Metareview: Super Dodgeball Brawlers

by David Hinkle { Jun 3rd 2008 at 6:00PM }

With Super Dodgeball Brawlers releasing late last week, we've finally got enough reviews in that we felt comfortable putting up a Metareview for the game. Also, you all have likely had enough time with it to form your own opinions. So, without further ado, let's get to it:

Play Magazine (85/100) grades it as good, but thinks the characters are a bit too slow: "This is damn near as good a version of Dodgeball as I could ask for...if only overall character speed could be tweaked." [May 2008, p.66]

Nintendo Power (65/100) says "Dodgeball fans won't be disappointed with Brawlers, but if you've been waiting for something new to bring you back on the court, the wait continues." [June 2008, p.89]

1UP (58/100) thinks that it's not as good as the first game: "It's certainly entertaining enough, and it offers plenty of detail for dedicated gamers to sink their teeth into. But will fans still be playing it two decades from now? Probably not. It's an acceptable rendition of a time-tested classic -- a little too complex to stand beside its classic inspiration, a little too primitive to stand up to contemporary releases, but still decent."

Any of you with the game want to chime in? Is it as good as the original NES title?

Gallery: Super Dodgeball Brawlers

With our Metareview feature, we comb the internet for reviews on popular games and conveniently place them into one post. But, we also like to review things ourselves, when time permits. So, be sure to check those out!

Tags: aksys, dodgeball, sports, super-dodgeball-brawlers

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sam @ Jun 3rd 2008 6:22PM

so the GBA title doesn't count? I haven't heard any references to the GBA version, and it was pretty good.

bull @ Jun 4th 2008 1:47AM

I give it 61/100 . The difficulty is disappointing. I've beaten Hard Mode 4 times without any effort. Multi-player is fun though.

There's no opening video. No story. No profile.
No tutorial. How the f*** can I figure out that I have to run 5 steps or jump up high to do special? Google it 'cause the game will not teach me. Is the budget that tight??

I know games like Bomberman and Mario kart does not have tutorial. But they don't have combos or specials, just normal button pressing.

The touch screen is again, used for a stupid reason: activate super power. And that power icon you have to touch is in the MIDDLE of the screen, not near the corner like super mario bros. Why don't they just use shoulder button?

The control ... sigh... OK, I like the classic control with A to throw, B to pass, AB to jump. But c'mon, this is the DS . They should add a button to change the character I'm controlling. Don't decide it for me.

It's still enjoyable though. But I'm a bit disappointed. Maybe I expected too much. Super dodgeball on NES was a legend. I thought it's reappearance on DS should be "legendary" too.

I hope that they'll make a Nekketsu football soon. This time, please let me change the character I'm controlling, change team's formation/strategies ... Man, I miss the super banana shoot.

duh @ Jun 4th 2008 10:28AM

"How the f*** can I figure out that I have to run 5 steps or jump up high to do special? Google it 'cause the game will not teach me."

You could always....dare I say....RTFM..

FC @ Jun 4th 2008 12:58PM

i'm guessing the majority of the people that play this game dont have a manual.

i was also mashing buttons trying to figure out how to do a super shot until i did the next best thing... read a faq lol.

Lord Bowser @ Jun 7th 2008 12:18PM

Maybe you should buy the game. It comes with a manual.

Casey @ Jun 4th 2008 3:34PM

seeing as the game is 8mb, I woulda been mad if I bought it.

J.K. @ Jun 4th 2008 4:00PM

I'd say if I had to rate it, it's a B-. Those reading this likely can see the info all over online or own it so to be shorter I'll show why it was docked from A+ to B-. Visually the game is the same as what it was ripped off from on the SuperFamicom(SNES) back in the early 1990s. On that note, the core game is just that, the old SNES game but with some new stuff tacked in like the NES classic 'bean ball' mode and then some cool River City Ransom leveling/shop aspects. Game gets docked also for doing nothing but local connect mode, same stages in 'story', and beanball...older games had more modes and/or more customization allowed as far as difficulty/environment went.

It's a great game and gets the B-, but it gets that low because it's partly a SNES port and partly because it just seems stripped compared to previous titles such as the NES and GBA games.

mrscarymuffin @ Jun 4th 2008 4:54PM

I miss the ability to order your teammates to rush that was available in the GBA version of the game. In fact, I wouldn't mind if they completely removed the specials and put in a complex passing system that would allow you to utterly confuse people with quick passes before wailing on them with the ball. The fighting makes the game too easy, especially against the computer.