Battle Flip Shot
Encyclopedia
is an arcade game combining the genres of Breakout
, Spitball Sparky of the Game & Watch
series and ball-and-paddle (see Pong
) games. It was released by Visco
in 1998
.
clone, it does introduce several twists to the gameplay. Players are depicted as humans wielding large shield
s rather than the "paddles" alone. The setting consists of various futuristic arena
s; the game takes place in the first half of the 22nd century. The ball
cannot leave the play area upon reaching the left or right edge of the screen, as those are also limited by walls, in addition to the typical upper and lower wall. Instead, there are single columns of targets located along both the side walls. Whenever the ball hits a target, it is eliminated and points are scored by the opponent of the targets' owner. In order to win a round, the player must direct the ball by deflecting it with his/her shield so that all of his opponents' targets are eliminated while retaining at least one of his own targets. The duration of rounds is also limited by time; in the event that time expires before one of the sides manages to achieve victory, the side with the most targets left in play is declared the winner of the round; should this result in a draw
(when both players have an equal amount of targets left), both sides are awarded a win.
Another addition to the classic Pong gameplay is that not only are the players able to move sideways in addition to moving vertically (although neither can move into his/hers opponents' half of the arena), they are also able to "slide" in order to provide the player with a burst of speed to counter sudden threats.
The game allows to choose between five different ingame characters
to play. Aside from different visuals on both the targets and the contestant, all characters are identical in regard to gameplay, with one exception. All characters are able to perform a "Special Attack" by pressing the A button while deflecting the ball. While for the majority of characters this translates only into an additional visual effect, Bloody Wolf's Special Attack allows to slightly curve the path of the ball. This gives her a certain tactical advantage, but not large enough to unbalance gameplay.
Note that, while Saimon's Special Attack makes the ball seemingly disappear for a certain part of its next flight, it only makes it invisible and can still be deflected.
Special attack: Quick Shot
Special attack: Rising Shot ; this shot makes the ball speed up after it first hits anything other than a target
Special attack: Trick Shot
Special attack: Tornado Shot
Special attack: Hard Shot ; this shot sometimes makes the opponent spin uncontrollably for a short time after deflecting it
, the follow-up to Battle Flip Shot in 2001
.
Breakout clone
A Breakout clone is a sub-class of the "bat-and-ball" genre introduced with the Magnavox Odyssey's Tennis and Atari's Pong...
, Spitball Sparky of the Game & Watch
Game & Watch
is a line of handheld electronic games produced by Nintendo from to . Created by game designer Gunpei Yokoi, each Game & Watch features a single game to be played on an LCD screen in addition to a clock and an alarm ....
series and ball-and-paddle (see Pong
Pong
Pong is one of the earliest arcade video games, and is a tennis sports game featuring simple two-dimensional graphics. While other arcade video games such as Computer Space came before it, Pong was one of the first video games to reach mainstream popularity...
) games. It was released by Visco
Visco Corporation
is a Japanese software company located in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in by , and later became corporate on August 8, while revealing itself as "Visco" in Kanamecho, Toshima, Tokyo Japan. They originally developed video games for several platforms from the arcades and NES, to the...
in 1998
1998 in video gaming
-Events:*Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo to the AIAS Hall of Fame*British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the 1st annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards...
.
Gameplay
Although the game is largely a PongPong
Pong is one of the earliest arcade video games, and is a tennis sports game featuring simple two-dimensional graphics. While other arcade video games such as Computer Space came before it, Pong was one of the first video games to reach mainstream popularity...
clone, it does introduce several twists to the gameplay. Players are depicted as humans wielding large shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
s rather than the "paddles" alone. The setting consists of various futuristic arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
s; the game takes place in the first half of the 22nd century. The ball
Ball
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
cannot leave the play area upon reaching the left or right edge of the screen, as those are also limited by walls, in addition to the typical upper and lower wall. Instead, there are single columns of targets located along both the side walls. Whenever the ball hits a target, it is eliminated and points are scored by the opponent of the targets' owner. In order to win a round, the player must direct the ball by deflecting it with his/her shield so that all of his opponents' targets are eliminated while retaining at least one of his own targets. The duration of rounds is also limited by time; in the event that time expires before one of the sides manages to achieve victory, the side with the most targets left in play is declared the winner of the round; should this result in a draw
Tie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
(when both players have an equal amount of targets left), both sides are awarded a win.
Another addition to the classic Pong gameplay is that not only are the players able to move sideways in addition to moving vertically (although neither can move into his/hers opponents' half of the arena), they are also able to "slide" in order to provide the player with a burst of speed to counter sudden threats.
The game allows to choose between five different ingame characters
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
to play. Aside from different visuals on both the targets and the contestant, all characters are identical in regard to gameplay, with one exception. All characters are able to perform a "Special Attack" by pressing the A button while deflecting the ball. While for the majority of characters this translates only into an additional visual effect, Bloody Wolf's Special Attack allows to slightly curve the path of the ball. This gives her a certain tactical advantage, but not large enough to unbalance gameplay.
Note that, while Saimon's Special Attack makes the ball seemingly disappear for a certain part of its next flight, it only makes it invisible and can still be deflected.
Playable characters
- Chinta Nemoto
Special attack: Quick Shot
- Siren
Special attack: Rising Shot ; this shot makes the ball speed up after it first hits anything other than a target
- Saimon
Special attack: Trick Shot
- Bloody Wolf
Special attack: Tornado Shot
- Mr. Justice
Special attack: Hard Shot ; this shot sometimes makes the opponent spin uncontrollably for a short time after deflecting it
Sequel
Visco released Bang BeadBang Bead
Bang Bead is a 2-player Pong/Breakout-type arcade game released by Visco in 2000. You can select from 9 characters and play against another player or the computer. Knock out the stars behind the other player then get the bouncing ball through to win the round.-External links:* at...
, the follow-up to Battle Flip Shot in 2001
2001 in video gaming
-Events:* Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame...
.
External links
- Battle Flip Shot at www.arcade-history.com