In Super Sports Blast, the developer Unfinished Pixel offers you three games (Super Volley Blast, Super Soccer Blast and Super Tennis Blast) in one package. There are clear similarities in each of the three included games but they do vary somewhat in their modes and features. The volleyball game Super Volley Blast was my clear favorite among the three, largely due to the story mode and fun gameplay.
Game modes
The three games offered in this package do vary in what they offer as far as game modes. Some, but not all, of the available game modes are:
- Super Soccer Blast allows you to play different tournaments such as a version of the world cup, champions league or custom tournaments.
- In Super Tennis Blast you can start a career in the World Tour mode where you move up the rankings while improving your character’s forehand, backhand, speed, power and serve. The World Tour was actually a deeper experience than I was expecting from a game like this.
- In Super Volley Blast you can play a surprisingly charming story mode that had me chuckling a few times with funny pop culture references.
Avatar editor
The graphics are charming, fun and set the tone for Super Sports Blast. Unfinished Pixel definitely went for a distinct look in these arcade styled games.
For all three games there is an avatar editor where you can design your avatar in a fun and time efficient manner. Usually, I have the unhealthy habit of getting stuck in character editors for hours trying to figure out my character design and build. In Super Sports Blast I ran through the different avatar editors in minutes. This is not a dig at the avatar editor. Rather, I felt very satisfied with the many design options and I knew my preferred choices right away. The avatar editor is absolutely a highlight feature of this games package.
The only part of the customization that left me feeling let down was the team editor in the soccer game. Not in the editor itself, but in what I could actually do with my team once I had set it up, which is a shame. Even though it would stray from the concept of simplicity, I wish there was more to do with my newly built soccer team. I do feel like there was potential left on the table here.
Jump right in
What I do appreciate about this game is how easy it is to get into. The mechanics and controls are simple and intuitive for all three games, especially the volleyball and tennis games. The controls in the soccer game did leave me frustrated on a few occasions but not in a way that ruined the experience. I did go through the very short available tutorials before jumping into the gameplay just to make sure I was not missing any key features. Truthfully though, the tutorials were the equivalent of a friend telling me to hit cross to pass and circle to shoot. You could probably figure out the controls with a few button mashes in your first game. Due to the limited length of the tutorials though, there is more value in going through them than skipping them.
Single player vs Multiplayer
The gameplay is simple, easy to get into and fun. Simplicity usually comes with some downsides and that is true for Super Sports Blast as well. For players who want a deep single player experience or more complex mechanics, this game will surely disappoint. When I was going through the different game modes the gameplay started to feel repetitive in all three games. That is not to say the single player experience is without value, but I do wish there was something more to entice me to keep playing. The one standout in this regard was the volleyball story mode. Unfinished Pixel did manage to keep my interest and engagement throughout the story mode thanks to the opposing characters, increasing difficulty and perfect length.
Where Super Sports Blast truly has the ability to soar is in the local multiplayer. You do have the ability to play up to 4 players on local multiplayer however; I have not yet had the opportunity to try this out myself (thanks corona). I definitely see myself bringing this game out when socializing with friends in the future. A perfect mode for local multiplayer is the blast mode in the volleyball game. In this mode you have the ability to add some off the rails features. For example, you can substitute the ball for a chicken that is acting on its own forcing you to miss otherwise clear spikes, or playing on a slippery ice court. This is sure to end a relationship or two if you decide to play blast mode against a somewhat competitive counterpart. So do with that information what you will.
Who is this game for
If you are looking for a game to play on your own and spend hours upon hours on, this game is probably not for you. The single player experience is fun enough to test out for a few hours but you will most likely start to feel the repetitiveness in your first play through.
In my opinion, this game is best suited as a party game. With Super Sports Blast you can introduce the game to a group of friends and almost instantly, you can have a local multiplayer tournament going. The game mechanics and intuitive controls open this game up for both inexperienced and experienced players. You can probably have a good time playing Super Sports Blast together with your family as well.
Verdict
Solid. This is a well-executed game that is easy to get into without long tutorials or setups. There is some variety in the game modes but this game is best enjoyed together with friends or family. If you set your expectations right you can have a fun experience. Just don’t go in expecting a Matrix-like immersion.
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