Post by orochigeese on Sept 14, 2008 22:06:03 GMT -5
So I stopped by Gamestop today and got Top Spin for Wii.
I had been looking forward to this for a while and found out it came out earlier then it was supposed to. but then came across some bad reviews that kinda dampened my pantal enthusiasm. Still, I wanted it.
This is a very very early review. Almost more of my preliminary thoughts but it was getting long so I figured I'd stick it here rather then in the general Wii thread.
I got to play one game so far and i'm impressed. It has a combination of Wiimote + analog stick. There is a learning curve which is GOOD in my opinion for eventual deep play. Wii Sports Tennis is fun and people can definitely get better with time (i did) but i still feel its limited cause of the lack of movement.
Anyway, so you use the analog stick to control your players movement. Then you get set for a shot, swing back, there's a controller rumble and you begin to aim your shot with the analog stick, then you swing.
I like every part of that but one part wasn't done AS well. My concern is that your regular swing is JUST a swing. There's basically no left/right direction on it or any kind of angle that you can put on your swing manually. So the analog stick direction is not just a modifier for the shot direction, it IS the shot direction. That's the part that kinda disappoints me a bit. I wanted it as more of a modifier for a shot that I used the Wiimote to hit left or right (based on angles and timing). It concerns me a bit.
I DID enjoy the first match and i do like the range the analog stick gives you for aiming (it seems sensitive enough to have a range of angles which means yay, learning curve and depth!). There are also a decent amount of swings from regular forehand, backhand, slice, top spin, drop shot, and lob. For the drop shot and lob, its the same motion as the top spin and slice but with a button held. Now in this case (unlike left/right direction) the angle of your Wiimote swing does matter. So you can determine the type of shot with your swing, but you still need the analog stick for left/right and angles.
It's amazing how acclimated I was able to get during the first match. I went from barely being able to hit the ball basically to doing pretty much every shot at the match went on. Not expertly, mind you, but certainly competently. I can see myself playing this more then Wii Sports tennis for the most part just cause of the motion. I really hated that you couldnt move the guy in that game and so here you can. But the analog-only direction is disappointing and could end up nullifying the advantage this game has. As Wii sports tennis at least lets you aim with your actual shot.
As for the game menus, there are four. We have exhibition, Road to glory, party games, tutorials (that's right, tutorials is 1/4 of the ma in menu and there aren't many, though they do help). TheVictory Road....Road to Glory appears to have a bunch of different TYPES of mini-tournaments. Seems kinda cool in that respect. There's no create-a-player I've seen or any huge mini-game assortment. Just 3 party games.
Also, I have to add the music in this game is hilarious. The tournament music is like 70's disco. The ma in menu music sounds like an R&B version of a KENTA! Army song. I can only imagine what lies beyond.
So for me, the central question for this game is how well the analog direction will hold up for me.
I had been looking forward to this for a while and found out it came out earlier then it was supposed to. but then came across some bad reviews that kinda dampened my pantal enthusiasm. Still, I wanted it.
This is a very very early review. Almost more of my preliminary thoughts but it was getting long so I figured I'd stick it here rather then in the general Wii thread.
I got to play one game so far and i'm impressed. It has a combination of Wiimote + analog stick. There is a learning curve which is GOOD in my opinion for eventual deep play. Wii Sports Tennis is fun and people can definitely get better with time (i did) but i still feel its limited cause of the lack of movement.
Anyway, so you use the analog stick to control your players movement. Then you get set for a shot, swing back, there's a controller rumble and you begin to aim your shot with the analog stick, then you swing.
I like every part of that but one part wasn't done AS well. My concern is that your regular swing is JUST a swing. There's basically no left/right direction on it or any kind of angle that you can put on your swing manually. So the analog stick direction is not just a modifier for the shot direction, it IS the shot direction. That's the part that kinda disappoints me a bit. I wanted it as more of a modifier for a shot that I used the Wiimote to hit left or right (based on angles and timing). It concerns me a bit.
I DID enjoy the first match and i do like the range the analog stick gives you for aiming (it seems sensitive enough to have a range of angles which means yay, learning curve and depth!). There are also a decent amount of swings from regular forehand, backhand, slice, top spin, drop shot, and lob. For the drop shot and lob, its the same motion as the top spin and slice but with a button held. Now in this case (unlike left/right direction) the angle of your Wiimote swing does matter. So you can determine the type of shot with your swing, but you still need the analog stick for left/right and angles.
It's amazing how acclimated I was able to get during the first match. I went from barely being able to hit the ball basically to doing pretty much every shot at the match went on. Not expertly, mind you, but certainly competently. I can see myself playing this more then Wii Sports tennis for the most part just cause of the motion. I really hated that you couldnt move the guy in that game and so here you can. But the analog-only direction is disappointing and could end up nullifying the advantage this game has. As Wii sports tennis at least lets you aim with your actual shot.
As for the game menus, there are four. We have exhibition, Road to glory, party games, tutorials (that's right, tutorials is 1/4 of the ma in menu and there aren't many, though they do help). The
Also, I have to add the music in this game is hilarious. The tournament music is like 70's disco. The ma in menu music sounds like an R&B version of a KENTA! Army song. I can only imagine what lies beyond.
So for me, the central question for this game is how well the analog direction will hold up for me.
