I'm not really a big sports fan. For the most part, I can take them or leave them. I do, however, like playing the more "minor" sports video games.

In this case, I tried "Top Spin 3" and "Don King Presents Prizefighter." I really wanted to like the two games, but both fell short.

"Top Spin" is a good example of focusing on something to a fault. If you're looking for a tennis simulation, this is it. The action is grounded in the real world.

However, "Top Spin" is so set on being real tennis that it forgets to have a personality.

I enjoyed the matches themselves. Like the real sport, they require some strategy and good reaction times.

The controls are easy enough to learn, but a little harder to master. The face buttons provide different types of shots, from flat shots to slices and lobs. The trigger buttons are for more risky attempts, such as power shots. The left thumbstick is used both for moving around and for aiming the shot.

Timing each shot takes some practice. The game is pretty picky about what it will allow, so letting go of the button either too late or too soon can be disastrous. At the same time, some pretty crazy shots can be pulled off.

There were a few times when I would hit the button to swing and my player would just stand there. I'm not sure if that was just a timing issue on my part or a real problem with the game.

You create your character using a complex creation system. Then you take your character to tournaments, and eventually you come up against the big-name, real-life players.

The players themselves look fantastic and move in an incredibly realistic way. Over the course of a match, the players even get sweaty.

Wins net you experience points that contribute to your player's statistics (power, stamina, etc.). You also earn points for new clothes.

All this is well and good, but I found myself getting bored. As I said, there's no personality. The main career menu is bland and simple, and there are no extras such as minigames to mix it up. You simply go from one game to the next.

I can't really complain about the gameplay itself; it's an accurate representation of the sport, and serious tennis fans probably will love it. I just wish there was more to 'Top Spin 3' to make it feel a little less … boring.

Meanwhile, "Don King Presents Prizefighter" has the opposite problem. The presentation in the boxing game is pretty good, and it has some interesting ways of doing things. It's the gameplay itself that is the issue.

I loved EA's "Fight Night Round 3;" it seemed to really nail the essence of a boxing game. I'm not saying that "Prizefighter" should be a carbon copy of "Fight Night," but I couldn't help thinking fondly of that other game as I struggled through "Prizefighter."

It's not bad, exactly, it's just got control issues. The controls aren't as responsive as they should be, and many of them feel counterintuitive.

The face buttons serve as the punches, which is fine. However, it seemed like there was always a little lag between when I hit the button and when the fighter threw the punch. I know part of it is because of fatigue; if they're tired, they're slower. But I don't think that explains all of it. There's a fluidity that should be there and isn't.

I also didn't like the feel of blocking, which uses the right thumbstick. I kept trying to use the right trigger, which seemed more natural, especially because the left trigger serves for dodging. Why not make both the "defense" buttons the same type? It's awkward to be using the right thumbstick and then try to hit the face buttons for a punch.

Still, I liked the overall idea of "Prizefighter," which tells the story of a boxer named "The Kid" (your character) through live-action video clips. The clips are filmed documentary-style and are an inventive approach.

Real boxers pop up in the game, too. "Prizefighter" includes 40 boxing champs, both current and classic, and 22 gyms and arenas also are included.

Occasionally throughout the game, you'll be put into classic matches, which are played with a sepia-tone filter on "crackly" film to look old. While I had a hard time actually winning any of those, they're a cool idea.

I liked the approach 2K Sports took to "Prizefighter," I just didn't care for the implementation. The controls are passable, but they felt too clunky to be enjoyable.

Both "Prizefighter" and "Top Spin 3" are rentals.

Top Spin 3 2K Sports, for Xbox 360 (also on PlayStation 3, Wii and DS)Rated: EveryoneCost: $59.99 Score: 7.5/10

By:

Don King Presents PrizefighterBy: 2K Sports, for Xbox 360Rated: TeenCost: $59.99Score: 6.5/10