DS Preview: Super Dodgeball Brawlers

Known in Japan as “Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club”, the original Super Dodgeball was a big hit in the arcades and the NES home console. A wonderful mixture of the sports and fighting genres, Super Dodgeball attracted a large following and is widely regarded as one of the best multiplayer games ever released for the prolific NES console. Perhaps it was the vibrant and charming character sprites, the simple but endlessly complex gameplay mechanics, or the tight controls, but the designers of the arcade original managed to translate a somewhat oddball sport into a near-perfect gaming experience.

The original game has been revived on a number of consoles since 1988, including the SNES, Gameboy and PC Engine. However, it has been more than 10 years since the last entry in the franchise, meaning that we are long overdue for a remake. Super Dodgeball Brawlers revives the classic spirit of the Technos title, focusing on strategic fighting mechanics and crazy multiplayer matches. The DS version sports some fancier graphics, as well as a plethora of new super throws and characters, Thanks to the DS hardware, this version supports up to 8 players simultaneously, promising to result in some serious trash talk and potentially bruised egos.

Some who have played the Japanese version have complained that the game had fatal problems with timing, making it hard to catch enemy super throws. Fans will be happy to hear that Aksys has fixed this problem in the North American version.

What: A game that should need no introduction for fans of the NES original. Basically, two teams line up face to face and pelt each other with devastating dodgeball throws. This update adds support for up to 8 players via local wifi.

Why: The DS has proven to be the perfect handheld for impromptu multiplayer gatherings. Super Dodgeball Brawlers is sure to be a big hit at our next DS party.

Who: The original NES and arcade title was developed by Technos. This version is being published by Aksys Games in the United States.

When: Super Dodgeball Brawlers is already out in Japan, and this localized version will hit shelves in North America on May 27.

Continue after the jump to check out some footage of the game in action, but be careful, the nostalgia factor is extemely high and may bring a tear to some oldschool gamers’ eyes.