Categories
Blog Games Genesis Sega

Powerball (Genesis, 1991)

Arms like boulders.

I do believe it’s the end for this Wrestleballer.
Violence always wins!

PUBLISHER/DEVELOPER: Namco

RELEASE DATE: 02/02/91 – (JP), 1991 – (US)

ALSO ON: Wii Virtual Console (R.I.P.)

‘Nuff said.

No, not the lottery you’ll never win. Powerball (or Wrestleball as it’s known in Japan) is a Namco Original, a futuristic take on football, soccer, and rugby. I know this, not because I’m intimately familiar with any of these sports, but because Wikipedia and MobyGames told me so. The description seems to fit. Two teams vye against each other on a 100 yard field. Sometimes players kick the ball, sometimes they throw it. Sometimes players kick each other, sometimes they friggin’ body slam each other, like lifeless ragdolls. The AI is God-tier, nearly unbeatable; it’s hard to keep track of the action, particularly when the computer is always better than you.

The field may look bland, but those pink suits are forever.

But if you find a companion eager for Powerball Championhood, two player is where it’s at. Imagine you and a friend controlling a mess of players (twenty-two players on the field at all times – madness!), fighting and breaking each other’s robotic suits, smashing each other into the field, kicking the ball out of bounds. It’s a hoot.

My first and last.

The solid controls, corny music, and over-the-top anime art style round out the package. No, the game isn’t an eternal classic like Tecmo Bowl, but its ridiculousness and smooth play will keep you coming back. You may never win 300 million dollars, but as long as you have Powerball, you’re never poor.

B

The rest of us will never understand why that green ball is so important.

4 replies on “Powerball (Genesis, 1991)”

I think the revised renewal format looks good, especially your hitting an era where there are multiple Sega systems in play in various world markets.

Reminds me of the Video Game Critics reviews, which is no bad thing.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.