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Ballblazer Champions

April 10, 2024

Ballblazer Champions is an action/sports video game released for Sony's PlayStation console. It was developed by Factor 5 and published by LucasArts in North America, and by CTO SpA in Europe. It is a remake of the 1985 video game Ballblazer that was released for the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit family computers.[2]

Ballblazer Champions
Developer(s)Factor 5
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Julian Eggebrecht
Designer(s)Brett Tosti
Julian Eggebrecht
Holger Schmidt
Thomas Engel
Programmer(s)Holger Schmidt
Thomas Engel
Jens Petersam
Artist(s)Mario Wagner
Tobias J. Richter
Composer(s)Rudolf Stember
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • NA: April 2, 1997[1]
  • EU: October 1997
Genre(s)Action, sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Plot edit

A one thousand year feud between four races - the Kraytons, the Mandalars, the Thilibies and the Zaitecs is planned to be settled by a Ballblazer knock-out tournament. Each race enters two of their best rotofoil pilots to take part in a series 1v1 matches with the victor being crowned "Master Ballblazer". The race that wins overall gains control over the galaxy.[3]

Gameplay edit

The game takes place on an asteroid where an intergalactic BallBlazer competition is taking place, featuring creatures coming from throughout the galaxy. The player selects from one of eight characters, each with their own unique ship called a rotofoil. Each has differing stats in speed, handling, launcher and energy. Players travel around an arena in their rotofoils, armed with various weaponry, similar to the 1975 film Rollerball. The object is to score goals by shooting glowing balls known as "plasmorbs" with the rotofoil[4] into the goal. The winner of each round is the first to score five goals.[3] At the same time, opponents use their weapons to prevent goals from being scored.[5] When a ship has possession of the ball, the energy used to maintain its top speed drains.[6]

Development edit

At one point the game had been scheduled to be released in the fall of 1996,[7] before it was delayed to early 1997.

Reception edit

The game received mixed reviews. In Japan, where the game was ported and published by Bullet-Proof Software on October 23, 1997, Famitsu gave it a score of 22 out of 40.[14]

The game received a wide range of opinions from reviewers. Adam Douglas from IGN said that "For fans of the original game, BallBlazer Champions offers a nostalgic update. But for everyone else, stick to the normal sports."[4] Trent C. Ward from GameSpot stated that "it's obvious that LucasArts has devoted some serious time to making a conversion title that takes full advantage of the PlayStation high-speed graphics engine". He added that the play controls take a little getting used to. Ward's biggest praise about the game was with the multiplayer mode, which he says adds to the game's replay value.[5] A Next Generation critic similarly described it as "A good one-player game, but even better with two players."[16] Contrarily, GamePro said that "Even though it has an interesting premise, BBC ultimately rockets its way into the 'who cares' bin."[17][a] Shawn Smith of Electronic Gaming Monthly said "The different play modes were fun (my personal favorite being freeplay) and the competition was pretty fierce at times", while his co-reviewer Dan Hsu said that "The choppy and speedy animation combined with the loose controls make the game very difficult to follow, especially in the two-player mode."[12]

The most widely praised aspect of the graphics was the lighting effects.[12][16] Several critics found the game's sound uninspired.[5][12][17] Another common complaint was that the arenas are too large, frequently resulting in situations where the two players simply drive around in isolation from each other.[4][16]

The game was named the Best Multi-Player Game of the Year in PSExtreme Magazine's 1997 Extreme Awards.[citation needed]

Notes edit

  1. ^ GamePro gave the game 3/5 for graphics, two 2.5/5 scores for sound and control, and 2/5 for overall fun factor.

References edit

  1. ^ . 1998-06-11. Archived from the original on 1998-06-11. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  2. ^ "NG Alphas: Ballblazer Champions". Next Generation. No. 20. Imagine Media. August 1996. p. 82. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "First Sight: Ball Blazer Champions [sic]". PlayStation Plus. Vol. 2, no. 9. EMAP. June 1997. pp. 36–37. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Douglas, Adam (September 2, 1997). "BallBlazer Champions". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Ward, Trent C. (April 17, 1997). "Ballblazer Champions Review [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. from the original on January 1, 2005. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  6. ^ EGM staff (April 1997). "Ballblazer Champions: Shoot and Score with this Updated Classic". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 93. Ziff Davis. p. 106.
  7. ^ . LucasArts. May 13, 1996. Archived from the original on April 1, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  8. ^ . GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  9. ^ Sutyak, Jonathan. . AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  10. ^ Chick, Tom (May 23, 1997). . Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  11. ^ Edge staff (August 1997). "Ballblazer Champions" (PDF). Edge. No. 48. Future Publishing. p. 86. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d EGM staff (July 1997). "Ballblazer Champs [sic]". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 96. Ziff Davis. p. 54.
  13. ^ Lucas, Victor (July 10, 1997). . The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions, Inc. Archived from the original on June 14, 2003. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "ボールブレイザー 〜チャンピオンズ〜 [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  15. ^ . Game Informer. No. 50. FuncoLand. June 1997. Archived from the original on October 21, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d "BallBlazer Champions". Next Generation. No. 31. Imagine Media. July 1997. p. 157. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  17. ^ a b The Rookie (July 1997). "Ball Blazer Champions [sic]". GamePro. No. 106. IDG. p. 89. Retrieved July 27, 2021.

External links edit

April 10, 2024
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Ballblazer Champions is an action sports video game released for Sony s PlayStation console It was developed by Factor 5 and published by LucasArts in North America and by CTO SpA in Europe It is a remake of the 1985 video game Ballblazer that was released for the Commodore 64 and Atari 8 bit family computers 2 Ballblazer ChampionsDeveloper s Factor 5Publisher s NA LucasArtsEU CTO SpAProducer s Julian EggebrechtDesigner s Brett TostiJulian EggebrechtHolger SchmidtThomas EngelProgrammer s Holger SchmidtThomas EngelJens PetersamArtist s Mario WagnerTobias J RichterComposer s Rudolf StemberPlatform s PlayStationReleaseNA April 2 1997 1 EU October 1997Genre s Action sportsMode s Single player multiplayer Contents 1 Plot 2 Gameplay 3 Development 4 Reception 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksPlot editA one thousand year feud between four races the Kraytons the Mandalars the Thilibies and the Zaitecs is planned to be settled by a Ballblazer knock out tournament Each race enters two of their best rotofoil pilots to take part in a series 1v1 matches with the victor being crowned Master Ballblazer The race that wins overall gains control over the galaxy 3 Gameplay editThe game takes place on an asteroid where an intergalactic BallBlazer competition is taking place featuring creatures coming from throughout the galaxy The player selects from one of eight characters each with their own unique ship called a rotofoil Each has differing stats in speed handling launcher and energy Players travel around an arena in their rotofoils armed with various weaponry similar to the 1975 film Rollerball The object is to score goals by shooting glowing balls known as plasmorbs with the rotofoil 4 into the goal The winner of each round is the first to score five goals 3 At the same time opponents use their weapons to prevent goals from being scored 5 When a ship has possession of the ball the energy used to maintain its top speed drains 6 Development editAt one point the game had been scheduled to be released in the fall of 1996 7 before it was delayed to early 1997 Reception editReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScoreGameRankings64 8 Review scoresPublicationScoreAllGame nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 9 CNET Gamecenter8 10 10 Edge6 10 11 Electronic Gaming Monthly7 125 10 12 EP Daily6 5 10 13 Famitsu22 40 14 Game Informer6 25 10 15 GameSpot8 6 10 5 IGN6 10 4 Next Generation nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 16 The game received mixed reviews In Japan where the game was ported and published by Bullet Proof Software on October 23 1997 Famitsu gave it a score of 22 out of 40 14 The game received a wide range of opinions from reviewers Adam Douglas from IGN said that For fans of the original game BallBlazer Champions offers a nostalgic update But for everyone else stick to the normal sports 4 Trent C Ward from GameSpot stated that it s obvious that LucasArts has devoted some serious time to making a conversion title that takes full advantage of the PlayStation high speed graphics engine He added that the play controls take a little getting used to Ward s biggest praise about the game was with the multiplayer mode which he says adds to the game s replay value 5 A Next Generation critic similarly described it as A good one player game but even better with two players 16 Contrarily GamePro said that Even though it has an interesting premise BBC ultimately rockets its way into the who cares bin 17 a Shawn Smith of Electronic Gaming Monthly said The different play modes were fun my personal favorite being freeplay and the competition was pretty fierce at times while his co reviewer Dan Hsu said that The choppy and speedy animation combined with the loose controls make the game very difficult to follow especially in the two player mode 12 The most widely praised aspect of the graphics was the lighting effects 12 16 Several critics found the game s sound uninspired 5 12 17 Another common complaint was that the arenas are too large frequently resulting in situations where the two players simply drive around in isolation from each other 4 16 The game was named the Best Multi Player Game of the Year in PSExtreme Magazine s 1997 Extreme Awards citation needed Notes edit GamePro gave the game 3 5 for graphics two 2 5 5 scores for sound and control and 2 5 for overall fun factor References edit Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date www vidgames com 1998 06 11 Archived from the original on 1998 06 11 Retrieved 2023 11 06 NG Alphas Ballblazer Champions Next Generation No 20 Imagine Media August 1996 p 82 Retrieved July 27 2021 a b First Sight Ball Blazer Champions sic PlayStation Plus Vol 2 no 9 EMAP June 1997 pp 36 37 Retrieved July 27 2021 a b c d Douglas Adam September 2 1997 BallBlazer Champions IGN Ziff Davis Retrieved July 27 2021 a b c d Ward Trent C April 17 1997 Ballblazer Champions Review date mislabeled as April 28 2000 GameSpot CBS Interactive Archived from the original on January 1 2005 Retrieved July 27 2021 EGM staff April 1997 Ballblazer Champions Shoot and Score with this Updated Classic Electronic Gaming Monthly No 93 Ziff Davis p 106 BALLBLAZER A CLASSIC GAME GETS RECLASSIC FIED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION LucasArts May 13 1996 Archived from the original on April 1 1997 Retrieved July 27 2021 Ballblazer Champions for PlayStation GameRankings CBS Interactive Archived from the original on December 5 2019 Retrieved July 27 2021 Sutyak Jonathan BallBlazer Champions Review AllGame All Media Network Archived from the original on November 15 2014 Retrieved July 27 2021 Chick Tom May 23 1997 BallBlazer Champions Gamecenter CNET Archived from the original on August 16 2000 Retrieved July 27 2021 Edge staff August 1997 Ballblazer Champions PDF Edge No 48 Future Publishing p 86 Retrieved July 27 2021 a b c d EGM staff July 1997 Ballblazer Champs sic Electronic Gaming Monthly No 96 Ziff Davis p 54 Lucas Victor July 10 1997 BallBlazer Champions The Electric Playground Greedy Productions Inc Archived from the original on June 14 2003 Retrieved July 27 2021 a b ボールブレイザー チャンピオンズ PS Famitsu in Japanese Enterbrain Retrieved July 27 2021 Ball Blazer Champions sic Game Informer No 50 FuncoLand June 1997 Archived from the original on October 21 1997 Retrieved July 27 2021 a b c d BallBlazer Champions Next Generation No 31 Imagine Media July 1997 p 157 Retrieved July 27 2021 a b The Rookie July 1997 Ball Blazer Champions sic GamePro No 106 IDG p 89 Retrieved July 27 2021 External links editBallblazer Champions at MobyGames Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ballblazer Champions amp oldid 1184682187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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