Speedball 2

Speedball 2 bettered the original, and that was no mean feat. The first had broken all the rules of sports games, wrapping Rollerball inspired graphics around a vertically-scrolling, fast-paced game of air-hockey.

Speedball 2 - In Game - Goal!

In the sequel, the playing arena was three screens wide and six screens high (by this time, the Atari ST had all but bitten the dust and the Amiga’s horizontal scrolling was much better) which meant the game was much more strategic. The addition of point scoring stars on the wall (with a cool trumpet sound as you hit them) was superb and the pinball ramp on either side, which multiplied your points, meant that games could change in mid-flow.

Speedball 2 also went into much more detail with the players statistics and you could upgrade individual skills, players, positions, and defensive, midfield and attacking zones. With two divisions, knockout, league and challenge options, Speedball 2 still stands as one of the best sports games ever made.

(A typical Bitmap touch was the stretcher coming on to pick up injured players while a hawker in the crowd shouted “Ice Cream, Ice Cream.”  Although this was missing from theMegadrive / Genesis version, pictured to the left.)

“There is absolutely nothing to fault in Speedball 2, the people involved have produced a sequel which far exceeds any of my high expectations and, in the process, have created a game which is, without doubt, a classic.”
CU AmigaGA

“Couldn’t be easier to get into, all-out violence and high scoring action”
ZZap Gold Medal – 96%

 Speedball 2 - Megadrive Cover

The single-button, 8-way joystick was the Amiga’s primary gaming controller and Speedball 2 layered sublime subtleties atop these basic commands with curves and swerves adding to the attacking complexity.

Speedball 2 cemented The Bitmap Brothers’ reputation for releasing polished and playable best-sellers. They continued to market themselves as well as their games, imbuing each title with Bitmap charm, despite the difference in genres.

Speedball 2 - Artwork 3

The Blurb

(from the Virgin-published Megadrive version)

Speedball 2 - Artwork 1A violent quasi-legal future sport with one rule: slam a solid steel ball into your opponent’s goal.

The only thing tougher than the brutal blood-sport is the thugs who play it.

And they don’t come any tougher than Brutal Deluxe, new faces at the bottom of the league, thirsting for blood and hungry for success.

Welcome to the year 2100…

And to the only game in town: Speedball 2.  The original game – which evolvedSpeedball 2 - Artwork 2 from a barbaric street fracas – was phased out five years ago in 2095 due to widespread corruption.  Now, with the creation of the Speedball Players’ Association and the newly formed 16-team World Speedball League, Speedball 2 preserves the outrageous violence of the original game – the supreme factor of its universal appeal – in a radical 22nd century arena setting where you can snap up extra points and power-charged weaponry.

Your team, Brutal Deluxe, is the League’s doormat – sitting at the bottom of the WSL’s Division 2.  But now, you’re in charge – and an entire team’s future is in your hands…


Speedball 2 - Gameboy Advance Cover

Released on Amiga, Atari ST, PC, Commodore 64, NES, Sega Master System,

Sega Megadrive, Gameboy, CD32 and Gameboy Advance.

 Speedball 2 - Gameboy - Cover

Speedball 2 - Title Screen

Speedball 2 - Artwork 4

Speedball 2 Playguide

from the Bitmap Brothers’ Website

General Advice

This advice is applicable to League, Cup and Knockout matches.

Star Players
In division 2, buy the best Star Forward and concentrate on getting the ball to him. Make sure he has a high speed rating. Then buy the best Mid-fielder and Goalie.

Gym
Buy the following attributes in the following categories…

Team
Attack, Power, Speed. Then Defence, Stamina, Aggression and Intelligence.

Group

  • Defenders: Throwing and attack
  • Mid-Field: Throwing, Defence and Attack
  • Attack: Defence, Stamina, Speed and Intelligence

Individual Players

  • Goalie: Intelligence, Attack, Defence, Throwing.
  • Centre Forward: Intelligence, Speed, Stamina (As the centre forward will always get into a lot of tackles.)

Matches

Cup
This is very difficult and only for the seasoned player. Money is crucial as you may be up against Division one teams by the third round and will have to get your statistics somewhere near theirs to have a chance of winning.

League Game
It is not only whether you beat the teams in division two or one, but how many goals you beat them by as points in the league tables and ultimately your position in the League, is defined by how many points you score during the match.

Knockout
Money is crucial, therefore collect as much as possible each match, as you will have to increase your attributes to the level of your opponents. Their attributes increase by about ten points overall, from team to team

Manager
A very different game to the normal match. Although the same as normal league match, the attributes to buy for your team are very different. Intelligence is very important, then Attack and Power. Star Players are not necessary in Division two, although crucial to getting to the top of the division. It is better to be drawn against the top teams in the first couple of weeks of Division two. Save your money against these teams as spending it is a waste of time, as they will probably injure most of your players. Then spend it all when you are up against the weaker teams.

Playing the Match

Go For Score Multiplier
This will multiply the points awarded for scoring goals, injuring players, and any bonus points which you score. Be careful when playing against teams of high intelligence as they will take the ball from you and use the multiplier themselves. Go for Lethal Bounce
Again, as above, be careful as they will tackle and use the ball against you. Is most effective when play field is multiplied, as it will travel through more players.

Go for Stars
When on the way towards the goal, go for stars. When a match is drawn with little time left go for stars as they are easier than scoring goals but will still win you the match.

Go for Money
It is really important in all matches to collect all money, which appears, on the pitch. There is only a certain amount which appears each match so be aware of when it stops.

Go for Bounce Domes
As with the stars, in a draw situation, go for these.

 Goalie
When under computer control the goalie will always block the ball, therefore don’t move the goalie until he is the nearest man to the ball. Swerve
Use swerve shots against the opponent’s goalie as this confuses them.

Tokens
The best tokens to go for are:

  • Freeze Team
  • Shield
  • Transport Ball
  • Boost Stats

Don’t go for the manic token unless you are very good and in possession of the ball. When the ball is electrified and the opposition has it, go for the Grab ball token, if available.