Enjoyable sporting action
Volleyball isn't exactly a sport which has been translated into videogaming form with the same kind of regularity as soccer or basketball, with only the likes of Kings of the Beach and Volleyball Simulator really standing out. As such, Over the Net is a game which deserves to be played by hardened fans of the real-world sport who are desperate for a computer recreation of their beloved passion, but even for those less enamoured with it, this actually makes for a reasonably entertaining little game. It's all fairly standard stuff, with the obvious options available from the start, including the ability to choose the number of sets to be played, while you also have a few different teams to select, each of which enter into the spirit of things in light-hearted fashion. Once everything is set up to your liking, it's time to hit the beach and for those unaware, the point of the game is to be the first to reach fifteen points. And that's pretty much it for Over the Net in terms of gameplay. As for how it plays, well, it's not too bad to be honest. The visuals are nice and chunky, with large sprites that move around at a fair old pace and which are reasonably well animated, while the controls are pretty intuitive and easy to get the hang of. The AI is pretty decent, both in terms of your opponents and your team mates, so there is a good amount of challenge and there shouldn't be too many frustrating moments where you want to scream at your buddy. Over the Net is nothing spectacular but if you are in the market for an offbeat sports sim, then check this out or even try the classic California Games.
