I must say that I didn't know what to expect from Super Dodge Ball Advance. Having played Dodge Ball on Nes and then on the Neo-Geo, I hoped that it would stay true to the formula that made it addictive. I have good news, it does!
Having played the Dodge Ball games to death, I fell in love instantly with the play mechanics of the Game Boy Advance version. The animations after you peg a guy with the ball are classic and are always good for a chuckle. The Game Boy Advance does an excellent job of reproducing the feel while still giving it a fresh face.
The interface is nice and slick. Everything from the Start screen to the end of the game, the graphics really shine. The characters are well detailed, even though they are super-deformed kids. The backgrounds maintain good detail while not becoming drab. Everything on the screen is always clear and there is hardly any noticeable slowdown if any. I’m very impressed with the graphic capabilities of the GBA so far.
The gameplay is similar to all the former Dodge Ball games. You have teams from around the globe and they go up against each other for bragging rights. Some of them are dressed in truly wacky clothing, and it makes you wonder if they can really play dodge ball in those clothes. The actual game runs fairly smoothly and the button presses for all of the 50 new throws are pretty simplistic to mash out. I found myself gratified after throwing a hanging screw-ball at one guy and laying him out flat.
The sound department could've been a little more well tuned. Sometimes the noises from the running and the ball throwing get old, but other than that, it suits the game. The music works well in the game and never detracts from the action.
Overall Super Dodge Ball Advance is a killer launch game. You may have read elsewhere that it gets "old" in one player mode. I can say that I've been playing it for about 4hrs at a time and it doesn't get old. Good graphics and good presentation of a classic game makes for an excellent choice to add to your Game Boy Advance launch library.
