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It was eighteen years ago that Speedball was released on the Amiga. Many of the series’ fans are now into their late twenties, early thirties so the choice to modernise the game is an unusual one. The game is unlikely to get noticed by today’s teenagers as their too wrapped up in Call of Duty 4 and World of Warcraft and any intention to appeal to the original’s fans will most likely be greeted by harsh nostalgic cries that it shouldn’t’ be done. The game is developed by Kylotom, the minds behind ‘Bet on Soldier,’ so their experience with ‘fictional e-sports’ is obviously relevant but could they successfully refashion the franchise or does Speedball 2: Tournament overdose on its ambitions?
From the moment you load up the game it’s as though you never left. That’s because the interface is as basic as the Atari era. It must be said that presentation isn’t overly vital to a game’s being, but you’d expect a bit more in this day and age than the bland menus of Speedball 2: Tournament. It can be excused because Speedball was never about the appearance but the overly violent, frenzied gameplay. Generally not much has changed, with melee combat, quick gameplay and frantic action all making a solid appearance.  You’ll be stringing passes together at breakneck speed. Direct balls, over the head lobs and dribbling are all common play in a game of Speedball 2: Tournament. Most of the time you’ll string competent combinations of passes which culminate in a goal. If you’re backpedalling in an attempt to defend you can punch, kick and tackle your opponent to the floor, stealing the ball and creating a devastating counter attack. It may take a little time to get used to, and it’s not the most gentle of learning curves but overall the gameplay is pretty solid. Playing against the computer in knockout competitions, leagues or exhibition matches will often result in an even match. There are various difficulty settings and generally they’re suitable to their description. The AI, on the whole, seems to know what its doing and will attack and defend to an impressive standard. The result is a fast-paced, testosterone filled battle of wits and reflexes. It’s a great homage to the original but despite that it will most likely disappoint those that were addictive to the primary title.  The developers haven’t skimped on content, with plenty of pre-made teams, tactical choices and formations and game modes. You can create your own team from scratch, naming it, colouring it and choosing the uniforms. It results in some unique creations when playing the game online. Online is obviously the big pull that the developers are going for. Obviously, the original Amiga version lacked any online possibilities due to the technology of the time. So we come to the crux of the review. If you’re looking for a faithful modernization of Speedball then you’re going to be disappointed if you get Speedball 2: Tournament. The original’s spirit is there but it’s not a faithful reproduction of the original. Arguably this was always going the case because of the fickle nature of the franchise’s fans. If you’re looking for Speedball 2: Online then look no further. With real human thinking behind the opponent controls you’re going to experience a new form of Speedball, one that is completely different to the original. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s definitely a shock for those with warm fuzzy memories in their brain. When playing online you forget about the (sometimes) awkward controls or its boring menus and take it for the arcade-based violent romp it is. It’s not a total disappointment (from a ‘hardcore-fan’s perspective’). The graphics are decent, but they won’t cause jaw dropping. The futuristic style is successfully conveyed, with exciting uniforms, well modelled stadiums and bone crunching animations. Players move and fight fluidly and look fairly exciting. It’s definitely an upside when you’re first greeted by bland colours and text. Overall it’s a reputable attempt from the developers but sadly it’s too late. The era of Speedball has severely vanished and it’s just not an archetype that gamers are really interested in. Speedball has had its day, and it’s passed. It was successful and much loved and a recreation is honestly unneeded. It’s not a bad game; it’s just outdated and should have stayed fondly in the memories of the retro-crowd. Score: 6/10
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