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| | / _ \\____ \ \_____ \\____ \| |/ \
| |( <_> ) |_> > / \ |_> > | | \
|____| \____/| __/ /_______ / __/|__|___| /
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FAQ info
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Top Spin Walkthrough
Version 1.0
FAQ for GAMEFAQS.com, Neoseeker.com, CheatCC.com
Copyright 2004 Chris Fuqua
Contact: jackafool@gmail.com
-----------------------------------
Intro
-----------------------------------
Top spin is simply the most amazing tennis game ever made. Virtua tennis was
standard for all tennis games, that is until Top Spin came out. Top spin is
simply a great game, and whether or not you like tennis, if you own an XBox,
you MUST buy this game. At the time of this writing it is currently
retailing for $29.99 and is one of the biggest bargains you will find. I
personally hate tennis, never watch it, and despise most people who play it.
I have made fun of the kids who play on the tennis team at my high school,
and called them snobs. Yet this game is simply addictive. If you have the
money I suggest you run outside and hitch a ride to wal-mart, or wherever
you buy your games, and get a copy of this. Just kidding, but in all
reality, if you own an xbox you need this game!
Now that we have that out of the way, Top Spin is a tennis game made by XSN
Sports, which is owned by Microsoft. You create a player, and live his
career. The Create-a-Player is easily the deepest I've seen except for Tiger
Woods. You could easily make a character who looks just like you, if you sat
down and worked on it. This game sets a new standard for all tennis games.
I can't wait for news on Top Spin 2. For now there is nothing. I've scoured
all the reputable game sites, and found absolutely nothing. They can't just
let a franchise like this die. This is one of the reasons that xbox is so
amazing. They better have a top spin 2.
-----------------------------------
Updates
-----------------------------------
June 20, 2004
FAQ is in first complete version.
Same Day
Turned down by GameFAQs again, even though this guide is almost 15 KB.
I'm not sure why, but I'm going to keep working on it.
UPDATE: We've been accepted after I basically begged. We're in though.
June 16, 2004
Added A and B in Career. Finished all of the stars and skills advice. I
was already in bed, but couldn't sleep so I updated this. Its past
midnight.
June 15, 2004
Added section II today, all the players and their stats. Taking forever
because I have to keep turning my Xbox on and off, because I can't read my
own handwriting. Rejected again today, for the same reason. Man Gamefaqs
is proving to be a tough nut to crack.
Later on June 14,2004
This FAQ was rejected for lack of content. Oh, well just have to work
twice as hard.
June 14, 2004
Just starting today. Finished the intro, and going to do controls today. My
first FAQ was accepted into GameFAQs today, so I'm partying. This FAQ
probably won't take long to write either, because its summertime and I have a
lot of free time on my hands.
-----------------------------------
Table of Contents
-----------------------------------
I.Controls
A.Basics
B.Risk Shots
C.Drop Shots
D.Aiming
E.Choices
II.Players
A.Mens
B.Womens
III.Practice
A.Learning the game
B.Baselining
C.The use of Lobs
D.Serving
E.Returning Serves
F.Volleys
IV.Career
A.Starting out
B.Training
1.Career Stars
2.Skills
C.Minor Pros
D.Major Pros
E.Grand Slams
F.Being #1
G.Sponsors
V.Outro
-----------------------------------
I.Controls
-----------------------------------
A.Basics
A: Flat/Safe Shot or Serve (just a normal shot)
B: Topspin Shot or Serve (bounces high and goes by fast)
X: Slice Shot or Serve (stays very low to the ground)
Y: Lob shot (flies high in the air, useful when you need time to adjust)
Black: Show excitement after point
White: show frustration after point
L: Drop shot/serve (little drop shot that just falls over the net)
R: Risk Shot/serve (a powerful smash that can rattle players)
B.Risk shots
Risk shots are a important part of the game. You press and hold R and let go
when the meter is in the middle of the bar. This makes the shot go very
fast, and it is very hard to return. It will take some getting used to, but
when you master it, it can be your biggest weapon. If you are having trouble
with it all I can tell you is keep trying. You'll get it eventually. I
serve like this all the time, and get a normal shot like this once in a
while.
C.Drop shots
Drop shots are the exact opposite of the risk shot. The drop shot barely
goes over the net, and then drops. Its very useful when someone is playing
back away from the net. Be careful though because if they manage to get to it
your in some serious trouble. I personally never use the drop shot, as I
don't need it. I have just never made it a part of my game. I'm more of a
power kind of guy.
D.Aiming
Aiming depends on a few things. How long you hold the shot button, and how
long you push the d stick in the direction. If you want to send a shot to
the left, you hold a point the stick left and let go of A. The longer you
hold it the more to that direction it will be. Aiming is probably the most
important part of the game. If you learn this skill you can easily beat the
career mode in a week.
E.Choices
Shot choice is almost as important as aiming. If you want to keep the ball
normal you use A. If you want to keep it low use slice. If you want to make
it go by faster use B. If you want to make a person back up from the net you
use Y. Choosing the right shot in the right situation is what decides if
you are a winner or a loser.
-----------------------------------
II.Players
-----------------------------------
A.Men's
Name: P.Sampras
Serve: ****
Forehand: ****
Backhand: ***
Volley: ****
Name: L.Hewitt
Serve: ***
Forehand: ****
Backhand: *****
Volley: **
Name: J.M.Gambill
Serve: ****
Forehand: ****
Backhand: ***
Volley: **
Name: S.Grosjean
Serve: ***
Forehand: ****
Backhand: ****
Volley: ***
Name: G.Kuerten
Serve: ***
Forehand: *****
Backhand: ****
Volley: **
Name: M.Chang
Serve: **
Forehand: *****
Backhand: ****
Volley: *
Name: J.Blake
Serve: ****
Forehand: ****
Backhand: ****
Volley: **
Name: T.Robredo
Serve: **
Forehand: *****
Backhand: *****
Volley: **
Name: T.Tukur
Serve: *****
Forehand: **
Backhand: **
Volley: ****
Name: P.Houston
Serve: **
Forehand: *****
Backhand: *****
Volley: *
Name: W.Wang
Serve: ***
Forehand: *
Backhand: ****
Volley: ***
Name: F.Koenig
Serve: ****
Forehand: *****
Backhand: **
Volley: *
Name: G.Gide
Serve: ***
Forehand: ***
Backhand: ****
Volley: ***
Name: S.Rios
Serve: ****
Forehand: **
Backhand: *
Volley: ****
Name: J.Emory
Serve: ****
Forehand: *****
Backhand: *
Volley: **
Name: K.Nash
Serve: ***
Forehand: ***
Backhand: ***
Volley: *
B.Women's
Name: M.Hingis
Serve: ****
Forehand: ****
Backhand: ****
Volley: ***
Name: A.Kournikova
Serve: ***
Forehand: ****
Backhand: **
Volley: **
Name: B.Schett
Serve: ***
Forehand: ****
Backhand: ****
Volley: **
Name: D.Hantuchova
Serve: **
Forehand: *****
Backhand: ****
Volley: ***
Name: E.Dementieva
Serve: ***
Forehand: ****
Backhand: *****
Volley: **
Name: A.Coetzer
Serve: **
Forehand: *****
Backhand: ****
Volley: *
Name: A.Harkleroad
Serve: ***
Forehand: ****
Backhand: ***
Volley: **
Name: M.Shaughnessy
Serve: **
Forehand: ***
Backhand: ***
Volley: ***
Name: K.Yamani
Serve: ***
Forehand: ***
Backhand: **
Volley: *
Name: P.De Mattos
Serve: **
Forehand: ***
Backhand: ****
Volley: ***
Name: S.Tellawi
Serve: ****
Forehand: ****
Backhand: **
Volley: **
Name: K.Abercrombie
Serve: ***
Forehand: ***
Backhand: **
Volley: ***
Name: M-y.Auyeung
Serve: ****
Forehand: *****
Backhand: **
Volley: *
Name: M.Hammond
Serve: ****
Forehand: **
Backhand: *
Volley: ****
Name: K.Sergeyevna
Serve: ****
Forehand: *****
Backhand: *
Volley: **
Name: A.Hill
Serve: *****
Forehand: **
Backhand: **
Volley: ****
-----------------------------------
III.Practice
-----------------------------------
A.Learning the game
I suggest that before you ever start a career, you play 20 or 30 practice
games. This will teach you to recognize all of the different shots, and by
trial and error you should learn how to react. I probably played almost 100
games before I ever started my career.
B.Baselining
I consider myself a baseline master. Baselining is where you learn to aim
your shots so they hit the baseline and your opponent has to run for it.
Then you can smash it on the other side of the court. This one isn't
something you can teach. You will become better at aiming as you play more
and it is a skill you will just pick up as you go along.
C.The use of lobs
Lobs can be useful to you, or they can hurt you. The difference lies in WHEN
to do it. The only time you should use them is if you have to dive for a
ball, and it will give you more time to recover. Other than that, when your
opponent starts playing to close to the net. You can lob it and send them
flying back toward the back of the court, which gives you time to get in
position to smash it.
D.Serving
Serving is the most important part of the game. If you use A,B,X, or Y to
serve all you have to do is press them, then press it again when the bar is
full at the top. Risk and lobs are done just like they are done when you hit
a normal shot. Risk serves are very hard to return, and to be a good player
you will need to master them.
E.Returning Serves
Returning serves is almost as important as serving itself. This is another
thing you can't really teach. You will learn how in time. Just keep your
eye on the ball, is all I can really tell you.
F.Volleys
A volley is where you and your opponent are at the net and you hit it back and
forth without letting it hit the ground. It doesn't happen very often
because the computer is scared to move up to the net. When it does though you
have to control the volley. Don't let the computer control the match.
-----------------------------------
IV.Career
-----------------------------------
A.Starting Out
When you first start out, you create your character. This is where you make
the first two big decisions of your career. You choose to make a male or female
character. The female league is probably only half as hard as the male league.
I'm not saying that the men are better than the women in real life, but in Top
Spin they made it a male dominated game. Don't blame me thats just the way it
is. Next is the player type. Technician gives you better control, power gives
you better power, and defense gives you better defense. After you make that
decision its time to start training.
B.Training
Training is the most important aspect of the game. I suggest you finish your
training before you ever even compete in a major pro level tournament. It makes
everything alot easier. Training comes in four segments. Serve, forehand,
backhand, and volley. You have fourteen career stars to spread between the
four different skills. Choosing can be one of the toughest parts for some
people. I thought it was really easy, as I went with a simple 2-4-4-4 set.
Most people however go for the 3-4-4-3 set. This is really popular online.
B1.Career stars
The career stars work like this. Every time you complete a training you get
a star in the stat that the training was for. You can have a maximum of five
stars in anyone one category. You only have a total of 14 stars though so you
should think about what you are doing with them. You should complete all of
your training before you go to a competetion. I made the mistake of not
training first, and paid for it later.
B2.Skills
At certain points in the game, you will be given the option of picking up
skills. These increase your players competence in a certain area. You can
use them to really max out your strengths, or to cover up your weaknesses. I
recommend the latter, because no matter how good your serve is, if you have a
weak back hand you will lose in the end. Below is a list of the skills you
choose in each situation.
Skill offering #1
Curve Serve: Adds a curve to all of your serves. Makes returning them harder.
If you're a technician choose this one.
Precision: Allows you to baseline easier. Gives you better control. This is
the most popular skill in this offering. Unless your a technician, pick this
one.
Return Risk Shots: Just like the name says. I wouldn't pick this one,
because in time you will learn to return them and this skill will become
completely useless. Don't pick this one.
Return Serve: See Above ^.
Skill offering #2
Volley: I wouldn't pick this one. It increases your volley which is rarely
used.
Speed: Pick this one if your a power player. You will need it later.
Angle: If your a defensive style player take this one. It will help you
counter shots better.
Power: If your a technician this is the skill for you. You will need it to
get those tough smashes past your opponent.
Skill offering #3
Risk Shot: Don't pick this one. You will learn risk shots in time. This
will only mess with your rhythm.
Passing Shot: "A passing shot is a shot when your opponent is at the net and
instead of lobing it you just blow it right by them. Passing shot skill makes
that shot faster and makes it go down the line better or angle it better when
your opponent is at the net." -RandomHeroSk8er7@aol.com
Ace: This is the one I took. I win a lot of games simply because my serves
are so good, and this really enhances it. Good choice.
Drop Shot: Again, you will learn drop shots in time. Don't take this one.
Skill offering #4
Top Spin: Great to finish rallies. I chose this one, because it worked
into my style of baselining.
Slice: Use this one if you always find you need more time to get in
position. This keeps the ball crazily low. Its almost scary.
Agressive Lob: "It is just a lower lob than the normal ones that most players
do" -Apaine29@cs.com
Smash: Not very popular because most players can smash pretty well. You
don't get very many lobs simply because the computer doesn't play that
way. Don't take this one.
C.Minor Pros
The Minor pro tournaments are small scale tournaments meant for beginners.
You should have no problem beating these. I personally never lost a game
winning all my matches 3-0 3-0. If you win this tournament, which you
should since they are ridiculously easy, you will get 15000 coin. At this
point, if you've followed my guide, you should finish all your training
before you move on to the next level. You should use these tournaments
to get coin to work on your training. There are plenty of different
tournaments at the Minor Pro level, so just play them, as they should give
you no trouble. You need to win one of these to move up to the next
status level, Young Gun. After you master these, I suggest winning them
all, but it's up to you, you can move on to Major Pros. You should be a
young gun by now, otherwise you can't compete in the Major pro tournaments.
D.Major Pros
Major pros are where it starts to get serious. If you followed my advice,
you will have all your stars, so this level shouldn't be too much trouble.
Once again if you are good, you should be able to finish these tournaments
without losing a game. I know I did, even without all of my training done.
This is where you start making the big money. Each tournament gives you
a 100000 coin payoff. If you are having trouble with these, go do practice
matches with the level on medium. All you really need to do is make the
other person run back and forth. Then when they have to dive for one, just
smash it to the other side of the court. It shouldn't take you long to
breeze through a tournament. I finish these in 15-20 minutes. Now that
you are moving towards the big tournaments, The Grand Slams, you will
need to decide what kind of player you are, and work on your game. If
you can't win these tournaments with ease, your going to get flattened in the
grand slams. So practice, practice, practice.
E.Grand Slams
This is where the real skill comes in. This is where you play people like
Sampras and Hewitt. If you've done everything I told you to do up to this
point then you shouldn't have too many problems with the grand slams. I
know that I lost a few games, but never lost a match, or a tourney. This
should be where you are at the top of your game. I'm not going to give much
stategy, because if you've made it this far then you obviously know what your
doing. Each tourney gives you a million coin, which seems like a lot but
really isn't, since you don't really need any more coin at this point.
F.Being #1
Congratulations! You've made it to #1. Imagine, your the best tennis player
in the world. Well, not really, but its still a great feeling. This is
where you make your decision whether or not to take your player online. If
you can win grand slams without any trouble you may want to consider going
online with your creation. You must realize though that the competition
online is going to be like none you've ever seen. You may want to go back
and do it all over again, making new decisions, its up to you. Most
importantly, Have Fun!!!!!!
G.Sponsors
Sponsors are companys that give you free clothes. They also give you coin,
after you finish their challenges. I only used them to get coins for the
training sessions, because I'm not the kind of person who likes to spend
time dressing up their players. Its up to you.
-----------------------------------
V.Outro
-----------------------------------
This is the second FAQ that I've written, and I'm happy with the number of
responses I'm getting, and the support in Emails. Keep em coming!
A.Contact info
I may be contacted at jackafool@gmail.com . Please do not add me to your
msn list, as I do not accept messages from people I do not know. If
you choose to email me, please put the name of the game in the email
topic. If you ask me a question that is already answered in this guide,
I will just refer you to the section where it is. I cannot help you
with technical problems with your game. I'm sorry but I just can't.
Please give me 7 days to reply to your email, before you send it again.
If I made a mistake in this guide, email me about it, and if I find the
mistake, I will add your name to the special thanks portion.
B.Special Thanks
I would like to thank GameFAQs for hosting this guide, the people on the
Gamefaqs message boards for supporting me. I would like to thank XSN
Sports for creating Top Spin, the greatest tennis game of all time. I
would like to thank Dr.Pepper, for providing me with the caffeine to stay
up late into the night working on this FAQ. I would like to thank
all the FAQ writers that I have read, for inspiring me to write FAQs.
I would like to thank the board of education, for making a summer
vacation, because without them, this guide wouldn't be finished yet.
I would like to thank the Detroit Pistons, for beating the hated Los Angeles
Lakers in the NBA Finals. I would like to thank my mother, for teaching me
to type, because if she hadn't taught me I would still be typing the table of
contents.
Contribution Thanks:
RandomHeroSk8er7@aol.com for the definition of a passing shot.
Apaine29@cs.com for the definition of an Aggressive lob.
C.Posting this FAQ
This FAQ right now, is only to be posted on GameFAQs, and Neoseeker. Please
do not email me asking to post this on your website. Unless you have your
own domain do not ask to post this. If you see this guide on website
where it shouldn't be, please email me, and I will handle it in time.
Top Spin is Copyright XSN Sports 2003. This guide is in no way affiliated
with XSN sports.
This guide Copyright 2004 Chris Fuqua. Please do not reproduce this
guide without my consent. I spent my time writing this, and the
least you could do is ask.
