Speedball

Speedball

Overview & History

Released by The Bitmap Brothers in 1990 and ported to the Sega Master System by Virgin Mastertronic, Speedball is a brutal, futuristic cyberpunk sports title set in the dystopian year 2095. Governed by a corrupt syndicate, two rival teams—Brutal Deluxe and Roller-coaster—clash in a metallic arena where traditional sportsmanship is replaced by pure violence. Unlike its more famous sequel, the Master System adaptation faithfully captures the gritty, industrial aesthetic and relentless pacing of the original 16-bit home computer iterations despite the 8-bit hardware constraints.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The game plays like a hyper-violent mix of handball and ice hockey. Two teams of five players battle over a heavy steel ball, aiming to score in the opponent's circular goal while utilizing metallic bumpers, score multipliers, and electric traps scattered across the pitch. Combat is not only permitted; it is actively encouraged. Players can punch, slide-tackle, and body-check opponents to steal the ball or earn extra cash. Collecting bouncing money bags scattered throughout the match allows players to buy brutal power-ups, such as ball-freezing bombs, increased speed, player health restoration, or temporary invulnerability. Matches last for two frantic periods, and the team with the most points at the final buzzer wins, advancing them further in the tournament ladder toward the ultimate championship trophy.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move player
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause