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 by Glenn Fabry
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, CD32, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Master System, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, 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 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 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, 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.[8][9][10] The music, written by Simon Rogers and remixed and coded by Richard Joseph, won the 1991 Golden Joystick Award for Best Soundtrack.[2] 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.[11]

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."[12] That same year, PC Gamer UK named it the 30th best computer game of all time, calling it "totally convincing and very stylish".[13]

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".[14]

Speedball 2 has sold over two million copies.[15]

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

Empire Interactive released Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe onto Xbox Live Arcade on October 17, 2007.[28] The game features a 3D graphics mode in addition to the "classic" visuals, as well as additional teams and online play.[29] 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.[30]

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.[31] 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.[32]

References
  1. "Speedball 2 et Fantasy World Dizzy en précommande sur Atari Jaguar". 19 May 2019.
  2. "Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe". bitmap-brothers.co.uk. The Bitmap Brothers. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
  3. "The Making of Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe". 18 March 2016.
  4. Mega review, Future Publishing, issue 1, October 1992
  5. "Out-of-Print Archive • Mega Drive/Genesis reviews • Speedball 2".
  6. MegaTech review, EMAO, issue 8, page 43, August 1992
  7. Mega Top 50 feature, Future Publishing, issue 26, page 74, November 1994
  8. "Speedball 2". Zzap. March 1991. pp. 70–71. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  9. Merrett, Steve (February 1991). "Speedball II". CU Amiga. EMAP. pp. 54–55. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  10. Swan, Robert (January 1991). "Speedball 2". Computer and Video Games. EMAP. pp. 56–58. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  11. Amiga Power magazine issue 0, Future Publishing, May 1991
  12. Staff (August 1994). "PC Gamer Top 40: The Best Games of All Time". PC Gamer US (3): 32–42.
  13. Staff (April 1994). "The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time". PC Gamer UK. No. 5. pp. 43–56.
  14. 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. {{cite journal}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  15. Foster, Lisa (17 May 2007). "Empire hits the top spot". MCV/Develop. Biz Media. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  16. "Speedball 2100 for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  17. Kael. "Speedball 2100". Consoles + (in French). No. 107. p. 112. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  18. "Speedball 2100". Edge. No. 90. November 2000. p. 92. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  19. Kraig (January 2001). "Speedball 2100". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Vol. 14, no. 1. p. 207. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  20. Taylor, Martin (November 9, 2000). "Speedball 2100". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  21. Provo, Frank. "Speedball 2100 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  22. Steinberg, Scott (October 26, 2000). "Speedball 2100". IGN. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  23. Romendil (13 November 2000). "Speedball 2100 – PSX". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on February 18, 2004. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  24. "Speedball 2100". MANIAC (in German). No. 86. December 2000. p. 79. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  25. Hall, Lee (November 2000). "Speedball 2100". PlayStation Official Magazine – Australia. No. 39. p. 62. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  26. "Speedbal 2100". Video Games (in German). December 2000. p. 109. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  27. "Speedball 2100". Fun Generation (in German). November 2000. p. 72. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  28. "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.
  29. "Speedball II product page". xbox.com. Microsoft. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  30. Speedball 2 Tournament hits Steam this November – Joystiq
  31. "'Speedball 2: Evolution' – A Look at a Cybersports Classic for iOS – TouchArcade". 27 February 2011.
  32. 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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