact I find if you press the button early your player will have a much longer swing, and will usually put the ball out on passing shots etc, so it is important to time your shots realistically, and not just hold the button for the desired shot from the moment your opponent has hit the ball. To me it is all about preemting your opponents next shot and getting in motion to cover it in enough time to position yourself correctly for your next shot. I also find that my deep slice return is pretty mean to missfoot opponents and fire off a cross court winner.

I was referring to Top Spin 1, I duuno exactly what changed in the sequel, but in the previous game you couldn't go inside out without sacrificing all the power or position yourself slightly further to the left of the ball to get more angle on a cross court forhand/volley. With the slices I meant the chip and charge approach to get into the net, typical of a serve & volley player. Forward movement was very slow in TPS1 and the depth of your slice didn't seem to matter one bit.

I don't know how much has actually changed in TPS2 but if depth still isn't a major factor then it would still feel wrong.

[Simmy]

If hit correctly it would seem that certain slice and top spin shots end up with your player automatically starting forward movement towards the net, and therefore with a little practise you can slice, chip and move towards the net quite easily.

I've never played 1 so no idea if it had similar features or not 8)

[Diggler]

It does get much easier (and more fun) as you progress doesn't it. Online is a blast too.

[Brats]

Thats exactly what I meant when I described the the timing method. The flaw is that you cannot then position yourself around the ball to create different angles, cause when your get within a certain range the swing motion starts from the button you held down earlier. Another flaw is that it doesn't take into account the height of the bounce when you hit the ball, so the depth of your shots don't matter which is ridiculous. In real tennis if the ball is hit deep and close to your feet you struggle to get power on the shot but if it is short it sits up for you to clobber at the top of the bounce. Those things aren't taken into account in Top Spin, only the time you have to play the shot matters. So if I wanna use slow deep slices to set up an approach to the net like Henman does, I can't beacuse even if it lands right at their feet it can be blasted right back past me.

I can only think that you'v played a different version of Top Spin because the point about the ball bounce is so untrue. Get a ball nice and high and you can tank it even with the 'safe' shot, whereas balls at the feet get knocked back much slower (and with a chance o going high for the opponent to blast it back).

Re getting around the ball, if the ball is over the net and you haven't already got yourself to the side of the ball you want to be, you're toast which is true to the real sport.

[Shoju]

It's Top Spin 1 I was referring to.

I don't think you quite understood everything I was trying to say. Depth of shot certainly does not play anything like the role it should in Top Spin 1 and the easy risk shots can throw it further out the window. The positioning thing is hard to explain but VT2's system gave me the freedom to position myself exactly where I wanted to create sharper angles whereas TPS1's took that away. The vollying system is really poor in comparison as well.

I really think VT2 is a very misunderstood game and Id really like to demonstrate what Im talking about if it were possible.

[Brats]

Don't get me wrong, I love VT 1 & 2 and can beat most opponents on the arcade or the DC versions. I've pumped more coins into that arcade machine tha any other, so I 'get' Virtua Tennis.

But imo Top Spin is even better and more 'tennis-like'. Like VT it has tons of subtle nuances (like if you change the direction you hold the stick just as the player starts moving the racket towards hit the ball, you put additional spin on it) that people aren't aware of and simply dismiss.

[Shoju]

Don't get me wrong, I love VT 1 & 2 and can beat most opponents on the arcade or the DC versions. I've pumped more coins into that arcade machine tha any other, so I 'get' Virtua Tennis.

But imo Top Spin is even better and more 'tennis-like'. Like VT it has tons of subtle nuances (like if you change the direction you hold the stick just as the player starts moving the racket towards hit the ball, you put additional spin on it) that people aren't aware of and simply dismiss.

If you can't tell the major differences between VT1 & 2 then maybe you haven't gotton that far with them. VT1 with extended play turned into a horrible mess of a game, with really weak serves, imbalanced lobs and worst of all seriously underpowered cross court shots. VT2 balanced all of this out made the basic flow far more realistic and added a variety of new things. Top Spin 1 brought in more shots and ideas but there not balanced, and like i said depth of shot (one of the most important aspects in tennis) does not play a realistic role.

I've played VT2 for 5 years on console and arcade and outside of my main competition haven't lost for 4 of them changing peoples oppinion of the game along the way. People really don't realise how finely tuned it is. Id play you at VT2 if possible.

[Brats]

Where did I say I couldn't tell the difference between VT 1 & 2? I swear, you're making this stuff up as you go along.

I'd love to give you a game of VT too. I'd also show you the subtle elements of Top Spin which you have already demonstrated you are completely unaware of. Doesn't take into account ball height? WTF?

In addition:

It's different from Virtua Tennis in that you have to hold the button down as the ball passes the net then direct your player towards it, then let go and direct the ball as your swing starts.

Completely untrue. You actually don't have to let go of the button at all, but more important than that is the system controlling power and direction. The ball can be directed as soon as you press the button and start pushing the stick in one direction i.e. it can be as soon as the ball crosses the net. The longer you hold before the strike, the more angle and power you create.

So it's tactical. You can create massive shots but you have to commit yourself early (like the real sport), sacrifice the ability to run around the ball and you give yourself away to other players by your body position. You can change direction on the fly, but you sacrifice accuracy and power (again like the real sport).

Or you can wait until the ball is nearer before commiting your shot choice. Again you sacrifice accuracy and power but you can then move around the ball and you keep the other player guessing.

Then in all cases you can implement additional spin just before the ball is hit.

I have no problem with people preferring one title over another (and it's clear you like VT), but at least be accurate about what you are saying. You're accusing people left, right and centre of not appreciating the full art of VT, but are falling into exactly the same trap with Top Spin. Give it a rest.

[Shoju]

Where did I say I couldn't tell the difference between VT 1 & 2? I swear, you're making this stuff up as you go along.

Completely untrue. You actually don't have to let go of the button at all, but more important than that is the system controlling power and direction. The ball can be directed as soon as you press the button and start pushing the stick in one direction i.e. it can be as soon as the ball crosses the net. The longer you hold before the strike, the more angle and power you create.

You didn't distinguish between VT1 & 2 when you said you loved both of them so maybe your not seeing the serious flaws of the 1st game and how the 2nd one took them out.

Allright I forgot to say you actually press the button again, but what you've just said is partly what I've been saying. The option for power and angle is based on the time you have to play the shot not the depth at which it's received.

Sorry to go on about it. If your anywhere around London I'll play you at both.

[Brats]

I love both VTs for what they brought to videogame tennis. I also love Pong too, but clearly VT2 is the better game.

And the power and angle in Top Spin is based on the anticipation of the player and the depth of the shot received. If you play every shot in Top Spin by pressing the button when the ball travels over the net, then you will hit 'at feet' shots back reasonably (but they won't be winners), but you will sacrifice player control and you make your choice obvious to your opponent.

This is right. In real tennis, playing at feet shots is not difficult if you have plenty of time to prepare for the shot. Conversely if you are struggling for position or playing a reactionary shot, your return will undoubtedly be high.

It sounds like you've played Top Spin this way and have then dismissed it as inferior, which isn't doing the game any justice at all.

[dcmk]

anyone know this...how do you max out your stats, im into the 4th season and have all gold stars(60). on ranked matches get owned by players who have everything maxed out...mm, know roughly when? my special events dried up too

[weightgain]

Quick question then - quick answer needed. Does this game play like the first ??? It sounds like it but just want a little confirmation......tia

[weightgain]

Another quick question - have bought this and have a strange problem. I'm connected to my LCD tv via component. However when I try to load this game up it says "Select pal-60" which of course I cannot do as the 360 automatically chooses my settings based on the fact I'm using a component.........is it a case of having to dig my scart out, plug it in, ensure pal-60 is et and then use that or can I revert back to my component ?? Any ideas guys ???

[Paulos G]

Hey weightgain.

I had exactly the same thing happen and did what you suggest in your post. Works fine now.

Cheers

P

[weightgain]

Cheers Paulos - has worked a treat. Also, for anyone wondering (no-one I'm sure) handling is the same as Top Spin 1.....woo.