Bitmap Brothers' Speedball 2, a violent and strategic futuristic sport. Brilliant in local multi, a genre peak, essential for studio fans.
Your verdict
Category
Sports2 players12+
Description
Ultraviolent speedball players compete in this Bitmap Brothers futuristic sport for Mega Drive. Published by Virgin/Sega, released in Japan in 1992. Brutal futuristic sports game with Speedball 2 teams armed with gauntlets, varied passes and violent game mode.
Speedball 2 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The interface is an integral part of the image: side counters, a scoreboard at the top, bonus icons aligned along the edges of the pitch. That thick border frames the playing area like a control console, and the only bursts of colour come from the bonuses appearing on the grey floor during the match.
A futuristic sport from Bitmap Brothers, Speedball 2 imagines an ultraviolent blend of handball and hockey, where two teams clash in a metallic arena scoring by any means, including sending the opponent to the floor. The team management, the on field bonuses and the snappiness of the matches make up a brilliant formula, fearsomely addictive and gleeful in twos. The clarity and the balance carry through the decades. For a fan of arcade sport or someone curious about a cult classic, the title keeps an intact effectiveness and intensity.
