A Classic Returns To The Arena
There are certain games that stick with you forever. You know the ones; those that you played at just the right time, on just the right machine. Games that somehow burn themselves into your core memory.
Across more than forty years of gaming, a handful stand out for me. There’s Chuckie Egg and Turrican from the earliest of days, and you’ve got Abe’s Oddysee as the instigator of a lifelong love. Sitting alongside those are the likes of Sensible Soccer, and then the original LMA Manager; all games that I spent hundreds of hours honing.
But for as good as those games were, one particular futuristic sports game dominated my post-school afternoons, more late nights than a care to remember. The addiction was helped by a friends league that was about as competitive as it could get. That game? The Amiga version of Speedball 2.
The original experience was fast, brutal and – to this 14-year old – peak gaming. So when Rebellion announced a modern return to the Speedball arena, curiosity quickly turned into excitement. However, revisiting a classic is always risky, rose-tinted glasses and memory lane ensuring some things seem better than they were. Thankfully this reboot understands what made Speedball special in the first place. Even if it doesn’t quite capture the appeal of the original.
The Spirit Of Speedball Lives On
The most important thing to say about Rebellion’s Speedball reboot is that it feels right. From the moment matches begin, the familiar rhythm of the game returns. The pacing is fast but controlled, the arena is tight and physical, and every tackle carries weight.
The dash-slide that was a key component of the original game is present here, and it still feels great, smashing into opponents to ensure the ball goes flying, or building up for a larger boost to help see you slide on by.
Anyone who has played the game previously will know that Speedball has always been positioned somewhere between a sports game and that of a combat arena fight-to-the-death, and that blend remains intact here. Passing and shooting still matter, even if it is reasonably easy to pull off the former, and the latter’s quirks are soon established, but so does smashing opponents into the steel walls or knocking them flat to gain control of the ball. It’s aggressive, direct and immediately recognisable.
Single Player Leagues And Team Management
Outside of quick matches, the single player side of Speedball is built around a variety of leagues, providing structure and longevity beyond simple exhibition games. It’s something that will ensure you find enjoyment with this one for a good few hours going forward, topping tables, defeating some of the most iconic teams, and proving that you still have the skills previously worked on decades past.
Team management plays a meaningful role too. Managing players, making substitutions and adjusting tactics between matches adds a welcome layer of strategy without overwhelming the arcade feel. It’s fairly light on the management front, but that very much complements the gameplay rather than distracts from it.
Of course, building a team and guiding them through a league structure ensures Speedball provides a satisfying rhythm that keeps you coming back.
Arena Variety Keeps Matches Fresh
Another welcome addition is some variety in the range of arenas, each bringing subtle differences that help matches feel distinct.
While the core layouts remain true to Speedball’s enclosed, industrial arenas, environmental variations and arena features help keep things interesting across longer sessions. Of course, there are point multipliers as before, and the odd portal to switch up play as you navigate through opponent defenses, but each arena comes with its own uniqueness; layout, hazards and more.
These differences aren’t dramatic enough to change the core rules of Speedball, but they add enough visual and gameplay variation to stop leagues from ever feeling too repetitive. No matter whether you are taking the more elite teams like Brutal Deluxe or Baroque to victory, or trying to prove yourself as an underdog with Rage 2000 or even Revolver, the leagues are where the heart of Speedball sits.
Brutal Presentation With A Modern Edge
And yes, visually, Speedball looks good. It’s still instantly recognisable as ‘Speedball’ with arenas maintaining that cold, industrial brutality. Matches remain clear too, even when the action becomes frantic. And in Speedball, the action is rarely anything but.
That said, there are occasional moments where tracking the ball becomes slightly difficult, and ensuring you have control over the optimum player is occasionally finicky. But hey, that was the case back in the day and it’s not something that is ever game-breaking.
Further, cutscene celebrations play out after goals (although sometimes go awry), and matches begin with a TV-style introduction, both of which add atmosphere at first. Before long though, these sequences tend to be skipped, much like is the case for any and all sports games.
And whilst we’re chatting presentation, outside of matches the UI is functional, but it could certainly be clearer, particularly when navigating menus or managing teams.
A Game That Plays Exactly As It Should
Where this new Speedball succeeds most though is in its moment-to-moment gameplay. Matches are quick, physical and consistently enjoyable. The balance between ‘sport’ and the need to harness some combat opportunities still works, and the learning curve is shallow enough to ensure you’ll walk away without too much frustration.
Of course, it may not quite have the same magic that Speedball 2 carried on its back in the Amiga days, but the core remains extremely strong. At least when you play alone.
See, if there’s one area where Speedball struggles, it’s online play. The game includes multiplayer options, but finding opponents can be difficult. In fact, during our weeks with the game, online matchmaking has proved to be largely empty. Believe us, we’ve tried to matchmake multiple times.
And that’s hella disappointing, because Speedball is absolutely suited to competitive multiplayer. A future drop onto Game Pass could be what’s needed to bring players back into the arena; bring the masses and they may well score. Without it, the single player side of things will eventually fizzle out to become another distant memory.
A Respectfully Brutal Reboot
There is no doubt that this newly rebooted Speedball is a respectful take that manages to capture the feel of the original, without ever trying to reinvent it. The league structure adds longevity, arena variety keeps things fresh, and the management elements provide just enough depth. If only the online multiplayer was well populated…
This is a solid revival that plays exactly as Speedball should. Nostalgia may set expectations high, but the core gameplay still delivers.
Important Links
Speedball Smashes Back Onto Xbox, PlayStation & PC – Retro Brutality Reborn For A New Era – https://www.thexboxhub.com/speedball-smashes-back-onto-xbox-playstation-pc-retro-brutality-reborn-for-a-new-era/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/speedball/9n7rjw3cgfng
