This M-rated Xbox-exclusive game is one of the most peculiar games I’ve ever seen. It is a combination of volleyball, casino gambling, and collecting items. That may not even seem that strange, but there’s no real goal to the game. It’s not like most games (or basically all games) that have a main mode to them or some sort of goal you’re supposed to accomplish. The question is, can a game be successful relying on beautiful graphics and mini-games without having any central goal to it?
This Review, like all others of mine, is on the 0-4 star scale. This scale requires no further explanation, I would assume.
Graphics: ****
The graphics may be the best in any video game of this generation, with the possible competition of Dead or Alive Ultimate… they’re absolutely spectacular. It’s amazing how good the environments look… everything looks so real. This is about the pinnacle of graphics in this generation, though I can’t wait to see what’s coming for the next generation.
Sound:
Game’s soundtrack: no stars
My soundtrack: **** (of course)
This is the Xbox, so you can scrap the pitiful-sounding soundtrack this game offers for your own. Instead of having to listen to dance, rap, or hip-hop (ugh), I put in a bunch of pop and a little bit of classic rock.
Characters: ***½
These are the girls from the Dead or Alive series. My favorites are Kasumi and Helena. I’m no big fan of Christie. None of them are any different from each other in their skills, so there’s a bit of uncreativeness there.
Difficulty: **½
Aside from the pretty simple hopping mini-game, the only other thing to judge in difficulty is the volleyball. It can be very difficult at first, but once you learn it, it isn’t incredibly difficult. Still, trying to time a spike over the net can be hard, and it’s certainly annoying when it takes almost two minutes for one point to get settled, because no matter what type of shot you try, the computer keeps on hitting the ball back over.
Controls: *
The controls are frustrating. There’s first the problem with the A button, of which you can set the sensitivity, which is in turn important because in different situations, you want to press the button harder or lighter. Unfortunately, it is very hard to set it to the point where you can comfortably know whether the game will recognize how hard you are trying to press the button. You may ask, why not two different buttons, so there is no confusion? I ask the same thing.
What’s more is that despite the fact the Xbox has a ton of buttons, only two are used: A and B. Now I don’t mind the idea of trying to simplify things, but I’d rather have really complex controls where I have complete control over my character than simple-to-use controls that don’t give me much command over my character. That’s the problem here, as you’re stuck with two choices: an offensive hit or a defensive hit. I’d prefer another choice where I can hit the ball barely over the net, at any time I want. Usually that is only an option when you are hitting the ball for the third time for your team, and that means the opponent can set up for it.
Now the controls don’t make the game unplayable, they just make it harder than it should be. Sometimes trying to simplify something makes it even more complex, and that’s what happened here with these controls.
Gameplay: **
The game isn’t just playing volleyball, but that’s the heart and soul of the game. And while you can play single matches, you don’t get to collect anything unless you play from the main mode. The volleyball is fun. It may be frustrating at times, but ultimately it’s enjoyable. It’s sometimes hard to block a shot or spike the ball over the net, but once you learn to time it right, it can help your game out. Getting your shot blocked can be annoying, which is why a touch shot instead of a spike is sometimes the better way to earn a point. The volleyball portion of this game really is the best part of this game. It’s two-on-two volleyball, and that means you need a teammate for your two-person team. That brings up a problem.
I guess these girls must really hate each other, because it can be quite difficult to get one of your choice to team up with you to play volleyball, and that girl may decide to quit on you after only a few days. This can be frustrating when you want to actually play volleyball, which is the title of this game and the best part of it. Sure, you’re supposed to give gifts in order to get this other girl to want to play with you, but I think that’s ridiculous. I mean, this is a video game, and I don’t feel like putting up with computer players’ temper tantrums or egos just in order to play the game. Yes, in Madden, players get mad and may demand trades, but you can still play on without those players, by replacing them. In this game, it’s hard to replace your teammate, and it turns into a bunch of frustration just trying to play volleyball.
So maybe you want to earn credits to buy stuff an easier way, like by playing a mini-game similar to one found in Kirby 64, where you jump either one or two steps, trying to hop from island to island across a swimming pool. This game is pretty simple, and not too bad, except for the fact that the controls can get frustrating sometimes with the whole problem of the A button being too sensitive or not sensitive enough.
But what if you want to earn credits in a more fun way, like playing in the casino? Well, that may be a problem, because it seems to take a long time to earn enough credits to actually be able to play in high-stakes games. Sure, you can bet very small amounts, but that won’t help you much at all, even if you win. In order to actually gain enough credits that it makes a real difference in your total, you have to bet big, but the problem with that is that you really don’t get enough chances to play unless you have saved up a lot of credits (in which case, you’d probably be better off spending them anyway). You lose a few times, and you may not have enough to keep playing. That makes playing in the casino more of a pain than fun.
The basic goal in collecting these credits is to purchase all sorts of items. While most are either outfits for the girls or items related to the girls’ hobbies (such as Japanese weapons for ninja Kasumi), there are some trailers and demo videos also available.
Ultimately, the volleyball part of the gameplay is good, and the hopping mini-game is a fun way to earn credits, but the casino isn’t as fun as I was hoping it would be, and it gets annoying to be unable to play volleyball at times due to the lack of a teammate. So it’s basically a mixed bag.
Replayability: *
You basically have to play the game for a while to get the hang of it, and then even longer when you can’t get a teammate. This type of game length isn’t as good as it is just flat-out necessary in order to enjoy the game. Sure, if you want to collect everything in the game, then you’ll have to play for a very long time. Ultimately, though, you’ll probably get bored long before then.
Fun Factor!: **½
The volleyball is the most fun part of this game, and the hopping part can be fun as well. These things really help out this game and stop it from being a total failure. However, the frustrating parts of this game, such as the controls, the difficulty in getting a teammate, and the casino, stop this game from being a lot of fun.
OVERALL: **
This game is just about mediocre. Sure, it’s got great graphics, but I don’t think a game can survive just on graphics. It does make beach volleyball fun, but that alone isn’t enough to carry an entire game, as beach volleyball isn’t really that complex of a sport, as it’s more like a mini-game. A recent Mario Party had beach volleyball in it, and while this game’s version of the sport is better, you’re better off getting whichever Mario Party that is, as that game will give you a lot more fun gameplay and less frustration than this one (and even a little beach volleyball to go along). This game isn’t horrible, either, and I enjoyed it enough for it not to go under two stars. It’s not worth anything more than a very cheap price, however, and of course only if you already have a Xbox… $10 at max.
| If you would like to send some feedback
to the author of this submission, please complete this form.
What's your name?
What's your Email address?
How do you rate this submission?
Does this submission belong in Little
Lemmy's Land?
Would you like to see more from this author? Comments and suggestions:
|
