Ballblazer Champions
Encyclopedia
Ballblazer Champions is an action/sports video game released for Sony
's PlayStation console. It was developed by Factor 5
and published by LucasArts
in North America, and CTO SpA in Europe. It was released on March 31, 1997 in North America and in October 1997 in Europe. It is a remake
of the video game Ballblazer
that was released for the Commodore 64
and Atari
consoles. The game takes place on an asteroid
where an intergalactic BallBlazer competition is taking place, featuring creatures coming from throughout the galaxy. Players travel around a rink
in spaceship
s, called "rotofoils", consisting of various weaponry, similar to the 1975 film Rollerball
. The object is to score goals by moving glowing balls with the rotofoil. At the same time, opponents use their weapons to prevent goals from being scored.
The game received mixed ratings from reviewers. Adam Douglas from IGN
rated the game with a 6 out of 10, saying that it "offers a nostalgic update" but tells everyone else to "stick to normal sports". Trent Ward from GameSpot
gave the game an 86 out of 100, praising the game for its graphics and feel and adding that "it's obvious that LucasArts has devoted some serious time to making a conversion title that takes full advantage of the PlayStation high-speed graphics engine". He adds that the play controls take a little getting used to, while the game's sound is "solid, but never really inspired". Ward's biggest praise about the game was with the multiplayer mode, which he says adds to the game's replay value. The game was named the Best Multi-Player Game of the Year in PSExtreme Magazine's 1997 Extreme Awards. Other reviews, such as from Game Players
and Edge
magazines, criticized the gameplay, which they say has not updated from the 1985 version of Ballblazer, giving the game ratings of 69 and 60 out of 100, respectively.
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's PlayStation console. It was developed by Factor 5
Factor 5
Factor 5 GmbH is an independent software and video game developer. The company was originally co-founded by five former Rainbow Arts employees in 1987 in Cologne, Germany, which served as the inspiration behind the studio's name....
and published by LucasArts
LucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
in North America, and CTO SpA in Europe. It was released on March 31, 1997 in North America and in October 1997 in Europe. It is a remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of the video game Ballblazer
Ballblazer
Ballblazer is a 1984 computer game created by Lucasfilm Games . It was originally released for the Atari 8-bit systems, such as the Atari 800 and the Atari 5200. It was also ported to other popular platforms of the day, such as the Apple II, ZX Spectrum , Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Atari 7800, and...
that was released for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
consoles. The game takes place on an asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
where an intergalactic BallBlazer competition is taking place, featuring creatures coming from throughout the galaxy. Players travel around a rink
Rink
Rink may refer to:* Ice rink, used for ice skating* Ice hockey rink*Curling rink, used to refer to both a curling team and the playing surface*a roller rink, used for roller skating or roller hockey...
in spaceship
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
s, called "rotofoils", consisting of various weaponry, similar to the 1975 film Rollerball
Rollerball (1975 film)
Rollerball is a 1975 American dystopian fiction film directed by Norman Jewison from a screenplay by William Harrison, who adapted his own short story "Roller Ball Murder", which first appeared in 1973 in Esquire magazine.-The Game:...
. The object is to score goals by moving glowing balls with the rotofoil. At the same time, opponents use their weapons to prevent goals from being scored.
The game received mixed ratings from reviewers. Adam Douglas from IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
rated the game with a 6 out of 10, saying that it "offers a nostalgic update" but tells everyone else to "stick to normal sports". Trent Ward from GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave the game an 86 out of 100, praising the game for its graphics and feel and adding that "it's obvious that LucasArts has devoted some serious time to making a conversion title that takes full advantage of the PlayStation high-speed graphics engine". He adds that the play controls take a little getting used to, while the game's sound is "solid, but never really inspired". Ward's biggest praise about the game was with the multiplayer mode, which he says adds to the game's replay value. The game was named the Best Multi-Player Game of the Year in PSExtreme Magazine's 1997 Extreme Awards. Other reviews, such as from Game Players
Game Players
Game Players was a monthly video game magazine founded by Robert C. Lock and published by Signal Research, in Greensboro, North Carolina. The original publication was titled Game Players Strategy to Nintendo Games...
and Edge
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
magazines, criticized the gameplay, which they say has not updated from the 1985 version of Ballblazer, giving the game ratings of 69 and 60 out of 100, respectively.