Armed with a top-down look at a sport resembling a brutal mash-up of hockey, rugby, and handball, Speedball 2 first graced the Amiga back in 1991. The sequel to 1988's addictive original failed to change much, but added a few additional game modes. The addictive future-sport title makes a triumphant return on Xbox Live Arcade with updated graphics and the ability to body check friends across the globe online.
It is a simple, but frustratingly difficult, nine versus nine game, played in what resembles a concrete indoor soccer field. The goal of the game is simple, throw the metal ball into the opponent's goal. Just getting the ball down the field into the opponent's side of play is tough enough with a new team. The layout of three offensive players, three midfielders, two defenders, and a goalie is more or less a streamlined soccer lineup. The field and rules are much less forgiving and nasty though. There is no goalie box, and chances are the opponent will knock your goalie over at least once a game, steal the ball, and score a goal over his limp body. Play like that would earn you a lifetime red card on a soccer field.
The scoring is as unique as the game. Teams get ten points for each goal and each player they injure on the other team. An additional two points are awarded for each bonus star they light on the opponent's side of the field, done by bouncing the ball off the unlit stars, with an added bonus when all five are lit at once. Matches are blisteringly fast, at just ninety seconds each. This is both a blessing and a curse, as you will be able to get full seasons in within an hour or so, but go down bad early and there is little chance for a comeback. Games are fast paced and over before you know it.
The game's stiff controls have almost as much to blame for your early lack of scoring as the tough A.I. The control scheme itself works perfectly fine. Players with the ball can hit 'A' for a high throw (holding longer increases the height and length) or 'B' for a low throw; although low throws with the opposing team in the way usually result in a turnover. Without the ball the 'A' button is your best friend, used for all methods of defensive aggression. If your player is stronger than the opponent is, a quick tap of 'A' will likely result in a knockdown and a steal for your team. The real problem with the game is just how rigidly your players move. Although some nostalgia is nice, the excessively tight movement of the players feels lazy.
The game’s other major issue is with the auto-selection of players when your team does not have the ball. Most times it works nicely, putting you in the shoes of the defender nearest the ball. Too often, however, when the opponent is marching down the field toward your goalie, the game will select the goalie at the most inopportune times, typically just after you hit 'A' to steal the ball. This usually sends your goalie flailing the wrong direction, leaving an open goal for the opponent to score. The constant switching of defenders to get you closer to the action makes it nearly impossible to move with a defender to pick up needed power-ups within the game. With the 'X' button unassigned, it would have been nice to have a button to change players on your own rather than allowing the game to decide.
Despite the control issues, the game delivers a solid gaming experience. The 800 MS Points price may seem steep until you realize just how deep the title is. While your team starts as a bunch of non-descript, ordinary players, you have the ability to upgrade their skills by spending game-earned cash on their skills between games. You have the option to upgrade one player or unit separately, or you can upgrade the whole team at once to speed things up; though the more players you are upgrading, the higher the cost. Though the players you start with are capped at a certain skill level, the game also allows you to purchase star players with nearly superhuman skills for a price. Once you finally get a team built up to a winning level of play, winning becomes contagious and the game really opens up for you.
