In the 3rd party section of Nintendo’s booth, Beach Spikers was featured among many others. Those who know of AM2’s arcade title know what to expect, as this port is very true to the arcade version, graphically and otherwise. The characters come out a little plastic, but that can be overlooked once you notice the nice graphical touch of the sand. Sand is very important to Beach Spikers, as the setting demands copious amounts of sand. As the players move around the sand, should it be diving or just running, all the sand that is stirred stays that way throughout the match. The framerate is very nice and smooth and the animations are fluid. The volleyball action is intense and fast-paced.

There are many countries for you to choose from, including the U.S., Brazil, England, etc. Control with the stick is spot-on. Players control the athletes by using the A-button to Serve, Spike, and Bump and using the B-button to set. While Serving and Power gauge appears and you must get as close to the top of the power gauge as possible. The power gauge appears again when you go up for a spike. The game progressed much like a regular volleyball game, and the hit detection was good.

Look for Beach Spikers later in the year, and trust me, it’s a lot of fun.