Who says there ain't no cure for the summertime blues? With 3 hot volleyball games to keep your pale skin indoors, summer gaming is no longer for the fans of the outdoors. If you participated in elementary gym class, you've played volleyball. If you live somewhere that the weather isn't as random as my golf swing, you've played recently with a friends over a few beers. No matter when your last game of the sand and net was, you have a chance to play virtually on the PS2. Summer Heat Beach Volleyball is the only PS2 volleyball game on the market. With DOA Extreme Volleyball and Outlaw Volleyball on the Xbox, both geared highly on the smutty content, with Outlaw supplying the only "game" in town on the Xbox, you'd figure that Acclaim would follow suit and go for the skin and grin... but no! Summer Heat is actually the most tasteful volleyball game of the bunch. Sure if you look at the box art it seems geared for Mr. Lonely Jeans, but the game's content strays away from the smut sells attitude. Strange coming from the folks who sold us BMX XXX? Who knows... maybe there's a SHVB XXX coming soon for the shameless wonders later... for now this is what you get, and a good game it actually is!

Visually the game looks pretty good on the PS2. With the high on polygon count and low on the jaggies, this isn't your typical rush to the market title. As far a smut goes... there is a little skin for the geek boys out there, and a jiggle engine too boot, but the game doesn't even come close to the tasteless content of DOA. SHBV gives you a variety of player models, camera angles, and replays that would make Sega proud. There are 12 detailed beach environments that kick up sand, and look great. The camera is default set for a cinematic experience, but doesn't get in the way one bit. You do have the option for other views, but the default displays the excitement the best. The animations are varied depending on each hitting style, so you can easily tell the hard spikes from the punched volleys. The player models while highly animated, seem a little low on the detail. It's easy to see that the developers took more time on the female models versus the male models. The guys look like your typical thugs, while the girls are each detailed and diverse. You can't blame the developers with the success of DOA, but thankfully they seemed to have more class and maturity then the boys at Tecmo. Overall the game looks very good and should appease any fan.

The game's audio isn't too bad, but isn't going to give any major sports title a run for its money. The commentary is sparse and repetitive, and the player's taunts and reactions aren't as comical or rude as Outlaw's, but it gets the job done. The sounds of the beach are in full swing with seagulls, swishing sand, and that unmistakable volleyball sound. Gamers are even treated with some decent top 40 tunes from Sum 41, Pink, and more! The music is fitting, and isn't distracting as it could have been. My question is where are the Beach Boys? What, is my age showing? All in all, SHBV does a respectable job in the sounds department as well.

Graphics and sound don't mean a crab's ass if they game play stinks. (See DOA) Thankfully Summer Heat is a great playing game of volleyball. Easy to pick up and play, with plenty of room to learn new tricks and moves to master the net. The controls are pretty basic with 3 hitting styles for returns and servers. Timing is critical, and errors on your part can be fatal. One let down is the A.I. While the CPU for your opponent is decent and the difficulty is selectable, your partner is and can be a moron, which will cost your more points that need be. This game had the co-op and 4 player modes in mind here. Single players will find it trying on your nerves when your partner goes for a spike and fails... multiple times. Thankfully the game's difficulty won't have you breaking any controllers, just strangling them a bit. Okay, 3 for 3 so far... on to the options. There is plenty to do and see in Summer Heat to keep you busy all summer long and better yet, both hands on the controller. The game supplies the typical Arcade and Exhibition matches which will provide a few hours of enjoyment. More so if you have 1-3 friends to get your volley on with! You also can hone your skills in the tutorial mode that allows you to learn the basics and a few advanced techniques. There are also a variety of mini games that provide a get a way from the normal rules and settings. The meat of the game lies in the US Tour. Work your way though a season of summer madness and unlock over 200 goodies for your player models, from new outfits and sunglasses, to videos and new courts! This is where you'll spend most of your time in single player mode. While making your own volleyball player isn't an option, the game does offer 14 players to choose from. Throw in a beach house to watch your favorite music video and this game is chocked full of goodies.

I have to say this game comes in a very... and I mean a very close second to Outlaw Volleyball in terms of great game play and lasting appeal. If it weren't for Outlaw's online play, Summer Heat would take the point. As is, if you just own a PS2 and have complained that your friends get all of the fun in the virtual sun on their Xbox's, complain no more. You have something to brag about in this title, as it is a winner, and at only 30 bucks too boot! You can't loose. Buy this one... it's the best sun block on the market for the PS2!