Speedball 2 - Xbox 360 Live Arcade Review
Fight through the Credit Crunch with this Futuristic Sports Title
Apr 28, 2009
Gamers have been spoiled rotten by both the 360's Live Arcade and PS3's PSN, with some true greats being released over the last few years.
The re-releases of past classics really spoil those that long for a nostalgic buzz, and the clever remakes fill most with the child-like joy of youth once more.
Then They Re-released Speedball 2
While there was a graphical update to the 19-year-old game, for the purposes of this review it is to be ignored with extreme prejudice.
Why? Because it is both pointless and ugly, and the option to revert to the original graphical style is there, which should be grasped with both hands immediately.
Speedball 2 was released initially on the Amiga back in 1990 and was soon converted to most home consoles and the PC, along with various other handheld systems.
How Speedball 2 Works
The game sees players taking control of the team Brutal Deluxe in the futuristic sport of Speedball; a no-holds-barred brawling cross of Football (Soccer), Rugby and Handball (throw in some Basketball too, for good measure).
Two teams of nine players compete to score the most points, and the team with the most points after two 90-second halves is declared the winner.
Points are gained by scoring goals, as would be expected, but Speedball 2 is a game that likes to mix things up a bit. Points also rack up through a number of bonus generators scattered about the pitch, as well as for injuring opposition players.
But How Does Speedball 2 Play Now?
The game was simple even on its release, and this simplicity has been retained for the 360 re-release.
Control involves one button to punch, slide tackle, throw, lob and jump and it is as easy to pick up and get stuck in as anyone would hope.
The simple nature lends itself nicely to the staying power of the game and it still plays wonderfully to this day, even if some mechanics haven't aged too well and feel old-fashioned in a world of high-end physics and sandbox gaming.
Obviously though this is a point to be overlooked, as this is a pure trip down to Nostalgia Town - it isn't exactly a huge effort to convert new players to the Speedball cause.
The sound effects of Speedball 2 have been changed a fair amount from the original, meaning some are sure to feel a bit let-down, even annoyed, by what they hear.
Generally, however, things sound as great as they always did.
The addition of Xbox Live online play is just another wonderful bonus for the loyal fans of the game, though anything other than pre-organised games are out of the question, as there never seems to be anybody online to play against.
The Speedball 2 Verdict - 19 Years in the Making
Speedball 2 isn’t perfect – the computer still feels like it cheats in the higher leagues, but the challenge is one that players will want to persevere with.
This is a stunning game, and a fine treasure hidden in the archives of Xbox Live Arcade.
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