Preview: 2K Czech's Top Spin 4

The Top Spin series has always been lauded for its faithful representation of tennis. But its control scheme - while in depth - wasn't a seamless experience for newcomers.

Developer 2K Czech aimed to address this flaw in Top Spin 4, and in my hands-on time with the game, I can attest that the developers have toed the delicate line of making the controls approachable while maintaining depth. As someone who admittedly hasn't played a tennis game since the NES days, I felt a bit intimidated. But those fears were laid to rest early in my hands-on preview. Each face button represents a different type of shot. You can pull off lobs, flat spin, top spin and slice shots.

Keeping a rally going is easy enough, but once you start mixing in the variety of shots and forcing your opponent to track down potential winners, the depth of the gameplay really shines through. At the core of the gameplay is the weight of each player. Momentum and player ratings play a huge role in changing directions.

"Some tennis games it's a little more arcadey, where you're doing a full-speed run in any direction and turn on a dime," Top Spin 4 associate producer Michael Kelly said. "For us, it's always been about the real tennis battle."

Playing to your player's strengths is key. Pete Sampras is at his best when he's using his serve-and-volley style. Serena Williams is perfect for someone who likes baseline offense, using powerful strokes to put away your opponent as quickly as possible. Another key playing style is baseline defense, which is used by players with speed and deadly forehand and backhand shots.

"The way the game is balanced is really to highlight the difference in style of tennis," Kelly said. "Sampras is dominant at the net, where as (Novak) Djokovic is a power guy so he's going to slam the ball. If you play as (Andy) Roddick, you're going to serve 130, 140 mph if you get good at that mechanic."

But 2K has not limited the game to three play styles. All-around players like Roger Federer are solid in all facets of the game. With the largest roster to date in a tennis game (25 past and present stars), variety should not be a problem. If you can't find the perfect player that fits your style, you can always create him or her. As with other 2K Sports titles, Top Spin 4 includes a My Player mode. There are 40 face presets per gender, more than 100 haircuts with accessories, more than 40 different facial hair styles (male only) and a plethora of makeup options for female players.

You can outfit your player with the big-name brands (Adidas, Nike, Fila, etc.) and custom brands with extra items to unlock. But it's not just cosmetic options. You can define your player's temper on the court and your favorite shot animations. Once you get on the court, you accumulate experience points that you apply to the three play styles. If you want a solid, all-around player you can go that route. But make sure you spend your points wisely because your level cap is 20.

But if you're worried you'll run into a lot of players online who play just like you, 2K Czech has accounted for that. Coaches will contact you if your player has reached a certain level in a play style. They will help you either improve your strong points or brush up on your weaknesses.

The coaches will provide a set of goals, which if achieved, will net you attribute rewards. And with more than 100 coaches available, the options are considerably deep. And if you're not meshing with your initial coach, you can always opt to go with a new coach.

Top Spin 4 is setting up to be one of the deepest tennis simulations to date. Be sure to check out our full review of the game, which drops March 15 on Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.