Top Spin 3 is the third title in the Top Spin series of video games. The game was developed by PAM Development and published by 2K Sports. New game elements include real-time weather effects, more options of professional tennis players, an in-depth character creation tool and new unparalleled gameplay mechanics. It also features impressive advancements in an audio/visual sense with improved Dolby Digitalsurround sound and "Evolutionary" visuals. Top Spin 4 was released as a sequel about three years later.
World Tour: Players are given the opportunity to participate in ranked online tournaments and matches. A new season starts every 1st and 16th day of the month.
Wii version
The Wii version features motion controls, several venues including three Grand Slams, and multiplayer party games. It features 16 licensed players. This version does not contain online multiplayer gameplay nor does it contain career mode. It runs on a modified Top Spin 2 engine, and features stylized graphics.
Players
Top Spin 3 includes 20 playable professional tennis players including today's superstars, and past professionals. It also contains 7 fictitious male professional players and 13 female professional fictitious players.
London Tennis Club (Aegon Championships) - London - Grass
Texas Arena (Dallas Open) - Dallas - Hard
Vienna Tennis Center (Erste Bank Open) - Vienna - Hard
Boston Bay Tennis Center (Boston Open) - Boston - Grass
Abhijava Stadium (Delhi Open) - New Delhi - Hard
Others:
Dubai Sports Complex - Dubai - Indoor
Silvije Krleza - Omis - Hard
Rio Beach Tennis Center - Rio de Janeiro - Indoor
Teranga Tennis Court - Dakar - Clay
Stavgaard Tennis hall - Stavgaard - Indoor
New Hampshire College Court - New Hampshire - Grass
Tennis Park - Hamilton - Hard
Chicago Public Courts - Chicago - Hard
Atlanta's Doves - Atlanta - Hard
Mediterranean Leisure Club - Zakynthos - Hard
Kobe Community Tennis Courts - Kobe - Hard
El Sol Spring Camp - Mexico City - Hard
Suva Sports Resort - Suva - Indoor
Tokyo Tennis Box - Tokyo - Indoor
Nintendo DS Exclusive:
Shanghai Challenge - Shanghai - Hard
Indoor!! - Houston - Indoor
Amazon Jungle - Amazon - Clay
Beach Night - Hawaii - Hard
Garden - Athens - Grass
Rooftop - New York City - Grass
Note: along with the exclusive ones, the only available courts for the DS are the 4 Grand Slams, Indian Wells, Miami, Rome and Chicago.
Critical reception
German website 4Players gave the game 64/100, citing awkward controls and a steep learning curve as the game's downfall.
GamePro Germany rated the game 89/100 with the reviewer claiming excellent gameplay.The reviewer believed the gameplay, although having a steep learning curve, offers great depth and a more realistic simulation of tennis.
IGN AU awarded Top Spin 3 an 8.0/10, one of the only downsides being that the risk shot system 'still isn't right', referring to the previous problems in Top Spin 2 and the original.
Xbox World 360 awarded the game 90/100, saying that it would "take stiff competition for Top Spin 3 to be anything other than the best sports title of 2008", praising the game's emphasis on skill and calling it as big a step forward for tennis games as Skate was for skateboarding.
It was a nominee for Best Sports Game for the Nintendo DS by IGN for their 2008 video game awards.
