Grand Slam Chasing
TopSpin has long been a franchise dear to my heart. I remember playing the original on PS2 way back in 2003, and after a long lay off, finally I can play TopSpin on current consoles with the release of 2K25. Developed by Hangar 13 (makers of the criminally underrated Mafia 3) and published under the now world renowned 2K sports banner, TopSpin2K25 brings tennis into the modern era. What struck me straight away with the game were the options available to me from the very start. TopSpin2K25 launched with a multitude of modes you can expect within a sports game whether it’s the standard exhibition mode, career or online modes. But what really caught my eye from the get go was the fantastic tutorial mode which is called the TopSpin Academy. This mode is a fantastic way for both newcomers of the game and veterans of the genre to learn and refresh their knowledge of all the gameplay mechanics. Wonderfully explained and voiced by tennis legend John McEnroe, this mode really does a great job of welcoming the player to the core gameplay loop which is easy to understand but hard to master. It’s a streamlined design for a tutorial that I really enjoyed as it comes with standard and advanced lessons that allow the player to choose what level of depth they wish to learn. Subsequently, you can get stuck into the real modes, especially the MyCareer mode.
MyCareer mode is your standard sports career mode found within numerous sports titles such as NBA2K and Madden but the TopSpin2K25 mode really is special. Designing and creating your player is robust and in depth with great customization choices available from the start. There’s a commendable level of depth found in the creation, even the level and sound of grunts and exertion your player makes is available, a real new gold standard for customization in sports games. From there it’s simple: become a world-renowned tennis superstar. Starting in the challenger tournaments and TS250/500 tournaments, your goal is to grow your player’s attributes and skills through gameplay. Level up these attributes and complete objectives to raise your star level and you can play in higher ranking tournaments or play against legendary opponents such as Roger Federer! On the downside, the progression system functions well but at times it can feel like a bit of a slog offline and therefore some players may lose interest in the career mode.
You can create a gameplay style unique to yourself or use a model designed within the game such as power serve or serve and volley. It’s up to you how you want your player to play and I loved again the options available to me. The career mode also surprised me with its sheer level of depth. Whether it’s upgrading your coaches by completing match objectives, or buying houses as your stardom rises, Hangar 13 have done a great job adding variety to the career and helping it avoid becoming stale. I particularly love the emphasis on conditioning and fitness; play too many tournaments and you’ll incur a randomised injury that you then have to rehab or you might have to use training modes to hone a particular skill. Of course, a robust career mode needs the gameplay to back it up.
Baseline Battles
The easiest way I can describe the gameplay of TopSpin2K25 is smooth, so god damn smooth. It is incredible the way the developers have created such a fluent and responsive gameplay loop here. Each shot feels unique and varied and each choice of shot feels important. Want to get into a baseline rally? Start hitting power shots to bully your opponent back and forth across the court, wearing down their in-game stamina meter. Hit control shots to pinpoint the ball into areas your opponent can’t get to, or simply serve and volley your way to victory, the game offers varying gameplay styles that really complement each other and allow you to experiment. A fantastic achievement by Hangar 13! It’s quite simply the most realistic gameplay loop of tennis I’ve ever experienced.
The real mode that got me completely and utterly hooked were the online modes: World Tour and 2K Tour. World Tour allows you to use your created player and take on other created players in tournaments that also contribute to your player levels. I think this is a fantastic way to blend both single player and multiplayer seamlessly. 2K Tour serves as a similar mode but playing as the vast cast of licensed players found within the game. Whether it’s legends like Federer or Sampras or modern players like Coco Gauff or Frances Tiafoe, this roster is brilliant and has players that encompass all the playing styles; it’s just a shame that other players like Nadal haven’t made their way into the game due to licenses with other games. Playing as these real life competitors on 2K Tour against other online players is gripping and enthralling, especially as the mode itself acts as the ranked mode for the game, allowing you to challenge yourself against the best and climb the rankings. I’ve sunk countless hours into these online modes and I cannot wait to get back in. Officially addicted!
The only real issue I have with these modes is the matchmaking of created players that can lead to massive mismatches of attributes and skills and the fact there is no online doubles mode option is also disappointing. The inclusion of online doubles could have created really fun moments for myself and friends and would make online matches really distinctive and memorable. Of course, similar to others in the current generation of sports games, this game includes in-game currency and microtransactions but I’m happy to say they do not create any pay to win mechanics and are purely for cosmetic purposes at the time of writing. Hopefully this stays the same in the long term. The currency itself and what you can buy is bizarre at times as racquets are more expensive than player houses within the game which is hilarious but no major issue.
Centre Court Pandemonium
To put it simply, TopSpin 2K25 looks absolutely gorgeous. Every court across the vast amount of licensed stadiums and venues looks stunning and vibrant. Lighting on the game is top-notch and really helps accentuate the courts; Wimbledon looking particularly breath-taking. The court surfaces also look incredible with the hard courts glistening or the clay courts showing wear and tear as the match goes on. It’s a real credit to the developers how good this game looks. Player clothing and equipment also look hyperrealistic, making each racquet and outfit stand out amongst the crowd. Arguably the best looking sports game out there.
Along with the visuals, the animations in this game are something to behold. Hangar 13 have nailed the animations for each unique player and their movement is truly wonderful to watch. Federer in particular is a marvel in animation and style as the depiction is near pitch perfect to the real life player I have seen on screen. It’s the little things that struck me as well, such as sweat becoming evident on the player if their stamina is running low, or the way in which the clothing of the players reacts to moments like serving and volleying. The ripples on the clothing look magnificent at times. These fine touches, in some people’s opinions, have no right being in sports games but they are what help make this game so special.
The Roar Of The Crowd
Along with visual presentation, sound design is at a near perfect level. Every shot booms off the strings of the racquet with such a wonderful sound you just want to keep going back for more. The crowd reacts to thrilling moments with gasps and cheers, creating really memorable moments for the player, particularly online when you are in a baseline battle or diving to the net for a volley. Sound design is at such a high level it really does feel like you are right on court in the middle of a contest. Everything sounds and feels realistic and that is exactly what you want in a game like this.
TopSpin 2K25 also offers a wonderful and eclectic soundtrack of licensed modern day chart hits from some of the biggest artists in the world like Calvin Harris, Drake and The Weeknd to name a few. These types of soundtracks are common place in sports games nowadays and they feel right at home in TopSpin 2K25, without ever feeling overpowering or overbearing.
Verdict
I have waited for years in hope of TopSpin returning in all its glory and boy, has it delivered! A deep and robust career mode and an addictive online serving of tennis really make this game special. Coupled with gorgeous visuals and stunning sound design, this is the quintessential tennis video game. Some wonky currency issues and at times grindy levelling can hinder the experience slightly, but overall this game has reinvigorated my love for tennis in the real world and in the gaming arena. I’ll see you on the court!
