Speedball

> GAME INFO

Speedball

• Publisher: Image Works
• Developer: Pantheon Soft.
• Release Date: 1989
• Code: Bitmap Brothers
• GFX: Sam Mohabull
• Music: David Whittaker

• ZZAP64 Game Rating: 90%
• Our Game Rating: 90%
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CLICK THE ICON BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE ENDING

FILE: speedballend.zip

> SPEEDBALL by Image Works

• Completed & Reviewed by Neil Collins

Before this game was released, I had moved onto the Amiga so I never knew how good the game was on the Commodore 64. Having now played it I am very impressed with how well it compares. The graphics, sound and game play are as good as they can possibly be on the C64.

Speedball is a futuristic sports game where the aim is to throw the steel sphere into the opponent's goal. It's quite violent, as you can punch the opposing team which allows you to gain ground and attack the opponent's goal area. You can play in a league or in a knockout cup against numerous computer opponents so there are plenty of matches to play. It's simple, fast and addictive. It's all you can ask for in a sports game.

The End.

HOW WAS IT COMPLETED?: I cheated as usual. I fiddled the scores so that I won all my games. He he.

SO WHAT HAPPENS?: If you win the league, you only get to see the final standings so there's no ending there as such. If you win the cup, a picture of your team captain is shown with a message below it that reads 'YOU HAVE WON THE KNOCKOUT. THE BITMAP BROTHERS SEND CONGRATULATIONS'.

COMMENTS:

Neil: It's a very basic ending. It's a class game from start to finish as you would expect from the Bitmap Brothers. It's a shame the ending wasn't a bit better. 3/10.
Vinny: I used to play this cool game to death on the Amiga, but never realised, until a few years after, that the Commodore 64 version also kicked butt. Fantastic game play and futuristic graphics and sound, Speedball certainly deserved all the accolades it received back in the day.

Now - onto the ending... I'm not sure that we should be expecting too much because it is a sports games, and in general, these types of games don't dwell too much on creating an ending atmosphere. Saying that, there could at least have been a thumping Whittaker tune and maybe some animation of the winning team lifting the trophy.

I'm going to score this ending 0.5/10 because the graphic is recycled from earlier.
Kungfufurby: Hmm... a picture, and a message.

To me, the programmer reference doesn't quite make it, since there's not much else to see here.

I presume there isn't a unique ending with the one player league mode?
Brendan Phoenix: I think the Bitmap Bros. have previous with producing cack endings (trying to think of anything half decent - even on the Amiga)

I'm still recovering from the travesty of the ending that is Xenon 2 (' That's all folks! ' WTF!?!?!)

Just a pants ending - using a previous picture and putting some short text to it does not make a great ending. 0.5/10.
Andy Vaisey: Humph...
Frank Gasking: Just checked out Speedball... Man that's a shit ending!... I expect the sequel is worse as they tried to cram so much into it. Have you played the sequel btw?... it's blimmin' awesome!

FINAL SAY: Not very exciting. I was hoping for a little animation and maybe a trophy.

G.E. RATING: 1 / 10

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