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Top Spin 3

Release Date: 
06/23/2008
Game Platform: 
Xbox 360
PS3
Wii
DS
Star Rating: 
★★★½
The Skinny: Pretty simple: Grab a racket and go on tour as your favorite tennis player, or create your own character.

The Good: The game boasts phenomenal graphics on the 360 and PS3 versions (Andy Roddick's face is nigh palatable!); and the Top Spin School is extensive, teaching you not only the new and improved controls, but the game of tennis in general. Player customization isn't as rich as in Don King Presents: Prizefighter (also by 2K), but humans aren't that unique anyway.

The Bad: The new controls take some getting used to—you have to "power up" shots instead of just tapping a button, which is compounded by your player's occasional tendency to lunge right when you wanted left. Oh, and Rafael Nadal is only available as a playable character in the PS3 version.

History in the Making: Now you can create your own classic Federer vs. Nadal match! Or not.

Buy, Rent, or Disembowel? Buy. If you're an achievement hound, stick with the 360, but the most complete version exists on the PS3. It's also a definite buy for Wii owners sick of Wii Sports's simplistic tennis. Graduate to the real thing!