Outlaw Volleyball

Outlaw Volleyball

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	2003 (2003)
Products	Outlaw Volleyball, Outlaw Volleyball Remixed, Outlaw Volleyball Red Hot

Outlaw Volleyball is a video game centered on the sport of volleyball, initially launched for the Xbox. The Xbox edition included a sampler CD featuring the cover band Diffuser and was released in Japan as part of the Xbox World Collection series. Subsequently, it was adapted for the PlayStation 2 under the title Outlaw Volleyball Remixed, which introduced two additional courts along with new costumes and accessories for players. This title belongs to the Outlaw franchise, which also includes games like Outlaw Golf and Outlaw Tennis. Notably, Steve Carell provides the voice of the announcer.

Gameplay

Seventeen characters are playable within the game, though only four are accessible from the start, each characterized by distinct volleyball and combat attributes. While adhering to conventional volleyball rules, the game incorporates diverse modes such as Hot Potato, where the ball detonates after a countdown upon contact, and Casino Round, in which teams accumulate increasing cash rewards during extended rallies. Players can customize scoring systems depending on the selected mode.

A unique element is the pre-serve combat between competitors positioned across the net; triumphing in these skirmishes awards the winner with control over the opponent’s momentum meter. Additionally, players gain beating tokens by executing remarkable moves and forcing turnovers on serves.

Outlaw Volleyball Red Hot

Released exclusively as a rental through Blockbuster, Outlaw Volleyball Red Hot functions as a spin-off rather than a full sequel. Set against a hellish backdrop, it features just one court—the "Pit of Hell"—which does not appear in the original release. Characters returning from previous titles sport altered outfits with devilish accessories like red horns and wings to suit the theme.

Development

The animation of characters in Outlaw Volleyball was achieved using motion capture technology. Unused animations and concept artwork were made available on the Hypnotix website. The game’s soundtrack showcased various punk rock bands from the 1990s and early 2000s eras, including Avoid One Thing, Diffuser, and Hot Rod Circuit, among others. The song "Meat" was contributed by Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. Executive production was handled by Nile Rodgers, while MTV's Melinda Gedman served as music supervisor. Rodgers emphasized that video games offer valuable exposure opportunities for emerging artists. The music video for Diffuser’s track "Get It On", featuring footage from gameplay, premiered on MTV and VH1. The soundtrack was released concurrently with the game on July 8, 2003.

Reception

Critical responses ranged from favorable to mixed reviews. Aggregators like GameRankings and Metacritic assigned scores of 79% and 77/100 to Outlaw Volleyball, whereas Outlaw Volleyball Remixed received lower ratings of 64% and 57/100. Reviewers commended the title for its humor and online capabilities but criticized its low difficulty level, limited gameplay variety, and repetitive comedic elements. The PlayStation 2 port was described as a "lazy rehash" and a "clunky conversion" of an older release.

See also

• Beach Spikers
• Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
• Summer Heat Beach Volleyball