Top Spin

Top Spin is the Xbox’s first tennis game, and it can be played via Xbox Live, allowing the player to compete in the XSN Sports Network. Two players can face off against each other in a one-on-one match on Xbox Live, while up to four players can join a doubles game. At XSNsports.com, statistics are recorded, and rankings are updated hourly. There is a career mode in the game that takes the player all over the world. The first step is to create and teach a player how to play. Once in the game, the player can participate in various tournaments. There are amateur games, minor professional games, and professional tournaments. Winning matches earns you money as well as a higher ranking. The goal is to rise from 100th to first place. Serve, backhand, forehand, and volley are four different statistics that can be gradually improved. Better and more complex serves, more accurate and powerful back- and forehands, and the ability to keep the ball in play longer with volleys all result from increased skill. There are also skills to learn, such as risk and ace, which increase the likelihood of hitting a successful risk shot or acing an opponent on a serve. In Exhibition mode, the player can choose between a created character and one of several real-life professionals, such as Pete Sampras or Anna Kournikova.