Top Spin 2K25 delivers a solid foundation with enjoyable tennis gameplay, however the residual elements of the game fail to match the former franchise’s peaks.
By Justin Koreis on May 1, 2024 at 9:00AM PDT
Tennis is fundamentally a game about legacy. Stalwarts such as Billie Jean King, Pete Sampras, and the Williams sisters have secured immortality through their epic matches, triumphant performances on the court, and domination in tournaments that have shaped the sport’s history. Thus, it seems fitting that Top Spin series carries a similar reverence, especially with the critically acclaimed Top Spin 4 that was released more than ten years ago. Now, under the stewardship of Hanger 13, Top Spin makes a much anticipated comeback. Although it aces in crucial gameplay facets, a lack of content and problematic focus on microtransactions prevent it from becoming a grand success.
The gameplay is paramount in the latest entry and it excels. The on-court movement feels great due to a robust sense of momentum and weight. This is particularly true on varying surfaces, where the steady footing on a hard court shifts to sliding on clay courts. The authenticity is visually impressive and considering the different starts and stops on the multiple court types is a crucial factor during a match.
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Different shots are mapped to various buttons and do an excellent job conveying just how sophisticated volleys are. Whether you are hitting a hard straight shot, curving slices, or smashing a ball right up the line with hard-to-handle top spin, the various options are meaningfully different. A simple timing system lets you tap for controlled returns, or hold to generate power, with both options depending on releasing at the right moment to determine accuracy. It’s straightforward, and rewarding to execute. There’s a place and application for each, like intentionally hitting a slow rolling shot to give yourself an opportunity to reposition yourself on the court, or sending a lob high over the head of an opponent who has creeped too close to the net.
That strategic element of tennis is Top Spin’s biggest triumph. Trading power-shots as you send your opponent all over the court expending energy is exhilarating thanks to the sense of speed and impact. Breaking yourself out of the same situation by returning a ball in an awkward spot with unwieldy spin, creating a fault from the other player, is a diabolical joy. There’s a “chess, but with rackets” quality to the game of tennis that translates well to Top Spin 2K25, and dominating on the court is as dependent on decision-making as it is on pure stick skills.
The key component is MyCareer. This allows players to custom create their own tennis personality and then develop their skills from beginner to top-ranked player. One is required to split their time by the month and each month features Training, Special Events, and Tournaments. Engaging in Training often involves participating in mini-games that challenge specific abilities, this can be effective for improving basic skills. Special Events are unique matches, usually with a specific target, such as hitting 10 target areas in a match, that can be rewarding for XP growth and may unlock sponsor packages. These packages have the potential to enhance the range of ornamental items available in the Pro Shop that personalize your character.
The main attraction is competing in tournaments against the best players for victory and to improve one’s rankings in tennis. Different tournaments vary in prestige, with entry into the prestigious tournaments involving improving the player’s standing and transitioning from an unknown entity to a recognized figure. Increasing your status is dependent on ticking boxes on a list of tasks, that might encompass triumphing in a number of tournaments, extensive training, and advancing in the rankings of tennis. This system is well balanced in ensuring that when players are ready for high ranking tournaments, they pose a formidable yet conquerable challenge.
Gaining XP and progressing the talent of your character rewards points that can be utilized to enhance your character’s features, including but not limited to; velocity, stamina, and ability to react. The topmost level a player can attain is 30 and as such it is impossible to fully develop all categories, this limitation encourages the player to tailor their character’s skills according to their specific goals. Developing a character’s serve, forehand, and power results in a player being capable of controlling the game with potent slams. Likewise, a swift/volley combination can create a challenge with positioning and angles. However, no single player can control all aspects of the game.
As progress is made and Special Events are won, users obtain Fittings that enhance their rackets like strings or a new frame. These fittings have the ability to enhance the skills of your character and are classified in three quality tiers, each higher tier providing a significant boost. Hiring coachings can have a similar effect, affording bonuses once certain on-field targets are met. This collectively emphasizes an unwritten rule of gaming: sports games have role playing game elements. This is particularly the case with Top Spin, and it effectively captures and embodies this aspect.
One of the primary considerations is a fatigue system that introduces an added layer of long-term strategy. Each match drains your player’s fatigue. When it dips below a specific point, they have a risk of sustaining a mild injury, which temporarily decreases certain abilities until it mends. Continual play without resting might result in severe injuries, forcing you to the sidelines for multiple months. Understanding when to carry on with another event and when to take a breather makes for an intriguing risk/reward dilemma. Persistently burning the candle at both ends could mean missing a key tournament in the future.
There is no pre-built story mode, which in this instance, I believe is preferable, as not all sports games require scripting to deliver captivating drama. Top Spin excels at creating a setting for on-court narratives, conveyed through tennis, to take center stage. There was a moment when my player was tired after consecutive tournaments and just acquired a minor injury. My original plan was to rest him for a month or two, but Wimbledon was the imminent event and an opportunity I couldn’t miss. This led to the most intensive five rounds of matches I’d ever played. Facing tennis’ best players while my power game was reduced by my injury forced me to rely on trickery, precision, and sheer grit to reach the final round. Overcoming the hurdles to secure a hard-earned final victory proved far more satisfying than any pre-authored storyline.
However, Top Spin 2K25’s major drawback is there’s little to do within MyCareer apart from alternating through the three monthly activities, and the stripped-down presentation quickly becomes tedious. Developing your player to a level where you can effortlessly win any match, doesn’t take long. It starts to feel redundant, repeating actions over and over, accomplishing objectives to climb up your rank and persistently coming out on top. The victory scene for each tournament, from the minor cup competitions to the most illustrious Majors, is identical, with the same individual presenting you the same trophy. There is no commentary team, and ball-tracking graphics like Shot Spot are rarely used, which is regrettable. There are a few exciting surprise matches that emerge towards the end of the game, but they are rare.
The options beyond MyCareer are minimal. For a revival of the Top Spin series, it’s somewhat expected, but it feels inadequate compared to other sports games, like NBA 2K, that offer many more modes. Apart from MyCareer, local play only includes single and double exhibition matches, and Top Spin Academy tutorials. The latter is narrated by tennis icon John McEnroe. Although it provides a decent introduction to gameplay, it doesn’t offer much beyond your first run-through.
The online selection isn’t much improved. Exhibition mode is limited to one-on-one games arranged via matchmaking. The absence of an option to play against or team up with friends for doubles play is a significant oversight. The 2K Tour allows you to participate in ranked games to scale a seasonal leaderboard, but the small roster of 11 men and 14 women lacks many notable players, including the top-ranked male player, Novak Djokovik. Furthermore, there don’t seem to be any visible rewards for performing well in the tour—thereby providing no clear encouragement to play other than for the sake of boasting.
World Tour serves as the online competitive arena for the creations of players. It’s enjoyable to go online and compare the athlete you’ve constructed to that of another player. Human versus human gameplay on the court provides unique scope for using fakes and other diversions – tactics AI-controlled players typically can’t react to. This is also where Top Spin’s most grave error is most glaring: microtransactions. The Centre Court Pass is essentially the battle pass; only thirteen of the fifty tiers are free–the rest demand purchase of the premium pass. This would be acceptable if the items were purely decorative, but the pass also includes experience boosters, which allow for level advancement and attribute enhancement, as well as the provision of VC, the in-game currency. VC can be accumulated through regular gameplay, albeit slowly. Having to spend nearly 3,000 VC for the reassignment of your character’s attributes is problematic. You could potentially spend hours playing matches to gather that much VC, or you could part with roughly $20 for sufficient points to cover the cost. It’s egregious.
Despite its flaws, Top Spin 2K25 does excel in the most crucial area: gameplay. It wonderfully blends smooth, responsive gameplay with the strategic depth of tennis to create a truly enjoyable on-the-court experience. Unfortunately, the lack of detail in the presentation and the limited range of gameplay modes fall short. Though, the overbearing weight of microtransactions—which are once again a key feature of a 2K sports game—truly inhibits it and hampers Top Spin 2K25 from reaching the heights of its predecessors.
