Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe is a violent futuristic sport game first released by The Bitmap Brothers in 1990 on the Amiga. This Game Boy Advance version was developed by Crawfish Interactive and released in Europe in September 2002. You take charge of Brutal Deluxe, the least respected team in Division 2, and play fast matches in a steel arena where goals, bonus targets and injuring opponents all earn points. Between games you buy, sell and improve players.
Controls
What Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe is
Set in the year 2100, Speedball is a mix of handball and ice hockey with almost no rules about contact. Each side has nine players on the pitch plus substitutes, and matches last 180 seconds split into two halves. Goals are worth points rather than one each, and ramps on the walls can raise the value of your next goal. Knocking an opposing player out of the game also scores.
Crawfish made the GBA version under an agreement with The Bitmap Brothers, basing it on the Amiga and Sega Genesis releases. It includes a Knock Out mode against gradually tougher teams, a 14-week Championship in which Brutal Deluxe chase promotion from Division 2, a four-round Cup and a Quick Start option for single matches.
How it plays in your browser
Matches move quickly. You pass, tackle and throw at goal, while collecting tokens that appear on the pitch. Some give extra points and others give power bonuses, such as one that freezes the opposing team for a few seconds. Armour pieces like elbow pads can also improve a player's throwing power.
Off the pitch, you manage the squad by buying and selling players and raising attributes like aggression, attack, speed and intelligence. The GBA emulator on this page runs the European cartridge, and because matches are short it works well for quick sessions in a browser tab.
Arrow keys move the selected player, and Z and X act as the Game Boy Advance A and B buttons for passing, throwing and tackling.
Tips worth knowing
- Hit the multiplier ramps on the walls before shooting to make your goals worth more.
- Tackling to injure opposing players scores points too, and it weakens their side for the rest of the match.
- Grab tokens when they appear, especially the freeze power, which gives you a free run at goal.
- Spend early money on speed and attack for a few key players rather than spreading it thinly.
- Play a few Knock Out matches first to learn the arena before starting the Championship.
Frequently asked questions
Who made the original Speedball 2?
The Bitmap Brothers created it in 1990. The Game Boy Advance version was developed by Crawfish Interactive and released in 2002.
How do you score in Speedball 2?
Goals earn points, and ramps on the walls increase their value. You can also earn points by hitting targets and by injuring opposing players.
What modes does the GBA version have?
Knock Out, a 14-week Championship, a four-round Cup and Quick Start single matches.
Can you manage your team?
Yes. Between matches you can buy and sell players and improve attributes such as speed, attack, aggression and intelligence.
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