Many moons ago, I ardently advised anyone not owning a DS that the time had come to borrow, purchase, purloin, or acquire by any means necessary at least one unit–and up to seven more as required. Since that time, Super Dodgeball Brawlers, hotly anticipated until the moment of its release, came and went–amidst only mediocre reviews. The Japanese import, deemed too slow by the earliest players, led to months of tweaks and additional wait time for a domestic release. Only now, as the mash-up finally becomes available to ButtonSmasher readers, shall we dispel some of the dust settled over yet another DiSappointment. (really–I love the thing, but there have been enough to warrant that jab.)

Although it doesn’t look much more than 12-bit and has its share of other antiquation, Super Dodgeball Brawlers, offers a throwback to the old school and DS multiplayer functionality better than the underwhelming grades often attached to its reviews. The tools of Technos’ combat-sports trade explode conventional boundaries once again, as players throw everything from poison food to explosives, to punches and kicks across the centre line, hitting friend and foe alike. Occasionally, you might even catch the ball and pull off the impossible jumps and hundreds of new Super Throws in the style that made the original NES game famous.

Aside from the fun and challenge of climbing the international dodgeball ladder in Tournament mode, one can spend a good deal of time customizing their own team of Brawlers with hundreds of eye, hair, and apparel choices, and take them to a good old-fashioned street fight. That’s where one card can support 8 players.

So with the dust settled, I still say Super Dodgeball Brawlers is a rollicking good time in excess of its average grade.

Posted on August 17th, 2008 by katie