Occasionally here at Player2.net.au, we will play something that deserves your attention but probably doesn’t need a full review written for it. Be it DLC for the latest AAA title, a little indie game or even an Android/iOS title. We play these titles for a blockbusting amount of time (2 – 5 hours) and report back to you the reader on what we found. So grab your popcorn and settle in for the latest episode of Blockbuster Gaming.
Blockbuster Gaming – Disc Jam
Nintendo Switch
Windjammers, a cult classic game that involved over the top characters throwing frisbee’s at each other in a physics-defying manner. It was a game that lived in people’s memories and when it was recently re-released for the PS4 there was much rejoicing. But where was the modern take on Windjammers? Well as it turns out there has been one for a little while, a title called Disc Jam. Disc Jam has been available on PC and PS4 for quite some time but somehow I missed it, thankfully though the Switch release grabbed my attention, because it is a title I am certainly glad I got to play.
The best way to describe Disc Jam is part tennis, part soccer, part ultimate frisbee but that description fails to fully convey what is going. Two players (or four in a doubles match)face off against each other at opposite sides of the court and must fling a frisbee at each other. Points are scored when an opponent flings their frisbee past the other player and it goes in the goal or if the frisbee touches the ground. Sounds simple right? Well not so much. Players can put curve, bounce and different spin on the frisbee when they throw it, making its path much harder to judge. A special move can also be charged up and used, which sends the frisbee on a crazy pattern across the screen, making the chances of stopping it super slim.
The game looks great, with a futuristic sport aesthetic that reminded me of the Football game in Starship Troopers. It is clean, yet detailed and never gets in the way of the action. The controls all work great as well, though I did find that it took a bit of getting used too, it is very easy to get buttons mixed up in the heat of the moment that is for sure. But that is more my problem and hardly something I can blame on the game. The moment to moment gameplay, which let’s face it is this sort of game’s bread and butter, is smooth, responsive and most of all entertaining.
Perhaps the only major issue I have with Disc Jam is the lack of significant single player content. There is the ability to play against ghost’s of other players but that is it. It would have been wonderful to have even a basic career mode to compete in. Thankfully though the netcode is rock solid and as it has cross-play with the PC version I never had to wait long for a game. There was no lag present and I never felt like the connection was struggling. It is very pleasing to see.
In all Disc Jam is a great sports title. If you don’t want to play online you may want to avoid it, but otherwise, it has smooth controls, a great look and some interesting mechanics. Simple to play but plenty of depth to master as well. Disc Jam is perfectly suited to the Switch and should be considered by all sports fans that own the system.
Matt Hewson
