Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe Explained

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
Developer:The Bitmap Brothers
Publisher:Image Works
Arena Entertainment
Empire Interactive
Akella
Tower Studios
SOFEL
Designer:Eric Matthews
Programmer:Robert Trevellyan
Artist:Daniel Malone
Composer:Nation 12
Released:1990
Genre:Sports, action
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe is a 1990 video game based on a violent futuristic sport that draws on elements of handball and ice hockey, and rewards violent play as well as goals. The concept of the game is 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.

The game was released for multiple platforms: the Acorn Archimedes, Atari Jaguar,[1] Atari ST, Amiga, Amiga CD32, IBM PC compatibles, Commodore 64, Mega Drive, Master System, Game Boy and Game Boy Advance.[2] The first version was simultaneously developed and released for the Amiga and the Atari ST in 1990.[3]

Plot

According to the game's story, the first Speedball league (founded in 2095) fails due to violence and corruption. As the organisation gives rise 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. Each team has nine players on court rather than five, and targets on the floor and walls can be hit for bonus points. The number of points that a team receives for scoring a goal is normally 10, but can be increased to 15 or 20 via the use of score multiplier ramps 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 the 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, divided into two halves.

Reception

Speedball 2 is one of Bitmap Brothers' most successful titles. Zzap, CU Amiga and Computer and Video Games scored the game highly.[4] [5] [6] The music, written by Simon Rogers and remixed and coded by Richard Joseph, won the 1991 Golden Joystick Award for Best Soundtrack. 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.[7]

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."[8] That same year, PC Gamer UK named it the 30th best computer game of all time, calling it "totally convincing and very stylish".[9]

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".[10]

Speedball 2 has sold over two million copies.[11]

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 2100 will be released on Evercade as part of the Bitmap Brothers Collection 1.

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (2007)

See main article: Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (2007 video game). Empire Interactive released Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe onto Xbox Live Arcade on October 17, 2007.[12] The game features a 3D graphics mode in addition to the "classic" visuals, as well as additional teams and online play.[13] 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

See main article: Speedball 2 Tournament. Frogster Interactive Pictures released a remake developed by Kylotonn, Speedball 2 Tournament onto Steam in November 2007.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Speedball 2 et Fantasy World Dizzy en précommande sur Atari Jaguar . 19 May 2019 .
  2. Web site: Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe . February 13, 2009 . bitmap-brothers.co.uk . . https://web.archive.org/web/20071016054912/http://www.bitmap-brothers.co.uk/our-games/past/speedball2.htm . October 16, 2007 .
  3. Web site: The Making of Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe . 18 March 2016 .
  4. News: Speedball 2 . March 1991 . Zzap . 70–71 . February 20, 2009 . August 2, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090802110431/http://amigareviews.classicgaming.gamespy.com/speedba2.htm#speedball2zzap . dead .
  5. News: Steve . Merrett . Speedball II . February 1991 . . . 54–55 . February 20, 2009 .
  6. News: Robert . Swan . Speedball 2 . January 1991 . . . 56–58 . February 20, 2009 .
  7. Amiga Power magazine issue 0, Future Publishing, May 1991
  8. Staff . . PC Gamer Top 40: The Best Games of All Time . August 1994 . 3 . 32–42 .
  9. Staff . . The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time . April 1994 . 5 . 43–56 .
  10. The PC Gamer Editors . The 50 Best Games Ever . October 1998 . 5 . 10 . . 86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130 .
  11. Foster . Lisa . Empire hits the top spot . . Biz Media . 23 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070715231548/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/27113/Empire-hits-the-top-spot . 15 July 2007 . 17 May 2007 . dead.
  12. Web site: Speedball II Comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade (Press Release) . yahoo.com. Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. . May 3, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070510065659/http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/070503/118850.html . May 10, 2007.
  13. Web site: Speedball II product page . xbox.com. Microsoft . October 15, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071011033448/http://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/s/speedball2xboxlivearcade/default.htm . October 11, 2007.
  14. http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/speedball-2-tournament-hits-steam-this-november/ Speedball 2 Tournament hits Steam this November – Joystiq
  15. Web site: 'Speedball 2: Evolution' – A Look at a Cybersports Classic for iOS – TouchArcade. 27 February 2011.
  16. Web site: Speedball 2 HD is "the best version that's ever been available on PC". Purchese. Robert. 19 November 2013. Eurogamer. Gamer Network. 19 November 2013.