Sleeper Hit: (SLEE-PER HIT) 1. An under marketed game, usually of high quality. 2. See Beach Spikers.
While not exactly Merriam Webster, that pretty much says it all. Beach Spikers is a sleeper hit if ever there were one. Scantily clad women and volleyball are a hard combination to beat.
Aesthetics:
Beach Spikers is easily one of the prettiest games I have seen in a long time. Everything from realistic sand that shifts during play, to rendered courts and polygonal crowds has a polish that is clearly evident.
Speaking of polish, the ladies of Beach Spikers are extremely easy on the eyes. However, it has been said that since their breasts don't jiggle when in motion they aren't complying with natural physics. To those that think this way I have two things to say. 1. Go jerk off and get it over with, and 2. They aren't supposed to jiggle, that's the idea. In a game like volleyball women wear tight sport like tops that restrain their bosoms from flopping all over the place. Ask any woman you know and she will tell you it hurts like hell when they do that. AM2 knew this, and they developed the game accordingly. It wasn't a mistake. It was intentional.
Gameplay:
Ah, the meat and potatoes of any game. It is a well-known fact that I think fun is the most important aspect of any game, and Beach Spikers is just that. Take away the flashy graphics and good-looking females, and all that is left is one hell of a Volleyball game. The speed, thrill, and frustration of the sport are perfectly captured for the player to experience.
Sound:
This is the one aspect that falters a bit. The sound effects are spectacular, and the ladies voices have a certain aural pleasure to them, but the music gets old faster than people who buy Volleyball games to see bouncing breasts. Thankfully it can be turned down or off, so it isn't a big deal.
Control:
Without good control a game is nothing. No worries with Beach Spikers. Sega is the master of the arcade for a reason, and this game is just more evidence of that. Everything from spiking the ball to blocking the damn thing is easy to pull off and completely satisfying when it works. Movement is quick and responsive. When you need to get your player from one end of the court to the other, the control doesn't hinder you, only your skill. AM2 should be applauded.
Multiplayer:
If there was one mode of Beach Spikers that stands out, it's this one. The GameCube hasn't had that many top-notch multiplayer games so far, but Beach Spikers is an exception. Call over three friends and have a ball. Literally.
OVERALL:
I'm not the world's biggest Sega fan, but I have to give respect to AM2. Beach Spikers is an excellent sports game. GameCube owners should be happy to have a game of this caliber on our system. Good job Sega, keep them coming.
The Lowdown on  Beach Spikers
| Aesthetics: Awesome |
Control: Awesome |
| Gameplay: Awesome |
Multiplayer: Awesome |
| Sound: Average |
Innovation: 4/6 |
| Lasting Appeal: 5/6 |
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Overall: Awesome!
"Top of the Genre"
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Beach Spikers
