TopSpin 2K25 analysis – The return of the king through the back door

TopSpin 2K25 returns to consoles with exquisite gameplay but with serious gaps in terms of game modes

Thirteen long years of waiting. Thirteen years of trying to quench the thirst for tennis with dozens of games that failed to come close to 2K Games’ famous tennis saga. TopSpin 2K25 arrives by surprise and almost without warning. There have been many rumors in recent years about the return of the king of tennis. Barely four months ago, we were shocked to receive the announcement of this new opus which succeeds TopSpin 4, which we can only enjoy on our Xbox 360. Since then, it has rained a little, yes.

TopSpin 2K25 comes from the hand of Hangar 13a Californian studio owned by 2K, which was responsible for bringing Mafia III Yes Mafia: DE. I’d love to say the wait was worth it, but as a fan of the series, I have mixed feelings about TopSpin 2K25, at least at launch.

I’m not fooling you if I say that The gameplay is still exquisite, a real delight. The feeling of power in the shots, the player animations and the pace of the match remain at a superlative level. Although the problems begin when one starts navigating the game’s menus, where one sees serious shortcomings, not only for a sports game, but for a game launching in mid-2024.

Play it again

Starting with the good, we’re going to focus on the gameplay of Top Spin 2K25 which, like I said, is something otherworldly. At the mechanical level we find a game system similar to the one we have already seen in Top Spin 4. The main mechanics are based on attempting to hit the shot when the drawbar reaches the assigned green zone. The closer we get, the better our shot will be and, conversely, if we move further away from the desired area, our shots will become softer and will likely go out of bounds or into the net.

We will have several types of hits at our disposal simply by pressing the button assigned to them: flat shot, topspin, slice, lob and drop shot. Depending on the pace of the match and our position on the pitch, we can choose two types of touches: the controlled blow and the powerful blow. We will detail a little what each move consists of and the advantages of using it depending on the situation.

Power without control is useless

The takeover This will allow us to better place the ball in hard to reach areas more precisely.. To do this we will have to wait for the ball to reach our player and hit the desired type of shot at the right time. In this case, the pull-up bar will fill automatically and all you have to do is press at the right time, an effective shot but more risky since the speed at which the bar loads will depend on our position in relation to the ball.

For another length, the blow of force It’s perfect for pushing our rival towards the back of the field. Unlike controlled shooting, here we can load the shot type in advance and also release the bar at the right time when it reaches the green zone. This shot will consume more energy and if we abuse it too much, it will be more difficult for us to move around the court when the rally lengthens.

The service also has different styles, depending on whether you want to be more aggressive or conservative.. In addition to the buttons described previously, you can also serve with the right stick, performing really powerful serves but with a great risk of slipping if you adjust it too much. Whichever button we use to serve the ball, we can adjust it to the corners with the left stick, although we also risk committing a foul if we are not precise.

A good recipe for shots to give free rein to our interpretation of the game, to be able to make very precise shots after reading our opponent or end up throwing the racket to the ground after missing a shot which, a priori, seemed to be a no-one evidence. A real playable delight.

Slide down the track

Another of the strong points of TopSpin 2K25 It’s our player’s feeling of control on the field. Seeing players skid on the clay at Roland Garros or grip on the grass at Wimbledon is a unique sensory experience for tennis fans.

The same thing happens with the ball when it hits different surfaces. On clay we can see how the ball generally loses speed upon impact with the ground and generates strikes with more height, exactly the opposite of what happens on grass. Hard court also presents fast terrain, where power and physical abilities generate a certain advantage over the rival.

In these small details, added to the large repertoire of moves available to us, we find the perfect formula for recreating highly realistic and extremely fun gameplay. The learning curve is really satisfying, with easy-to-digest basics and plenty of layers of complexity to get the most out of each shot. Also emphasize the risk-reward of the most precise and powerful shotsbeing truly deadly but with the necessary difficulty so that they can turn against us if we do not execute them with precision.

Mistake!

Now is the time to talk about it the least beautiful part of TopSpin 2K25, its game modes. It must be said that offline modes are rare but completely acceptable, within the limits of what can be found in a sports game. The main criticism concerns the way My careerwhere we will create our character, male or female, in an editor similar to the one we found in the NBA 2K saga.

Once our tennis player is created, our race to the top of the ATP rankings will begin. Where we will have to climb positions by playing tournaments, participating in special events and following training that will make us level up and configure the attributes of our player according to our style of play. We can also count on the help from different trainers who will enrich our skills.

Another quite interesting mode is the TopSpin Academy, which in turn serves as a tutorial and will allow us to put into practice, under the orders of John McEnroe, the lessons necessary to be able to master all the tools at our disposal. A must see if you are new to the genre or if you want to perfect those details that escape you during the game.

Eventually, an exhibition mode to play custom matches against the CPU, either individually or in duplicate. We can configure both the CPU difficulty and the set duration of each match. As I said, few means, but at least well agreed.

Double fault!

When we prepare to investigate online fashions, the drama begins. Although 2K has already confirmed that this part will be expanded over the coming months, they are completely unacceptable at launch. Especially for a game that comes out at full price, with premium versions costing over $100 which also offer 3 days early access. Poor online content for a sports game launching in 2024.

The first mode available in the online menu is World Tour, where we can play different rotating tournaments with our player created for MyCareer mode. In these tournaments we have to advance through the rounds to earn points for the ranking and win the trophy. At the moment, matches are pre-scheduled in 3 series of 5 matches each.

On the other hand, we have the 2K track, where we can play ranked games with the roster made up of the 30 tennis players from the base game. In this mode, matches are also made up of 3 series of 5 games. Winning matches in this mode will allow us to earn points as if it were the ATP ranking.

Finally, and by far the most painful mode of all, online exposure. A mode that only works thanks to matchmaking, without the ability to invite friends or configure match duration rules, as we have in its offline namesake. In this mode we will randomly play matches in 3 sets or Tie Breaks (10-point matches where we must win by two points). It’s also worth noting that this mode can only be played individually, which is okay since we don’t even have the option to invite someone to play against. A totally unacceptable decision.

Game, set and match

In terms of content, we also have more shadows than lights. To start, the roster of 30 tennis players we have, with major absences like Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Venus Williams.

Graphically, I want highlight the realism with which the game tracks are recreated, which border on perfection in the vast majority of cases. On the other hand, the modeling of certain tennis players, Carlos Alcaraz without going any further, is a little far from what we expect from a title of this caliber. Although honestly, I think that’s the least of their problems.

And of course, what could not be missing within the 2K sports franchises is the monetization of personalization elements. We will have an economy based on VC, the same currency used in NBA 2K (souvenirs from Vietnam). A priori the level of gains is not too aggressive for items that can be unlocked in stores. But we can always spend a few dollars from our pockets to increase our wallet. As We can also purchase a season passto unlock more customization elements for the modest sum of $9.99.

I plead guilty if the preceding paragraph seems ironic, but I find it a complete lack of respect for the consumer to bring back one of the most beloved franchises in sports history and fill it with micro-transactions, early access and paid subscriptions instead. than adding a simple button to invite a friend to play. in full 2024. I apologize if I’m rude, but it’s something that doesn’t occur to me.

TopSpin 2K25 Final Conclusions

In short, I really don’t know what to say when it comes to recommending the purchase of the TopSpin 2K25. On the one hand, it’s the best tennis match I’ve played in the last 13 years without the slightest doubt, light years from the next, I’m not exaggerating. On the other hand, we may be facing one of the worst sports video game products I’ve seen in recent years. And much more, at full price.

I sincerely hope that 2K gets its act together and starts releasing updates that fix the mess this is in terms of game modes, especially online. If you want to build a strong community that will keep the game going over the years, I can’t think of a worse way to do it. You can fill a game with microtransactions, season passes, and whatever else you want. But if there is no one playing it, you are unlikely to profit from it. And it would be a shame to spoil all the good things that TopSpin 2K25 offers at a playable level.