Alright, let’s talk about volleyball video games. Someone asked me the other day what the best ones were, and honestly, it sent me down a rabbit hole. I figured, why not actually sit down, play a bunch, and make my own list? So, that’s what I did. It wasn’t some quick search online; I actually dug through my collection and spent some real time with these games again.
Getting Started – The Dig
First off, I had to remember what volleyball games even existed. My brain immediately went to the old NES days. Stuff like Super Spike V’Ball and the basic, just-called-Volleyball game. Simple times, man. So, I pulled out the old console, blew the dust off – literally – and fired them up. Took a while to get the connections right, you know how it is.
Then I started thinking broader. GameCube had Beach Spikers, which I remember being pretty fun and arcadey. The original Xbox had that Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball… yeah, yeah, I know, but it does have volleyball in it, and honestly, the mechanics weren’t terrible if you ignored everything else. Had to track down my old copy for that one.
I also spent some time looking through arcade archives, virtually speaking. Stuff like Power Spikes II on the Neo Geo – always loved that system. Found some other older ones too, like Venice Beach Volleyball, though getting that running was a bit of a pain.
Playing Through the Contenders
This was the fun part, but also the grind. I tried to give each game a fair shake. Fired up the SNES for Hyper V-Ball and Dig & Spike Volleyball. Plugged in the PS2 for Summer Heat Beach Volleyball. Even revisited Kings of the Beach, which I think I first played on an old PC or maybe NES, can’t quite recall.
Some games held up surprisingly well. Super Spike V’Ball is still ridiculously fun, especially with two players. The controls are basic, but they work. Others… well, nostalgia is a powerful thing. The original NES Volleyball is rough, really basic. Fun for five minutes maybe.
Beach Spikers on GameCube was a pleasant surprise, still looks decent and plays fast. Power Spikes II has that classic Neo Geo punch. DOA Xtreme? The volleyball itself is okay, buried under… well, you know. It’s a weird one.
Making the Cuts – The Top 10
Okay, so after playing a whole bunch, I had to narrow it down. This wasn’t scientific, just based on my gut feeling and how much fun I actually had playing them again now. Not just remembering them fondly. It was tough!
Here’s kinda the list I settled on, the ones that really stood out during this whole process:
- Super Spike V’Ball (NES): Just pure, simple fun, especially co-op. A classic for a reason.
- Beach Spikers (GameCube): Great arcade feel, easy to pick up and play.
- Power Spikes II (Neo Geo): Intense, fast-paced arcade action. Looks great too.
- Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball (Xbox): Controversial pick, maybe, but the volleyball part itself is decently playable and it’s memorable, for better or worse.
- Hyper V-Ball (SNES): Solid SNES entry, good controls, decent options.
- Kings of the Beach (NES/PC): An oldie but a goodie. Captures that beach vibe well for its time.
- Summer Heat Beach Volleyball (PS2): A pretty competent effort from the PS2 era, quite enjoyable.
- Dig & Spike Volleyball (SNES): Another SNES title, offered a slightly different feel to Hyper V-Ball.
- Venice Beach Volleyball (Arcade/C64): Had to include something really old school from the arcades/early computers.
- Volleyball (NES): Okay, okay, it’s basic. But it was one of the first for many people, including me. Gotta respect the O.G., even if it’s clunky now.
So yeah, that was my journey. Took a good chunk of time, involved wrestling with old hardware and emulators, and reminded me my reflexes aren’t what they used to be. But it was fun digging back into these niche games. There aren’t a ton of amazing volleyball games out there compared to other sports, but the ones that are good provide some solid fun. Hope this trip down memory lane was interesting!
