Outlaw Volleyball – XB – Review

Not too long ago, the
sport of golf was twisted into a wild game where the competition got so way out
of hand that just about anything you’d never expect to happen on a golf course
did.  While Outlaw Golf was filled with crude humor and colorful characters, the
golf is what really shone through its raunchy side.  And now the game of
volleyball is about to get the same zany treatment in Outlaw Volleyball–an Xbox
volleyball game that that not only rivals DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball in the
skin department, but also the entertaining volleyball itself . . . and it even
adds Xbox Live support.  This is not your parent’s volleyball game, for sure.

From the very start of the
game, during the opening cinema, sports gamers will see that this is not your
average volleyball sports title.  While many of the regulation rules are in
effect, it’s clear that “outlaws” play this game just a little rougher and a lot
less friendly.  The game’s Tutorial mode–a mode gamers should visit first–does
a good job of teaching everything from the most basic passes to the more
elaborate blocks.  However, you’ll know you’re in for something quite different
when the game is teaching you how to fight.

The game offers quite an
extensive number of game modes.  There is Exhibition mode, Random Play (for
those who just want to start playing), Drills (featuring various mini-games used
to strengthen your players), Tour (the game’s main mode) and, of course, an
online playing mode using the Xbox Live service.  Tour, the main mode of playing
this game, takes you through fifty scheduled games on ten different courts
(anywhere from the beach to a backyard somewhere in Queens, New York).  This
mode also unlocks new outfits for your players as well as hidden characters.
Drills mode offers a large number of mini-games designed to strengthen a
character’s ability to spike, block or jump.  The games themselves are odd and
hilarious like having your characters spike a ball at admirers or hitting a
target before the timer runs out.

Yet it’s the volleyball
that counts and the volleyball in this game is done really well.  For starters,
the controls are easy to get into and the flow of the game hardly ever falters.
This, of course, makes for a smooth volleyball game that allows gamers to
concentrate on precision spikes and stylized passes.  Your computer-controlled
partner also does a good job of keeping up with you or anticipating your
opponent’s every move–although, like in real life, that is also prone to
mistakes.  Much of the moves are simplistic and easy to carry out since there
aren’t many complex moves featured here.

Still, what does set this
game apart from Tecmo’s volleyball game is that the game’s characters can also
play a bit dirty when they want to.  Gamers receives momentum that fills up a
meter to activate turbo speed or a powerful spike that’s effective enough to
knock your opponents off their feet and they also earn Fight Tokens that allow
gamers to kick or punch your rivals to steal away some of their momentum. Fights
don’t last very long but they add an unusual twist to the game but the rewards
for winning do have good pay offs.  Even with these advantages, the game’s
difficulty level gives you enough of a challenge without being frustratingly
difficult.

The game can also be
played online thanks to the Xbox Live service.  Oddly enough, though, is the
fact that while offline you can play the game with up to four friends, the
online game is played with a single opponent rather than putting you up against
two different players.  While it would have been fun to play with various
different gamers at the same time, the fact that the game features pretty smooth
online action plus the promise of some downloadable content (costumes and other
surprises) is good enough.

So what exactly earns this
game it’s Mature rating?  The sixteen characters (many of which you unlock
through Tour mode) are a colorful and distasteful bunch . . . and wonderfully
amusing to watch despite their stereotyped personalities.  Many of the female
character wear a lot less than the DOA ladies and their bumping and grinding is
more comical than crude.  Yet nothing gets way out of hand in this game unless,
of course, gamers are easily offended by the stereotyped characters like the
Russian player (shades of Bridget Nielson) or the Latin ladies man who thinks
way too much of himself.  Then again, there are several moments where the
bustier girls do a lot of bouncing up and down.

Visually, Outlaw
Volleyball does well by the Xbox and manages to present a game filled with
stunning characters and more than decent backgrounds.  Watching the zany
characters come to life is done beautifully, especially since they move so
fluidly and realistically.  There are plenty of animated sequences throughout
the match, mostly reactions fitting of a player’s personality.  The backgrounds
feature plenty to admire, although at times it can look rather plain.  Yet the
many volleyball courts featured in this game are a welcome sight since many of
the locations are quite unusual and often times hilarious.

As far as the sound is
concerned, the game’s court announcer does manage to sprinkle the game with
plenty of amusing jokes and quips, but they become repetitive to the point that
the jokes lose their appeal pretty quickly.  As for the players, the bulk of
their comments come in the beginning of the match, although they can be heard in
the background while the game is in progress.   The soundtrack is composed
mainly of hard hitting tunes and the right dash of hip-hop, but if the music
isn’t “outlaw” enough, you can always add your own tunes thanks to the custom
soundtrack feature.

Slightly twisted and
pleasantly humorous, Outlaw Volleyball is one of those guilty pleasures that
pack quite an entertaining punch.  The game showcases some really excellent
visuals, hard-hitting tunes and the most solid volleyball action this side of
DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball, although it’s M rating due to the scantily clad
ladies will clearly be the center of attention.  If you’re looking for a
volleyball game with plenty of game modes, the ability to play online and zany
characters, this game will not disappoint in the very least.

#Reviewer’s Scoring Details

Gameplay: 8.0
Whether it’s spiking the ball or
making a leaping block, the game’s controls make for a thankfully smooth and
exciting match.  The game doesn’t add any complex moves and keeps the game more
arcade than simulator.  Yet the addition of fights and turbo speed keep things
interesting enough that gamers won’t mind attempting to go through all of Tour
mode’s matches.  And with the prospect of unlocking new characters as well as
locations and costumes, who wouldn’t want to play on?

Graphics: 8.5
Outlaw Volleyball is a great looking
game, especially when it comes to the character models that show how wacky they
really are and still manage to look good.  Yet aside from the barely there
outfits, the players move smoothly and realistically throughout the game. The
animation is really good and watching each character dance with joy or have
temper tantrums on the court are always amusing.

The backgrounds are also
done pretty well, although sometimes the action seen from afar shows how really
plain some locations can be.  Yet up close, there is much to look at and the
fact that the game does not stick to a beach setting adds more charm to each
match.  There are matches set in the jungles of Peru to an all-woman’s prison.

Sound: 8.0
With a pretty decent soundtrack with
some great tunes by the band Diffuser and Hot Rod Circuit, the music does
justice to the game’s theme.  There’s also some hip-hop thrown in to the mix and
it also manages work for this game.  Still, if the soundtrack isn’t exactly your
idea of what an outlaw game is suppose to be, the Custom Soundtrack feature
allows you to use your own music.

As for the voice acting
and dialogue, it is wonderfully humorous without being overly rude or
salacious.  Forgoing the use of profanity, the nature of the jokes is more
suggestive but it seldom ever does cross the line–something that is quite odd
since the game is rated M for mature.  Yet as good as Steve Carell is as the
announcer, the lack of variety of jokes makes for some pretty repetitive
dialogue.  The characters also have little to say and this is unfortunate since
what they do say is quite funny.

Difficulty: Medium
The game’s difficulty is challenging
enough that each match will keep you on your toes and any distraction can cost
you a point or two.  Still, even with this the game’s is not frustratingly hard
thanks to the intelligent partner AI who does make some mistakes here and there
but is always pulling his or her own weight.  The opponent AI is also good at
anticipating your next move, but is also prone to making mistakes.

Concept: 8.0
Luckily for us, Outlaw Volleyball
adds plenty of volleyball fun aside from the usual exhibition and tour modes
found in most sports titles.  The Drills mode alone adds some pretty amusing
mini games that will keep gamers busy while strengthening their favorite
characters.  Gamers can also choose different outfits or bikinis for their
players.  And, online, the game lets us know that downloadable content will be
available (among the surprises are extra outfits).  

Multiplayer: 8.5
Up to four players can play in
Exhibition mode and partnering up with a friend to take on two other friends is
just even more challenging.  Still, the main attraction is the ability to play
online via the Xbox Live service.  The action runs smoothly online but instead
of pitting you up against two other players while partnering up with another
online gamer, the game keeps it between you and a single player.  It would have
been a lot more entertaining if the game allowed more than one gamer on the
court at once since the Xbox Communicator is used.  

Overall: 8.5
Outlaw Volleyball doesn’t break any
new ground, but the ample amount of really fun game modes and refreshingly
naughty appeal make this a highly enjoyable sports title.  The game is never too
vulgar to be offensive or distracting since the volleyball matches are downright
addictive and nicely done.  If you’re looking for a volleyball game with a dash
of humor, this is the game to own.