Ballz

Ballz

European Mega Drive box, the only version of the cover art for the original game that depicts in-game characters fighting.)
Developer(s) PF Magic
Publisher(s) Accolade
Platform(s) Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Super NES, 3DO
Release date(s) 1994
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer

Ballz is a two-player 3D action fighting video game for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, the Super NES (SNES) and the 3DO. It was developed by PF Magic and published by Accolade in 1994. The 3DO version was released as a director's cut in 1995. Ballz offered three difficulty levels over a total of 21 matches. Its distinguishing quality was that each of the characters were composed completely of balls, with a pseudo-3D look.

Although the game was not a tremendous success, PF Magic reused its graphics technology in a successful line of virtual pet titles, Petz, Dogz, Catz and Oddballz.

Development and publishing

The Genesis/Mega Drive version was originally intended for use with the Edge 16, a modem system for multiplayer gaming which was eventually cancelled.[1]

The opening PF Magic developed for the game stated "To be the champion, you gotta have Ballz!". Due to its racy double-entendre ("balls" may be used as a slang term for testicles), Nintendo demanded the wording be changed for the SNES version. The SNES version of the game states "...you gotta play Ballz", while the Sega version uses the original intro. The game was also notably bizarre for its lineup of fighters, which included a farting monkey, a jumping clown, a sumo wrestler, a caveman, a bodybuilder, a ballerina, a rhinoceros and a "superhero".

Fighters

These are the characters in the game's lineup of fighters:

Bosses

These are the bosses who appear in One-Player mode. Each boss defeated earns a different colored belt, and these change the fighter's coloring scheme.

Reception

On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the Super Famicom version of the game a 28 out of 40.[2] Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Genesis version a 6.2 out of 10 average, commenting that "The fighters were interesting, with their various taunts and other poses, and the whole idea is innovative, but in the end it just never really came together for me."[3] GamePro gave the Genesis version a positive review. They praised the balanced gameplay, smooth scaling effects, and humorous sound effects, and concluded, "Ballz takes the increasingly routine genre of fighting games and gives it a new bounce, injecting a wicked sense of humor into the action."[4] They were less enthusiastic about the SNES version, saying that the graphics are better than in the Genesis version, but the irritating new soundtrack, overcomplicated control configuration, and especially the frequent slowdown combine to make the game much less enjoyable.[5] The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly had mixed reactions to the SNES version. Two of them praised its original design and good graphics, and the other two praised the humorous sounds, but all but one felt the game was not as enjoyable as other fighting games, with the biggest problem being the fighters' limited set of moves. They gave it a 6.75 out of 10 average.[6]

GamePro gave the 3DO version a highly positive review, applauding the additions and improvements such as enhanced graphics, increased play speed, rendered backgrounds, new character, character-specific theme songs, and arena rotation, as well as the humor and "non-conformist attitude" of the game itself.[7]

Ballz was ranked seventh in a 2011 list of Top Ten Fighting Games We'd Like to Forget, compiled by Game Informer. The author of the list, Dan Ryckert, widely criticized it for including what he claimed to be "sexual innuendo" references, and having its design representing more of a 2-D look.[8]

References

  1. "Who Has the Edge?". GamePro (62) (IDG). September 1994. p. 57.
  2. NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: 3次元格闘 ボールズ. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.333. Pg.30. 5 May 1995.
  3. "Review Crew: Ballz". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (63): 38. October 1994.
  4. "ProReview: Ballz". GamePro (IDG) (72): 56. September 1994.
  5. "ProReview: Ballz". GamePro (IDG) (75): 134. December 1994.
  6. "Review Crew: Ballz". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (65): 38. December 1994.
  7. "ProReview: Ballz: The Director's Cut". GamePro (IDG) (85): 72. October 1995.
  8. Ryckert, Dan. Top Ten Fighting Games We'd Like to Forget. Game Informer (April 2011). Retrieved 2011-06-02.

External links

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