Extreme Volleyball Infernal League is a new Master System title that has been released on Steam today following being ported to PC recently. The sports title, from retro developer Raphnet, is also available to play DRM free on Windows as well as a physical cart.
Raphnet is best known for its production of special cables and adapters for retro hardware. Everything from controller adapters, cartridge connectors and retro management tools can be found on its website. Occasionally, the retro firm develops a new game and that brings us to the Steam version of its latest one, Extreme Volleyball Infernal League.
Extreme Volleyball Infernal League is a straightforward arcade volleyball game. The main game is a Mortal Kombat-style tournament that sees you climb up the league facing more difficult opponents as you progress. Beat a foe and you can move on to the next one. Lose the match and you lose one of three lives.
You score points by beating opponents, playing a perfect match and competing in one of two bonus rounds that require you to juggle the ball without it falling to the ground. To win a match you must deplete the opponent’s energy bar. This is achieved by making them miss a shot and the ball touching down in their half of the court.
Each player has their own attributes such as super speed or better accuracy. You can select which player you start and see their attributes on the character select screen. The only difference to the one on one volleyball is the very last player in the league who has a special surprise that won’t be spoiled here.
The gameplay consists of the Master System’s two buttons. One is a jump that you press to launch yourself up to meet the volleyball. Hitting your shot at the height of your jump gives a more powerful shot. You also pick up randomly falling items that you use with the second button. These items help you with more speed, extra health or fireballs you can fling amongst others.
Extreme Volleyball Infernal League also includes a single-match option that allows you to play against the CPU or a friend. There are some achievements to unlock, that mostly revolve around getting perfect rounds and finishing the main portion of the game.
Graphically, there is a good use of the Master System colour palette and the music and sounds bleep along nicely. The controls are tight and the game is challenging without being overly difficult. It won’t take you long to finish Extreme Volleyball Infernal League but it is a fun romp with some great characters that banter before and after the matches.
You can head to Steam to purchase now or buy the Windows version from itch.io where there is also access to a demo. Those wanting the authentic experience can buy a Master System cart direct from Raphnet with an expected release date of July this year.
