Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe is a 1990 video game based on a violent futuristic cyberpunk sport that draws on elements of handball and ice hockey, and rewards violent play as well as goals. The concept of the game is very reminiscent of the 1975 film Rollerball. The original game was developed by Bitmap Brothers, with various remakes for many platforms since being published. It is a sequel to the 1988 game Speedball.

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
European cover art
Developer(s)The Bitmap Brothers
Publisher(s)Image Works, Arena Entertainment, Empire Interactive, Akella, Tower Studios, SOFEL
Designer(s)Eric Matthews
Programmer(s)Robert Trevellyan
Artist(s)Daniel Malone
Composer(s)Nation 12
Platform(s)Acorn Archimedes, Atari ST, Amiga, Amiga CD32, Commodore 64, PC, Sega Master System, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Sega Mega Drive, Windows Mobile, PlayStation, Xbox 360, iPhone, Symbian
Release1990
Genre(s)Sports, Action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The game was released for multiple platforms: the Acorn Archimedes, Atari ST, Amiga, Amiga CD32, PC, Commodore 64, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Game Boy and Game Boy Advance.[1] The first version was released in 1990 for the Atari ST.

Plot

According to the game's story, the first Speedball league (founded in 2095) fails due to violence and corruption. As the organisation gives place to anarchy the game is forced underground, but five years later, in an attempt to regain public interest, Speedball 2 is born. The game starts in 2105 with the emergence of a new team, Brutal Deluxe.

Gameplay

Speedball 2 makes several changes over the original Speedball. Teams have nine players on court rather than five, and targets on the floor and walls can be hit to receive bonus points. The number of points that a team receives for scoring a goal starts at 10 but can be increased to 15 or 20 via the use of score multipliers located on the walls of the pitch. The same number of points for scoring a goal is given for injuring a player from the opposing team. When a player is injured, he is replaced by one of three substitutes. If all three substitutes are injured, the injured player will be forced to return to the game and play on in spite of his injuries. There are five game modes: knockout, cup, league, practice and multiplayer. Each game lasts for 180 seconds.

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Mega81%[2]
Sega Force90%[3]
MegaTech92%[4]
Awards
PublicationAward
Mega7th best game of all time[5]
Golden Joystick AwardBest Soundtrack
Amiga Power3rd best game of all time

Speedball 2 is one of Bitmap Brothers' most successful titles. Zzap, CU Amiga and Computer and Video Games scored the game highly.[6][7][8] The music, written by Simon Rogers and remixed and coded by Richard Joseph, won the 1991 Golden Joystick Award for Best Soundtrack.[1] The voices, including the 'Ice Cream' salesman, were voiced by sometime Richard Joseph collaborator Michael Burdett working under the pseudonym Jams O'Donnell. The game was voted the 3rd best game of all time in Amiga Power.[9]

In 1994, PC Gamer US named Speedball 2 the 24th best computer game ever. The editors wrote, "You just can't beat this game for pure action."[10] That same year, PC Gamer UK named it the 30th best computer game of all time, calling it "totally convincing and very stylish".[11]

In 1998, PC Gamer declared it the 40th-best computer game ever released, and the editors called it "still one of the funnest sports games out there".[12]

Remakes

Various remakes of Speedball 2 have been released.

Speedball 2100

Speedball 2100, released only for the PlayStation, is a 3D version of Speedball 2 with more options such as choosing and renaming any team, instead of having to play with Brutal Deluxe. This version, released in September 2000, failed to win over gamers and press because it lacked the speed and gameplay of the originals.

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (2007)
Main article: Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (2007 video game)

Empire Interactive released Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe onto Xbox Live Arcade on October 17, 2007.[13] The game features a 3D graphics mode in addition to the "classic" visuals, as well as additional teams and online play.[14] According to statements by the Bitmap Brothers, this version of the game takes place in the 24th century. It was eventually delisted from Xbox Live Arcade, but people who have already downloaded it are still able to play it.

Speedball 2 Tournament
Main article: Speedball 2 Tournament

Frogster Interactive Pictures released a remake developed by Kylotonn, Speedball 2 Tournament onto Steam in November 2007.[15]

Speedball 2: Evolution

In February 2011, Tower Studios released another updated version called Speedball 2: Evolution, developed by Vivid Games for iOS and MacOS. The game features multiplayer support and achievements via Game Center.[16] It was also released for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3.

Speedball 2 HD

A remake for the PC titled Speedball 2 HD was released December 5, 2013 on Steam. It was developed by Vivid Games and directed by Jon Hare.[17]

References
  1. "Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe". bitmap-brothers.co.uk. The Bitmap Brothers. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
  2. Mega review, Future Publishing, issue 1, October 1992
  3. http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/reviews/MegaDrive/Speedball2-SegaForce1-2.html
  4. MegaTech review, EMAO, issue 8, page 43, August 1992
  5. Mega Top 50 feature, Future Publishing, issue 26, page 74, November 1994
  6. "Speedball 2". Zzap. March 1991. pp. 70–71. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  7. Merrett, Steve (February 1991). "Speedball II". CU Amiga. EMAP. pp. 54–55. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  8. Swan, Robert (January 1991). "Speedball 2". Computer and Video Games. EMAP. pp. 56–58. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  9. Amiga Power magazine issue 0, Future Publishing, May 1991
  10. Staff (August 1994). "PC Gamer Top 40: The Best Games of All Time". PC Gamer US (3): 32–42.
  11. Staff (April 1994). "The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time". PC Gamer UK (5): 43–56.
  12. The PC Gamer Editors (October 1998). "The 50 Best Games Ever". PC Gamer US. 5 (10): 86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130.
  13. "Speedball II Comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade (Press Release)". yahoo.com. Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
  14. "Speedball II product page". xbox.com. Microsoft. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  15. Speedball 2 Tournament hits Steam this November – Joystiq
  17. Purchese, Robert (19 November 2013). "Speedball 2 HD is "the best version that's ever been available on PC"". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
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