At E-3, most of the places with GBA games used a GBA as a controller, but also output to a TV screen above (to avoid cramped necks). Looking at the GBA’s screen had the best picture, though it was often a bit dim. However, Super Dodgeball Advance’s appearance changed far more drastically than any other game out there. The game is one of the best-looking launch titles, behind Tony Hawk and Iridion. The characters all have their own unique look, and each is animated very well. The courts you play on are fantastic, each with it’s own feel. What impressed me most was seeing the original NES game compared to the GBA version. Those with doubts about the power of this handheld can sit down, now.

Sound:  
The sound still isn’t the best, which is disappointing, with the other excellent sounding GBA titles. The music is at times good, while at other times atrocious. Sound effects are equally bad, most notably the alley-oop whistle. I only pray I can forget that sound.

Gameplay:  
Gameplay is where it shines. You take the role of a teen, raised in a world where dodge ball is a respected sport, and you’re now vying for the World Cup. The rules are simple: You have four players in your court, and one player on each other side of the other team, surrounding their four-player group. However, they have the same formation. From there, it gets simple. Hurl a dodge ball at the opponent. Land a hit, and you’ll damage him. Do enough damage, and a player is eliminated. Only the four in the middle can be eliminated, and the first team to lose those four loses the match. Sound simple? Well, it is. Unfortunately, that’s only the first step.

The single-player mode is fairly fun, with nine different international teams to play against, each with their own unique throwers, strategies, and formations. There’s even four Dream Teams to challenge when you win the World Cup. All were fun to play against; though the Ninjas bouts tended to drag on long, since they repeatedly use jump passes around the entire court. One gripe is the difficulty level… I found it to be either extremely easy, or impossibly difficult.

The customization is also very good. You can change your team name, player’s individual names, place them in all different positions, use different formations, even use different courts (slippery, bouncy, super bouncy, etc.).

Multiplayer:
Unfortunately, with only one ROM, we were unable to try out multiplayer, but it is in there (though only for two players). It’s not known whether one cartridge will be enough to link up the systems.

Control:
Not every throw lands a hit. By pressing A, you’ll sidestep, and by pressing B, you’ll catch the ball. It has to be properly timed, however, or you’re getting smacked. A button passes on offense, and B button throws it. Passes and throws can be aimed with the D-Pad, as well. Still seem easy? Well, throw the jump dynamic in there, then. By pressing A+B, you’ll jump into the air, throwing off your opponent’s timing, making it easier to score a hit. The L button blows a whistle (a very poor sounding one), which signals a teammate to run towards the centerline, and jump over. You can pass to him, and do an alley-oop attack, you can have him pass it off himself, or you can ignore him and use it to distract the other player. Watch out, though, as he can’t catch or dodge on their side of the court, and will be beaten soundly if they catch the ball. If that’s not enough, you can learn the super throws. There are over 50 of them in the game, and include throws like the Spread Shot (ball splits apart and attacks multiple people), the Mach Shot (ball flies extremely fast), and so on. These balls all are much more difficult to catch, since they fly at different speeds, directions, and so on. They also usually do far more damage.

OVERALL:
Super Dodgeball Advance is a launch game, and a damned good one at that. Make sure to pick it up June 11th. You won’t be disappointed.

 

The Lowdown on  Super Dodge Ball Advance Aesthetics: Awesome Control: Very Good Gameplay: Awesome Multiplayer: Sound: Average Innovation: 5/6 Lasting Appeal: 4/6 Overall: Very Good! "A Must-Buy"