Super Dodge Ball Advance

"Fun, but too easily mastered and lacking depth."

Game Flow
Congrats, you have just joined a dodgeball team. It is the year 20x, and it is your mission to dodge the dodgeballs to become dodgeball champ! Thrilling, yes?

To do this, one must enter a league. Your team, with a default name of Heroes, can starts in in dead last. At this point, you can challenge any team you wish. You could take the slow and steady course, taking on the China Dragons twice to advance one place. Alternatively, challenge the Korea Bombers, the first place team, and instantly rocket up five places. There's also middle ground, if you feel the need.

Alright, so you just demolished the number one team. What next, champ? Well, you get to fight a ''Dream Team'' in a best of three match. Win, and you can then play as the team you just conquered. Then, you start this whole process again, aiming for another Dream Team.

Gameplay (6/10)
In SDA, the dodgeball is carried out like one would imagine. Two teams of four throw a ball at eachother, except that someone is out when KO'd. You also get three players standing just outside the court on your opponent's side, but they get the same advantage.

You can do normal dodgeball moves such as passing or throwing, but the developers tossed in super throws to spice things up. When a character holding the ball runs three steps and throws the ball, he/she initiates a super throw. There are many super throws with different effects. The Mach Ball travels super fast, the Star Shot forms a star shape, the Gravity Ball sucks opponents in, Etc. Picking characters with good super throws is a key part of strategie.

A quick tap of the L button sends one of your teammates rushing forward to jump in the air straight over the court. This seems pointless at first, but it can be used for more advanced techniques that are actually almost pointless. For example, you can send two of your comrades rushing ahead. You pass the ball to, say, Jake in mid-air. Jake then passes to John, who executes a super throw. Now, what did that just accomplish that one player couldn't do by itself? I'll get back to you on that. Or not.

Before a match, you can choose what players to use and a formation. The players have different stats, but those are barely noticeable. It's best to choose based on super throws. Formation doesn't make a large difference either, so just pick your favorite.

The game engine is solid, but I have one major problem; this game is far too easy to master. Once you pick up the basic techniques, that's about it. The supposed more advance moves are virtually usless and too risky. You can throw matches for a loop by making the court slippery or bouncy, but those are more annoyances than anything else.

Sound (3/10)
The stuff of bargain bins. The music is forgetable and the sound effects are mostly the ''thwoom'' noise of the dodgeball.

Graphics (7/10)
For a GBA launch game, this one looks pretty good. The character sprites are large and colorful, and super shots race around the screen. Still, the game is just dodgeball; there isn't that much to actually see. This graphical style would have looked great in an adventure game or something. They're almost reminiscent of Chrono Trigger. Almost.

Replay (1/10)
Once you beat all of the dream teams, your done. There's no reason to go back, unless you like doing random exhibition matches. This is a painfully short game that has no real reason to play again.

Overall
Pros:
-Decent dodgeball action
-Good graphics

Cons:
-Easily mastered
-No replay value
-Reject elevator music

Overall Score (5/10)

In short, don't buy this game unless it's dirt cheap. If you're blessed with a store that rents our GBA games, go for it, you'll enjoy yourself.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 12/23/03