Okay, let me tell you about diving back into Super Volleyball today. Man, talk about a blast from the past, one of those top games from the 80s for sure.
Getting Back Into It
So, first thing, I had this itch to play it again. Remembered having it way back when. Dug around a bit, couldn’t find my old console cartridges, probably long gone. So, the next best thing? An emulator. Yeah, I know, not the real thing, but close enough for a trip down memory lane.
Here’s what I did:
- Fired up my old laptop. It’s not much but handles these old games fine.
- Found a reliable NES emulator. Took a few tries, some just didn’t work right, you know how it is.
- Got the Super Volleyball ROM. Had to search around a bit, make sure it was the right version.
- Loaded it up in the emulator. Fiddled with the settings a bit. Had to map the controller buttons, always a bit of a chore. Wanted it to feel somewhat like the old days.
Hitting the Court (Virtually)
Alright, game loaded. That opening music! Instantly took me back. Simple tunes, but catchy.
The graphics, well, they’re 8-bit. Blocky characters, simple court. But honestly? It’s got charm. You can tell who’s who, what’s going on. That’s all you needed back then.
Playing it again was… interesting. The controls are basic. Move your players, jump, hit. Timing is everything, especially for spiking and blocking. I remembered it being tough, and yeah, it still is! Those CPU teams can be brutal.
Serving: Took me a few tries to get the hang of the power serve again. You gotta time that button press just right.
Setting and Spiking: This is the core, right? Moving your setter into position, then timing the jump and spike with your hitter. It felt a bit clunky at first after playing modern games, but once I got back into the rhythm, it was pretty satisfying landing a solid spike.
Blocking: Probably the hardest part for me. Reading the opponent’s set and getting your blockers up in time. Mostly failed attempts and frantic button mashing initially, gotta admit. But when you pull off a good block? Chef’s kiss.
Played a few matches. Lost the first one badly. Got absolutely smoked. Started getting the timing back in the second match, won that one. Felt good! It’s got that “one more game” feel, even after all these years.
Final Thoughts
It’s simple, yeah. Compared to today’s sports games, it’s basic. But that’s kind of the beauty of it. No complex mechanics, just pure timing and reaction. It was fun just messing around with it again, remembering how much time I sunk into this game as a kid.
Definitely a worthwhile little nostalgia trip. If you liked it back then, or just dig retro games, it holds up for a bit of fun. Didn’t take long to set up, and it was a good way to spend an hour or so. Solid 80s classic, for sure.
