“Discovering Zen in ‘Basic Pokemon JRPGs’: Volleyball Battles That Bring Joy”

(Image credit: Wants Ultd)

I’ve been keeping an eye on Beastieball, a creature collection volleyball RPG that transforms Pokémon into a sports anime, for over a year now. When the developers of Chicory: A Colorful Tale, undoubtedly one of the most joyous games to release in recent years, announce a fresh endeavor, it piques my interest. And when that project’s trailer kicks off with a glimpse of the Haikyu manga and turn-based combat, it certainly captures my attention. What do you know, the Steam Next Fest demo for Beastieball impresses, hits hard, and definitely scores.

Beastieball merges the evolution of Pokémon games with the energy of a sports anime. Early on, one character directly asks you if you have watched any sports anime. You assume the role of a rookie coach with a mismatched team of Beasties eager to protect your town’s environment by establishing your reputation in the league. It’s time to defeat some regional gym leaders, I mean coaches, to expand your roster and possibly revolutionize the whole monstrous ecosystem while you’re at it. There’s also a clever twist on progression: adversary teams escalate as you defeat various coaches, allowing for nonlinear exploration without drastically affecting the difficulty curve.

So far, the gameplay unfolds in 2-on-2 turn-based battles where you defend, volley, receive, block, set, and spike balls – thanks to Haikyu for letting me flex my volleyball terminology – to inflict damage and score points, either by cleverly trapping enemies, hitting an open lane, or knocking out rival Beasties. You dash back and forth, attacking and defending, maneuvering around the 2×2 grid to minimize damage in the rear or to set up powerful players in the front. Strike a vertical lane to isolate the opponents’ weakest link, target a lateral lane to exploit a gap, or play defensively in the back to build up buffs for a single devastating play.

The demo battles are designed to be straightforward, but from the upgrade abilities I’ve observed previously, it feels like there’s ample space for deeper strategy, especially as Beasties bulk up a bit and can withstand more hits. The truly entertaining aspect is how Beastieball incorporates fundamental tropes common in sports anime: your Beasties can become friends, rivals, or even romantic interests as they participate together, unlocking unique moves that only they can perform. Folks, we’re just one step away from a duo fast attack that’s going to take the upperclassmen to nationals.

The creatures themselves are the highlight of the show. These ‘mons are built to play ball. You’ll want to capture as many Beasties as possible to expand your roster – some enjoy assisting, some act as immovable blockers, and others – but most won’t join unless they’re satisfied that you can capitalize on their skills. Ingeniously, you distribute jerseys instead of tossing around Pokéballs. It’s all very immersive in a way that both surprises and makes you think, “Of course! That makes perfect sense!”

The entire game features a profoundly defined, hand-drawn aesthetic – no surprise considering the studio behind Chicory, Wants Unlimited – and the creature designs are fantastic right from the outset. Sprecko, a hybrid of caterpillar and lizard, is currently my favorite. All I want right now is to see him evolve. Beastieball is slated for release later this year according to Steam, and it feels like a delightful Pokémon-inspired experience.

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Austin has written for notable outlets such as PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while completing his journalism degree, and he has been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. They have yet to realize that his position as a senior writer is merely a cover for his ongoing Future column, and he has maintained the facade by focusing on news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as he can.