What’s your favourite major sport? If you answered “volleyball,” there’s a good chance that you’re among a minority of sports fans. That’s not to say that volleyball is a lesser game than the titanic football – European or American, your choice – or any other major sport, but it does make one wonder why Nintendo would choose to fast track this entry in the NES Sports Series onto the Wii U Virtual Console. It’s not a particularly good game, and we’d be surprised if demand for it was high.
After selecting your team's gender — a factor that determines ball speed — and country of origin, you are immediately thrust into the game. Following basic volleyball rules, the first team to reach 15 points wins the game, and the first team with three games wins the match. If you know how a volleyball match works, then you know exactly what to expect. There are no special moves or extra enhancements to be found here; the entire game is a straightforward and unabashed 8-bit version of the titular sport.
Gameplay consists mostly of running around on your side of the court and hoping to successfully knock the ball back to your opponent’s half. The ball is easily visible on screen, but what you’re really looking for is its shadow to stand underneath. Without the shadow present, it would be nearly impossible to tell whether or not you’re standing in the correct spot in this otherwise flat looking game, and it’s already difficult to master even with the dark spot. Beyond following the shadow, it’s equally as important to figure out the timing involved in making contact with the dropping ball. While frustrating at first, once you’ve grown accustomed to the drop pattern and speed, returning volleys becomes much easier; yet at no point does it become fun. The entire game is repetitive and lacks any sense of variety, making the already lengthy matches feel even longer than they need to be. There’s also the option to play multiplayer, pitting you and a local player against one another, but again, even sharing the experience can’t salvage the dull gameplay.
Working in its favour are Volleyball's incredibly simplistic controls. The D-Pad moves your character, A serves and sets your ball, B lets you spike, and the power button allows you to turn your Wii U off so you can go do something worthwhile. Showing signs of being a very early precursor to Wii Sports Club: Tennis, only certain players on your team can be moved at any given point. The players will not move towards the incoming ball on their own, but only your nearest team members to the ball's eventual drop point will be controllable, with the others moving to presumably advantageous positions on their own. This method makes for a less complicated experience in terms of controls, belaying the need to switch between players in the already fast-paced game, but it can cause some confusion when you’re not entirely sure which cohort of players you’re currently in control of.
As with all Wii U Virtual Console games, the GamePad's screen displays an exact replica of what is happening on the television screen, along with providing access to a touch-enabled VC menu.
It’s not entirely fair to pick apart a game that was made nearly 30 years ago, but at points Volleyball feels unfinished. The environment is bland and empty looking, employing a palette consisting of about five different colours, and the soundtrack is comprised of one song. There is no music in the title menu, and the one featured track repeats the same 35-second loop until it’s permanently lodged itself deep into your brain. The sound effects are also completely lacking any poise, often producing sounds not unlike a fork stuck in a garbage disposal. Volleyball is an ugly game through and through.
Conclusion
It’s a shame that there aren’t yet more sports simulators on the Wii U Virtual Console, and the ones that are available have been less than admirable. With its unattractive aesthetic, boring gameplay and frustrating mechanics, it’s very apparent that Volleyball has not aged well at all, if it was ever any good to begin with. If you’re looking to get your net-based sports fix, you might want to set your serve towards the slightly less terrible Tennis, but this one should be left out of bounds.
Comments 19
They couldn't have at least put out Pro Wrestling?
@SparkOfSpirit
Amen!
What really pisses me off is why would Nintendo even release such a horrible game? Why not release one of the thousands of classics on NES or SNES? I agree with @SparkOfSpirit, they should release Pro Wrestling.
Nintendo should actually create their own wrestling game. It doesn't even have to be a huge release, the eShop would work just fine.
Nintendo seriously needs to get their priorities straight on the Virtual Console front. Nobody wants these terrible old sports simulators.
@27ShowStopper
probably because this title is in the NES remix 2, This is what they seem to be doing as of right now, releasing one of these games a week that are in the NES remix which saddens me. I wish they'd at least release something else with it.
I would rather have a review for Yumi's Odd Odyssey than for this game.
Thanks Nintendo!
Haha. Nintendo wants $5 for this.
I was going to complain about nintendo not releasing smb3 and this instead, but with the news today, I think I can forgive them to a large extent.
However is in charge of releasing VC games should seriously be fired. I played this game on the NES,and its definitely not worth $5.
This game is indeed awful.
Pro Wrestling is also awful, but it sure is fun.
I'd buy this on the 3DS.
"and the power button allows you to turn your Wii U off so you can go do something worthwhile." best summary of this game. why would nintendo even bother releasing doggeyoopsiepoopiepoop like this poopiepoop? how many other thousands of better games are there out there that could be put there instead of this garbage?
Profanity is not necessary here -Lz
Damn, I guess I'll have to rush out and buy a Wii U now.
But should I get this or Urban Champion first?
The most despicable thing about these VC releases is that they've already turned a profit back in their day, and yet brand new indie games that have been built from the ground up occasionally cost the same amount, if not less, than these cheap ROM dumps.
Seriously I am sick of these sport games they are all awful what is the point
Come on where is
Chrono trigger
Final fantasy
Secret of mana
Super mario rpg
Star fox
Donkey kong country
Stunt race fx
Super aleste
Turtles in time
Axelay
Suoer r type
Un squadron
Castlevania vampires kiss
Batman returns
Sunset riders
To name but a few...
It's getting ridiculous
There's a bout 3 people InThe miiverse community that have bought the awful sports games. Do nintendo even monitor what's popular and what isn't
Seriously get some young blood working for nintendo.
It is possible to be displeased without wishing death on others. Please stop — TBD
@sillygostly And some will probaly give it to them
Just played this in 2021, can confirm it's still bad.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...