Composer(s) Koji Kondo Genre Sports game | Initial release date 21 July 1986 Publisher Nintendo | |
 | ||
Developers Pax Softnica, Nintendo Research & Development 1 Platforms Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii, Family Computer Disk System, PlayChoice-10 Modes Single-player video game, Multiplayer video game Similar Pax Softnica games, Sports games | ||
Volleyball (バレーボール) is a volleyball video game developed by Nintendo and Pax Softnica and released for the Family Computer Disk System and Nintendo Entertainment System. Originally released in 1986, it was re-released for the Wii Virtual Console in Europe on August 10, 2007 and in North America on August 21, 2007. It is part of the NES Sports Series.
Contents
Gameplay
Volleyball is a sports video game that follows the rules of volleyball. The player controls a team of six players, three at the net and three in back. The player serves the ball into play by pressing the same button twice.
The game is a six player-a-side volleyball simulation. Players can select teams to compete in either a men's or women's competition from the following countries: United States, Japan, People's Republic of China, South Korea, Brazil, Soviet Union, Belgium, Cuba, Tunisia.
Development
Volleyball is based on an arcade game. Volleyball was developed by Pax Soft Nica and Nintendo R&D1 and published by Nintendo. It was released in March 1987.
Reception
Christopher Michael Baker of AllGame rated the game two out of five and said that it showed the developer's inexperience at creating volleyball games. He could not figure out which character he controlled at any given point nor the ball's location as poorly anticipated by its shadow. Baker also criticized the game's "annoying" sound effects. He said that Nintendo had made games for all other sports and likely felt obliged to make a volleyball game. He ultimately recommended Kings of the Beach and Super Spike V'Ball instead.
Lucas M. Thomas of IGN said that Volleyball could be Nintendo's worst sports game, worse than even NES Soccer. He said the controls were automatically frustrating.