Faceball 2000
Faceball 2000 is a Game Boy shooter game released in 1991 developed by Xanth Software F/X. It centers on shooting and weapon use, puzzle, maze, or device solving, and local connection or multiplayer interaction, with controls, information, and pacing arranged around a monochrome small screen, a directional pad, and two main action buttons.
- AI score · out of 10
- 6.5 / 10
About this game
Faceball 2000 is a Game Boy shooter release centered on shooting and weapon use, puzzle, maze, or device solving, and local connection or multiplayer interaction. Missions pace progress through enemy waves, routes, and weapon opportunities, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make its immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on campaign length or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Projectiles, hits, and danger zones must remain readable within the available display, while silhouettes, contrast, and audio cues need to remain clear on the monochrome display. The main genre-specific friction is that dense encounters, limited visibility, and continue costs amplify reaction and memorization pressure. In addition, password or battery saves, link-cable requirements, display blur, manual dependence, and regional language can affect use of the original cartridge today. This description covers only this release and excludes emulator features, modern-port conveniences, and content from other platforms.
Collected in series
Faceball brings smiling opponents and first-person maze shooting together, with roots in MIDI Maze and its Faceball 2000 adaptations. Simple corridors become places to peek around corners, dodge projectiles and line up a shot.
Recommended games
Related game recommendations on this platform
Game Boy (GB)
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
A substantial friendly maze shooter slowed by campaign motion.
Faceball 2000 turns smiling enemies and round projectiles into an unusually friendly first-person maze game. Exits, keys, switches and destructible walls give exploration purpose beyond shooting. A substantial campaign is complemented by selectable Arena maps and opponent settings, while direct competition with another player adds immediate fun. Bouncy music and hit feedback provide personality, but featureless environments make orientation difficult. An overhead map helps without resolving the campaign's sluggish movement; Arena handling is comparatively smoother. Combat also permits only one active shot and offers no sidestep, so groups of enemies often demand backing away and maintaining distance. It suits patient maze explorers interested in handheld shooting and short matches, not players expecting agile evasion, rapid continuous fire or an expanding weapon system.
Strengths
- Varied maze goals and configurable Arena
- Charming faces and bouncy music
Weaknesses
- Sluggish campaign motion
- Single-shot waiting and no sidestep
Who it is for: Patient maze explorers and linked-match enthusiasts.
Play notes: Use Select for the map; campaign and Arena handling differ, and linked play needs compatible equipment.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension A substantial campaign and configurable matches support different sessions, though limited combat vocabulary becomes repetitive. | Reviewed | 7.7 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Route finding and cautious distancing engage, while restricted firing and evasion narrow combat responses. | Reviewed | 6.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Friendly shapes and useful cues give identity, but featureless surroundings weaken spatial recognition. | Reviewed | 6.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension The map helps navigation, but sluggish campaign movement impedes handling more than short Arena play. | Reviewed | 4.8 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Xanth Software F/X
- Publisher
- Bullet Proof Software
- Release date
- 1991
- Platforms
- Game Boy (GB)
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Shooter · Primary genre
- Tags
- DodgePlayer versus EnvironmentPuzzle SolvingReplayableFast-pacedMain Story Under 10 HoursShootingSolo-friendlyLinear LevelsSide-scrolling2D GraphicsPlayer versus Player
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- MultiplayerSingle player
- Perspectives
- First person
Release editions
- Game Boy (GB)Worldwide1991
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided