When 2K Sports started to put together the Wii version for Top Spin, it was expected that the game control mechanics would be solid. And they definitely are. But while the controls are done reasonably well, the lack of solid gaming modes is very disappointing. Even the DS has a career mode – something lacking in the Wii version of the game.

But first things first – the control scheme is engineered to try to make this a very realistic feeling game. To that end, you hold the Wiimote like you would a tennis racquet – on the side with your index finger on the B button. The nunchuk is also involved in the process, with the thumbstick used to move your player or aim your return, and the Z button used as an easy serve or to activate a special shot. For example, you press the Z button and hit a slice to perform a drop shot. The C button on the nunchuk also takes you from an easy serve to the manual serve, in which you toss the ball up and then use an overhand swing to hit it. As you can probably imagine, timing is everything.

There is a minor learning curve associated with this mechanic, but it does provide more than a bit of the game’s entertainment value.

As for the game modes, this is where the game really is a letdown. There is the exhibition mode for singles or doubles; the Road to Glory mode – which is a series of challenges with pre-made tennis players; Events has eight games most of which are in a tourney-style setting, but again, you can’t create a character; and Party Games has three categories – The Keys (single and doubles), which has nine ‘keys’ in the single player format and 12 in the doubles format, and Invincible Man (play mini-matches until you lose).

Delving a little deeper into the games themselves, the Party Games are broken (as mentioned) into three subsets. In The Keys – Single, you are asked to score points by accomplishing various tasks, with “keys” awarded for such things as scoring the most points from the baseline, or for the least amount of unforced errors. The Keys – Doubles adds to the games by awarding “keys” to the team with the most valuable player (a.k.a. the player who has scored the most winners). Conversely, the player who has not scored the most winners is known as The Burden and the team without the Burden is awarded a “key.”

The Events slate of games includes a Speedy Event, a Classical tourney in Mexico, Final Square (a four-player event in which each player plays against the other three, 2x4 (two groups of four players, in two groups, playing against each other), Male Vs. Female, Survival (win seven matches in a row), Grand Slams (win each of the four most famous tourneys), and The Great League (a 16-player tourney).

While this does sound a bit robust, these games all come across as quick games that have no true permanence and nothing to really work through. The 360, PS3 and NDS all have career modes, which are the meat and potatoes of the game – something lacking in the Wii release.

You can play with several people on the same machine (you will need a couple of sets of the controllers to go head-to-head), but online mode is not present in this version.

The audio is serviceable, but nothing special … which brings up the graphics. The Wii is a next-gen machine that is capable of graphics that are much better than what appear here. And while the game does sport some decent names, some of the game’s truly big stars are absent. There are a total of 10 male players and five female players in this game. That is just a little weak considering how expansive the PS3 version is.

Top Spin 3 for the Wii is a collection of mini-games that might be right in a party setting, but really lack the staying power of its other next-gen cousins. This is too bad. With as strong as the control scheme is, this game could have offered a lot more.

Gameplay: 7.0
Give credit to the control scheme – it is well realized and implemented. The game could have used stronger game mode elements though. The lack of a career mode is sad.

Graphics: 6.8
The Wii is capable of so much better than what this game serves up.  

Sound: 7.0
Nothing spectacular but decent.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 6.4
Limited number of players, and mostly games of the mini-game variety. This title could have (and probably should have) been the crowning achievement in the next-gen releases.

Multiplayer: 6.7
No online? That’s a shame. Have a couple of controllers around, though, and you can indulge in some multiplayer.  

Overall: 6.7
Top Spin 3 for the Wii is a case of missed opportunity. The control elements are there, but rather than give the game the staying power of the other next-gen releases, the game modes seem more geared to those who want to invest small amounts of time rather than settle in and stay a while. What’s missing from this iteration is big.