Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get back into some volleyball action, but, you know, without the actual sand and sun. I remembered there was this game, Spike Volleyball, for Xbox One, so I decided to give it a shot. Figured it would be a fun way to kill some time.
Finding the Game
First things first, I had to actually get the game. I checked the Xbox store, and yep, there it was. I think I had some leftover points or something, because I didn’t have to shell out the full price. Bonus!
Getting Started
I downloaded it and fired it up. The menus were pretty straightforward. Nothing too fancy, just the usual options: quick match, career mode, tutorials, that kind of stuff. I jumped straight into a quick match just to get a feel for the controls.
First Impressions & Controls
Honestly, the controls took some getting used to. It wasn’t as intuitive as I’d hoped. You use the left stick to move your player, and the right stick to kind of aim your shots. Then there are buttons for jumping, blocking, setting, and spiking. The timing is super important, which is realistic, but also frustrating at first.
- Left Stick: Move Player
- Right Stick: Aim Shots
- Buttons: Jump, Block, Set, Spike
I spent a good hour just messing around in quick matches, getting my butt kicked by the AI. But hey, that’s how you learn, right? I started to get the hang of the timing for spikes and blocks, little by little.
Diving into Career Mode
After I felt like I wasn’t completely terrible, I started a career mode. You create your own team, pick your players, and compete in tournaments. It’s pretty basic, but it’s a good way to keep playing and improve your skills. It also give the matches a bit more “stakes,” which I liked.
My Team & Gameplay
My team isn’t exactly winning any championships yet. We’ve had some rough matches, but we’ve also pulled off a few wins. The AI can be pretty tough, especially on the higher difficulty levels. I definitely yelled at my TV a few times.
Overall Thoughts
So, after a few days of playing, what do I think? It’s a decent game. It’s not perfect, the controls are a bit clunky, and the graphics aren’t mind-blowing, but it’s a fun way to play some volleyball without leaving your couch. If you’re a big volleyball fan and you have an Xbox One, it’s worth checking out. Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve!
