Speedball 2- You need this in your life (Speedball 2)

Member Name: sagat

Product:	Speedball 2
Date:	08/03/09 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Awesome for the time and still stands up to modern standards

Disadvantages: Management mode is rock hard!

Loosely based upon the classic film, Rollerball, Speedball 2 is simply sublime. In the not so distant future, sport has become increasingly competitive, resulting in the creation of the ultraviolent Speedball league.

It is your job to guide the Brutal Deluxe team to greatness, either by controlling the team during matches, or in management mode. In two player mode, you can compete against a friend over two legs with an aggregate score.

Matches take place with two teams of ten players in a large arena. Dotted around this arena are bonus point areas, score multipliers, goals, teleporters and electrofiers! Points are scored by scoring goals, injuring opponents or hitting score points in the arena. During the match, bonus items and money will pop up around the arena which you can grab.

Between matches, you can spend the money you have accumulated on new players for the team, or upgrading current players. Buying a new superstar early in the season is an excellent way to rack up points by crippling weaker opponents easily scoring goals, however in once promoted, these players are redunant as your tuned up old players should be at better levels, and new, better players are available in the transfer market. The key is finding a balance!

During matches, you fight your opponents to score more points, by fair means or foul! Initially I found myself overwhelmed as opponents easily beat me, scoring much more points than me. My frustration was eventually placated once I realised how the score multipliers worked, so make sure you understand how the arema works!

The computer will automatically select your nearest player to the ball during matches, which some may find annoying. After a bit of adjustment, it becomes very intuitive, although you will still find your goalie diving out the way of the odd shot when you meant for your defender to slide in for the tackle.

Matches are played at a frenetic pace as the ball whizzes around and punches are thrown. Once you have beefed up your team, there is nothing better than spanking opponents. A favourite tactic of mine is beefing up the wingers and camping by the score multipliers and just punching anyone who gets close!

The graphics are solid for the time and stand up reasonably well today. It is easy to tell which team is which and keep track of everything as the action is played out.

The music is superb in a retro way. Modern gamers may not find much to like about it, but for anyone who grew up with this era of games will find the bleeping electronic soundtrack a pleasure to listen to.

Sound effects are top notch too, whether it be the ball pinging around the arena, punches connecting, or an ambulance picking up an injured player. Every male over the age of twenty five should always repeat the mantra 'Ice cream, ice cream!' when someone mentions that particular product.

The difficulty curve is spot on for beginners. More experienced players will find that the CPU offers little resistance once a few techniques have been learnt. This is where the two player more comes into effect as you battle a friend over two legs. The two legged games are a stroke of genius/idiocy depending on which side of a flukey, last minute goal you find yourself on the end of.

Management mode is of limited appeal. You can fast forward the match to skip to the management side, but there is little depth to it. Your players demonstrate little initiative and although I have managed to achieve promotion, I always found myself getting battered in the top league and have never managed to complete it. Your players simply cannot compete and once injuries kick in, there is little you can do to stem the tide of defeats.

All in all, this game is a stone cold classic for good reason. Grab yourself a copy and enjoy a genuine slice of gaming history.

Summary: All sorts of awesomeness