Power Spike Pro Beach Volleyball

"A simple arcade volleyball game, and the only decent title of its type."

Review:

In the past I've had some pretty bad experiences with sports games, especially handheld sports titles. The notion of sports titles on-the-go was actually something that appealed to me, and from the success (and overall excellence) of the sports franchises that were released in the age of 2D-gaming, and those found on old-school Genesis and SNES consoles, it really comes as a surprise that the new-school sports games suck so bad.

However, I didn't say all of this as a foreshadowing of major rippage on Power Spike Pro Beach Volleyball, but rather to provide something to contrast it with. Power Spike is actually a fairly fun game when taken in controlled doses, it provides a great arcade feel and is comprised of quick games that make it perfect on the Gameboy.

Surprisingly enough, volleyball on a handheld does not suck.

Each game is composed of two teams, made up of two people, squaring off on a volleyball court, one of several (though they are all the same court, with merely a different color scheme). The teams then commence volleyballing.

What you'll notice when you start playing is that the controls are responsive enough and the button scheme is very simple. This means a very easy learning curve tailored towards newcomers. However, you'll also begin to see that after a while the AI just does the same thing over and over again. I found it frustrating when my own teammate refused to spike the ball; in order to score, you really have to take the game by its reigns and do the spiking yourself. Unfortunately, the opponent's AI suffers from the same malady. They tend to pass in the same pattern (once, twice, then over the net). This makes for some very boring games and pretty much kills any player's interest.

Where the game really shines, as is typical of almost every portable game, is in the multiplayer mode. In Versus Mode, you face off with a friend (or foe) in the sand court. However, you may be hard pressed to find someone that actually bought this game too.

Unfortunately, you'll find yourself realizing that every game is nearly the same. This means that you'll be looking to find some Game Modes to spice up the entertainment factor. Too bad you won't find anything here beyond Championship and Exhibition modes. The fact that you can't save your progress pretty much kills any long-term goals for Championship Mode.

Luckily, the games graphics are very nice though characters are lacking in individuality. This makes it impossible to discern two characters, and sometimes even the men from the women. Oh well, it's not like we know any famous volleyball players anyway. Anyway, the graphics do their job, even if it reeks of mediocrity. The user interface (UI) is rather simplistic and straightforward, which is exactly how all UIs should be. You'll find all the necessary items there, including a Password screen (though why they didn't opt for a Save option I have no idea).

Though this review turned out fairly negative, I just want to state that the game is generally well-rounded. It isn't the greatest game out on the market, and it won't make you change your mind about volleyball, but it surely is a fantastic way to kill time. Just don't expect to reap too much enjoyment out of this title.

Score: 7/10 (C)

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/30/04