Difference between revisions of "Ballz 3D"

From Sega Retro

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| publisher=[[Accolade]]
 
| publisher=[[Accolade]]
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| developer=[[Accolade]], [[PF Magic]]
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| developer=[[PF Magic]]
 
| system=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
 
| system=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
 
| sounddriver=[[GEMS]]
 
| sounddriver=[[GEMS]]
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| otherformats={{NonSega|SNES}}
 
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{{stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', or just '''''Ballz''''' is a fighting game developed and published by [[Accolade]] for the [[Sega Mega Drive]]. The characters are made up of spheres of various sizes, which change to attempt to simulate 3D characters with smooth animations, similar to ''[[Vectorman]]''.
+
{{stub}}'''''Ballz 3D: Fighting at its Ballziest''''', known in Europe as '''''Ballz 3D: The Battle of the Balls''''', is a [[Sega Mega Drive]] fighting game developed by [[PF Magic]] and published by [[Accolade]]. Released in September 1994 to mixed reviews, the game is most notable for constructing its characters entirely with spheres to simulate three-dimensional animation, similar to ''[[Vectorman]]''.
  
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
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{{A}} is for punches, {{B}} is for kicks and {{C}} is for jumping, the height of the jump depends on the time the button is held down. Pushing {{up}} or {{down}} moves the character in the 3D space. All characters have a wide array of special moves, including the ability to morph into other characters.
+
Fighters can punch, kick, and jump, with the height of the jump controlled by holding the button longer. Pushing {{up}} or {{down}} strafes fighters around the three-dimensional playfield. Fighters also have the ability to morph themselves into different forms.
  
−
After each few fights, unplaybale boss characters await, which are exceptionally tough to take down, e.g. an ostrich or a dinosaur.
+
While coming out after ''[[Street Fighter II]]'', the game's simple controls and mechanics are more akin to early fighting games such as ''[[Power Athlete]]''. Additionally, due to many sprites being drawn at once, the game suffers from sprite flickering.
−
 
 
−
While coming out after ''[[Street Fighter II]]'', the game's simple controls and mechanics are more akin to early fighting games such as ''[[Power Athlete]]''.
 
−
 
 
−
Due to many sprites being drawn at once, the game suffers from sprite flickering.
 
  
 
===Characters===
 
===Characters===

Revision as of 19:46, 9 May 2021

n/a

Ballz title.png

Ballz 3D
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Accolade
Developer:
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		T-119126
Videogame Rating Council: MA-13
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		T-119126-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
PT 		MD119126
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£39.9939.99[4][2] T-119126-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU 		$109.95109.95[5] FBAL04SMC
OFLC: G8
Sega Mega Drive
BR 		046650
Tectoy: 13+
Non-Sega versions

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Ballz 3D: Fighting at its Ballziest, known in Europe as Ballz 3D: The Battle of the Balls, is a Sega Mega Drive fighting game developed by PF Magic and published by Accolade. Released in September 1994 to mixed reviews, the game is most notable for constructing its characters entirely with spheres to simulate three-dimensional animation, similar to Vectorman.

Gameplay

Fighters can punch, kick, and jump, with the height of the jump controlled by holding the button longer. Pushing Up or Down strafes fighters around the three-dimensional playfield. Fighters also have the ability to morph themselves into different forms.

While coming out after Street Fighter II, the game's simple controls and mechanics are more akin to early fighting games such as Power Athlete. Additionally, due to many sprites being drawn at once, the game suffers from sprite flickering.

Characters

Kronk
Boomer
Bruiser
Turbo
Tsunami
Yoko
Divine
Crusher

Versions

Ballz 3D was released simultaneously on the Mega Drive and Super NES, and while the two share similar gameplay, the visuals differ significantly.

In addition to making use of the wider colour palette, the Super NES version of Ballz 3D utilises the DSP-1B maths co-processor, allowing for more advanced "mode 7" scaling and rotation than many other SNES titles. This subsequently means the floor in the SNES version of Ballz 3D is textured, while backgrounds are able to make use of alpha transparency, neither of which are supported by standard Mega Drive hardware. The Mega Drive version instead uses an untextured surface for its floor, comprised of a single gradient of colour (though interestingly, the later 3DO "Directors Cut" version also opts for a similar style).

The Mega Drive version runs with a higher screen resolution and at a higher frame rate than its Super NES counterpart.

Production credits

PF. Magic Credits
Accolade Credits
Source:
US manual
Ballz MD US manual.pdf
[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: Ballz 3D/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #62: "September 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #21: "October/November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • GamePro (US) #64: "November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)[7]
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #22: "December/January 1994/1995" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • GamePro (US) #66: "January 1995" (199x-xx-xx)[9]
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #37: "Octubre 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[10]
Consoles + (FR)
87
[11]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
87
[4]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
58
[12]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
62
[13]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
73
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[15]
Gamer (GR)
83
[16]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
79
[17]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
80
[18]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
77
[19]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
75
[20]
LeveL (CZ)
60
[21]
Mega (UK) PAL
80
[3]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
84
[22]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
63
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
91
[2]
Player One (FR)
74
[24]
Play Time (DE)
75
[25]
Power Up! (UK)
76
[26]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
71
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
80
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[29]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
86
[30]
Todo Sega (ES)
83
[31]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
90
[32]
Video Games (DE) PAL
81
[33]
VideoGames (US)
80
[34]
Sega Mega Drive
 78
Based on
28 reviews

Ballz 3D

Mega Drive, US
Ballz3D MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Ballz3D MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Ballz MD US manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Ballz3D MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Ballz3D MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, PT

Mega Drive, AU
Ballz3D MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Ballz3D MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Ballz3D MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 b362b705
MD5 339a8c9a96fcdedb2922b04bcc34f0d2
SHA-1 4825cb9245a701cc59900c57a7a5fa70edc160f0
2MB 1994-07 Cartridge (US/EU)
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-06 Page

References

  1. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 99
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Mean Machines Sega, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-08-xx), page 80
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mega, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-08-18), page 44
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Computer & Video Games, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-15), page 91
  5. ↑ Sega Megazone, "January 1995" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 32
  6. ↑ File:Ballz MD US manual.pdf, page 19
  7. ↑ GamePro, "November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 190
  8. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 136
  9. ↑ GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 19
  10. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 24
  11. ↑ Consoles +, "Septembre 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 100
  12. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "September 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 72
  13. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 38
  14. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 9 September 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 80
  15. ↑ GamePro, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 58
  16. ↑ Gamer, "Dekémvrios 1994" (GR; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
  17. ↑ GamesMaster, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-08-25), page 46
  18. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 4, episode 1" (1994-09-20, 24:00) (+8:25)
  19. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-08-25), page 12
  20. ↑ Game Informer, "September/October 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 24
  21. ↑ LeveL, "Leden 1995" (CZ; 1995-01-24), page 41
  22. ↑ Mega Force, "Septembre 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 110
  23. ↑ Mega Fun, "11/94" (DE; 1994-10-19), page 77
  24. ↑ Player One, "Septembre 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 100
  25. ↑ Play Time, "11/94" (DE; 1994-10-05), page 106
  26. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, October 01, 1994" (UK; 1994-10-01), page 1
  27. ↑ Sega Magazine, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-15), page 88
  28. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-01), page 54
  29. ↑ Sega Pro, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-08), page 50
  30. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "November 25th 1994" (UK; 1994-11-12), page 10
  31. ↑ Todo Sega, "Octubre 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 60
  32. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 18
  33. ↑ Video Games, "10/94" (DE; 1994-09-28), page 98
  34. ↑ VideoGames, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 62


Ballz 3D

Ballz title.png

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Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1994-06
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