Speedball (video game)
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Speedball is a video game series comprising three games developed by Bitmap Brothers. A futuristic sports game part handball, part ice hockey, played by six players a-side on a court with steel walls and a ball also made of steel, Speedball lacks any rules and any kind of contact is allowed.
Games
Speedball
Speedball was released in 1988 for the Amiga, and ports for DOS personal computers, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and the Sega Master System followed. It was also released for the NES as Klashball. In 2004 it would be "re-released" on the C64 Direct-to-TV.Speedball's music was composed by David Whittaker. The graphics were done by Mark Coleman and the code by Steve Kelly. The game was widely considered as a highly successful product due to its good graphics, excellent music and sound effects plus addictive gameplay.
Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
According to the game story, the first Speedball league (founded in 2095) failed due to violence and corruption, and as the organization gave place to anarchy, the game was forced underground, but five years later, from one attempt to regain public interest, Speedball 2 is born. The game starts in 2105, as a new team called Brutal Deluxe emerges.
Speedball 2 is one of Bitmap Brothers' most successful titles, and was released for several platforms, including the Amiga, CD 32, Acorn Archimedes, Personal Computer, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, Game Boy and the Game Boy Advance, the first in 1991, the final ten years later.
Changes were made to the rules of the game, meaning that teams now had 9 players on court rather than 6, and targets on the floor and walls could be hit for bonus points.
Speedball 2100
Speedball 2100, released only for the PlayStation, is basically a 3D version of Speedball 2, with more options such as choosing and renaming any team, instead of having to play with Brutal Deluxe. Released in September 2000, the game failed to convince gamers and press, as it lacked the speed and gameplay of previous 2D games.Speedball Arena (cancelled)
Officially announced after a leak, the new Speedball would return to the personal computer, with complex on-line options and set to a Christmas 2002 release. However, it was cancelled not long after the official announcement.Similar games
M.U.D.S. (aka Mean Ugly Dirty Sport)Chaos League; (extension)
Blood Bowl
Mutant League Football
Grave Yardage
Brutal Sports Football (a.k.a. Crazy Football)
NFL Blitz
External links
- [Bitmap Brothers] pages on [Speedball], [Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe], [2100] and [Arena]
- [MobyGames' entry for the Speedball Series]
- [Speedball at The Bitmap Brothers Tribute]
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