Lethal League

{{Infobox video game

| title = Lethal League

| developer = Team Reptile

| publisher = Team Reptile

| engine =

| platforms = Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

| released = Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux{{Video game release|WW|27 August 2014}}PlayStation 4{{Video game release|WW|9 May 2017}}Xbox One{{Video game release|WW|10 May 2017}}

| genre = Fighting

| series =

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

Lethal League is an indie fighting video game developed by Dutch developer Team Reptile. It was released worldwide on Windows on 27 August 2014, with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions released in May 2017. A sequel, Lethal League Blaze, was released on Windows in October 2018, and on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in July 2019.

Gameplay

Lethal League is a 2D arena fighting video game in which up to four players face off against each other in an arena. The goal is to hit a ball back and forth, and have the ball hit other players until there's only one player left. With each consecutive hit, the ball will speed up more, making it harder for the other players to not get hit and hit the ball back.{{cite web |last=McGee |first=Maxwell |date=19 July 2014 |title=Lethal League is a High-Speed Mash-Up of Pong and Fighting Games |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/lethal-league-is-a-high-speed-mash-up-of-pong-and-/1100-6421166/ |work=GameSpot |access-date=30 August 2014 |archive-date=15 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915142146/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/lethal-league-is-a-high-speed-mash-up-of-pong-and-/1100-6421166/ |url-status=live }} In their review, Destructoid described the game as "If Mario Tennis and Smash Bros. had a baby, and it was raised by European DJs who love baseball."{{Cite web |last=Pack |first=Ben |date=25 August 2014 |title=Review: Lethal League |url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-lethal-league-280122.phtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827163411/http://www.destructoid.com/review-lethal-league-280122.phtml |archive-date=27 August 2014 |website=Destructoid}}

Development

Lethal League started out as a flash game, the idea coming from the developers playing around with a 'hit and reflect projectile mechanic' in Team Reptile's first game, Megabyte Punch.{{cite web|url=http://www.pixelcake.nl/team-reptile-lethal-league-interview/20140829|title=Team Reptile interview: Lethal League|work=PixelCake|date=29 August 2014|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903100650/http://www.pixelcake.nl/team-reptile-lethal-league-interview/20140829|url-status=live}} The flash game was picked up by several media outlets and was the Mystery Game at the UFGT9 fighting game tournament. After being very well received, the developer decided to flesh out the prototype and develop it into a full game to be released on Steam. The more fleshed out version of Lethal League was first showcased at the 2014 Casual Connect Europe, and later at EVO's indie showcase and Gamescom, where the game was a crowd favorite.{{cite web|url=http://control-online.nl/gamesindustrie/2014/08/15/video-%E2%80%A2-lethal-league-is-ook-op-gamescom-publiekstrekker/|title=Lethal League van Reptile Games is ook op Gamescom publiekstrekker|work=Control Magazine|date=15 August 2014|language=Dutch|trans-title=Lethal League of Reptile Games is also featured on Gamescom|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903153146/http://control-online.nl/gamesindustrie/2014/08/15/video-%E2%80%A2-lethal-league-is-ook-op-gamescom-publiekstrekker/|url-status=live}}

In 2016, the game was part of the Humble Indie Bundle 17 with ports to Mac OS X and Linux.

In 2017, Team Reptile announced a remake of Lethal League, titled Lethal League Blaze, that included fully 3D models and animations. It was released for Windows on October 24, 2018,{{Cite news |last=Tarason |first=Dominic |last2= |first2= |date=2018-10-24 |title=Basebrawl battler Lethal League Blaze is out now |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/lethal-league-blaze-out-now |access-date=2025-03-05 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}} followed by versions for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on July 12, 2019.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 82/100 (PC){{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/lethal-league/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Lethal League for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |accessdate=5 July 2019 |archive-date=24 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724133715/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/lethal-league |url-status=live }}
66/100 (PS4){{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/lethal-league/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Lethal League for PlayStation 4 Reviews |work=Metacritic |accessdate=5 July 2019 |archive-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720140938/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/lethal-league |url-status=live }}

| Destruct = 9/10 (PC)
4.5/10 (PS4){{Cite web |last=Cosimano |first=Mike |date=13 May 2017 |title=Review: Lethal League |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-lethal-league-435969.phtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520063753/https://www.destructoid.com/review-lethal-league-435969.phtml |archive-date=20 May 2017 |access-date=5 July 2019 |website=Destructoid}}

| HCG = 3/5{{Cite web |last=Thew |first=Geoff |date=2014-09-19 |title=Review: Lethal League |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-lethal-league/106132/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Hardcore Gamer |language=en-US |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629020632/https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-lethal-league/106132/ |url-status=live }}

| SN = 8/10{{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=2014-09-03 |title=Lethal League review: Ruth-ian |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/86092/lethal-league-review-ruth-ian |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Shacknews |language=en |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629080614/https://www.shacknews.com/article/86092/lethal-league-review-ruth-ian |url-status=live }}

}}

Lethal League was released on 27 August 2014 and has received mostly positive reviews. Many reviewers praised Lethal League for being "easy to learn, spectacular to watch and complex to master"{{cite web|url=http://multiplayer.it/recensioni/136984-lethal-league-palle-dacciaio.html|title=Lethal League Recensione|work=Multiplayer.it|date=4 September 2014|language=Italian|trans-title=Lethal League Review|access-date=15 September 2014|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119100813/http://multiplayer.it/recensioni/136984-lethal-league-palle-dacciaio.html|url-status=live}} and for being a lot of fun to play on the couch with friends.{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-lethal-league-280122.phtml|title=Lethal League Review|work=Power Unlimited|date=10 September 2014|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-date=29 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829030712/http://www.destructoid.com/review-lethal-league-280122.phtml|url-status=live}} Destructoid's Ben Pack ended his review saying "It’s my personal favorite of the revival of couch co-op games, and may be my favorite “tell a friend” game of all time." The game sold over 100.000 units worldwide by April 2015.{{cite web |date=April 16, 2015 |title=Over 100k units sold - Lethal League heading to other platforms |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/241329/Over_100k_units_sold__Lethal_League_heading_to_otherplatforms.php |accessdate=March 21, 2020 |website=Gamasutra}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}