My fondness for tennis games has been recorded in the past, and Top Spin 4 does little to change my belief the sport is tailormade for gaming.
Top Spin 4
From: 2K Sports
For: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
It is a fine addition to a franchise that threatens to become stale but then makes some subtle alterations to keep us interested.
The core of the gameplay remains the career mode, where you create a player and guide him through training, low-level tournaments and special challenges, unlocking new gear and rising up the rankings.
There is a solid (if rather rapid) career path, easily accessible options, the usual variety of courts and venues, and a solid line-up of real-life professionals.
On the court, things feel slightly trickier at first.
You have to be more aware of when you time your shots, but it is a much more interesting and rewarding system than the old button-mashing days.
Top Spin 4 has a good difficulty range, allowing you to breeze through unbeaten if you wish, but also giving you the option of having a real fight on your hands.
Tennis games can seem simple.
But for me, that is the essence of their appeal.
