Beach Spikers: Virtua Beach Volleyball

"Where friends go to play"

Volleyball video games are always a little suspicious. Are you getting a solid volleyball simulator, or is this simply full of bouncy bikinis as a way to push more copies of the game? Of course, Xbox players would end up with the latter in Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball. Since Gamecube players are perceived as underage and kiddy, though, we get something different. And for once, I'm glad that image persists, because Beach Spikers is so much better than DOA.

Graphics:
The big difference between Beach Spikers and DOA is that there's no emphasis on "girly physics." That's right, there'll be no bouncing here. And the game is better off for it, because it can focus on more important things. The game still looks great, though. The character models look very realistic if just a tad too glossy (must be lathered in lots of sunscreen). The animation also is mostly fluid except for that occasional jump which looks like an eerie robot.

The camera, on the other hand, isn't all that cooperative. It hangs above the court and swivels back and forth to keep an eye on the ball. While it does that well, it makes it hard for you to set up your defense once you've passed the play to the other side. You can't see where you are. And the replays-- well, they're pathetically funny. Sometimes, the replay just focuses on the sand, and you can't see anything happening. Other times, it zooms in on the face of the character spiking the ball, so you don't get a good look at the finality of the shot.

Sound:
The music sounds like your typical Sega work. It's a generic kind of rock but fits the beach theme well. Some of the music is actually pretty cool, though. The announcer, however, is a little stiff. His words are split up by obvious breaks so he sounds like separate voice clips spliced together: "Nice-- spike!" The girls only have a handful of squeals and grunts that all sound the same, too.

Gameplay:
But when we get into the gameplay, it's fast, simple, arcade-like, two-on-two volleyball. What's not to like? The game doesn't follow traditional volleyball rules, though. Every mistake costs a point as opposed to switching the serve and then scoring points. This help keeps you from playing hour-long matches and makes it more of a necessity to do good. But Beach Spikers' big draw is... well... spiking the ball. Almost every hit over the net is automatically done through a spike, unless setting up a spike would go over the touch limit. The way the spike is done is not only very stylized, it moves incredibly fast and keeps the game going at insane speeds. That said, it's intimidating to be on the receiving end of a spike and quite rewarding when you can actually return it.

Controls:
To control the game, you basically just run around and press either the B or A button at the right time. It's ridiculously easy-- or so it would seem. Beach Spikers requires some quick-thinking, as well as faster-than-lightening reflexes. Stopping the power bar when serving and spiking is easy enough. It's trying to determine where the ball will land so you can hit it that's the hard part. It's difficult to think fast enough to act on where the ball is. Oh, you get used to it. But you'll be doing some serious sweating in the process.

Frustration:
The AI is extremely difficult when you are playing against them but becomes a lump of mud when they're on your team. As you progress in the Career Mode, your teammate will eventually get better, but she will never fully "get it." And for that, I don't like playing this game solo. It's too frustrating to have a computer-controlled teammate who frequently just stands there, hoping you will hit the ball instead of them.

Lasting Appeal:
If you tackle the game by yourself, you probably won't stick with it for long. Dumb AI teammates aside, the rewards aren't worth much, since they're just additional custom facets (that are all ugly). But while Beach Spikers is not as frantic as Mario Tennis, it can still offer four players some solid, fun competition. In fact, this is one of the few multiplayer games I still play, even after Mario Kart Double Dash and Timesplitters. But you really have to play with an even number of players. If there are only three of you, somebody's going to have an AI teammate, and it blows the whole deal.

Overall:
Beach Spikers is fun. It's fast, intense, easy to pick up, and hard to put down. But I say this with the two/four player modes in mind. I can't imagine playing it any other way, because being on the same team as the computer is just frustrating. However, if your friends aren't willing to play as a couple of bikini-clad girls: they've got problems, and you probably wouldn't get much out of Beach Spikers.

Points:
+ Quick arcade action
+ Easy to pick up
+ Fun multiplayer
-- But not single-player
-- Goofy camera/replays
-- AI is either too dumb or too smart

Score: 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/18/06