We've all been there. Elementary school gym class, just after lunch. With over-processed mystery meat still rumbling in your gut, you stand alone in the middle of the gymnasium. Tube socks pulled to your knees, your panicky eyes dart back and forth as you wait for one of your classmates to knock you between the eyes with a red bouncy ball.

Ah ... the simple pleasures of dodge ball. Things actually aren't quite that simple in Atlus' new game Super Dodge Ball Advance, but they're every bit as fun. You get to control an entire team of dodge ball enthusiasts on a quest to become the best ball hurlers in the world. The action is fast-paced and fun, especially if you use the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable to compete against a friend.

You get to control a rookie team of players from one of ten countries including Korea, Canada, Japan and the USA. To earn the championship, you have to work your way through nine countries and four mega-teams made up of the globe's best players.

Super Dodge Ball Advance requires more strategy than you might expect. Before each match, you get to assign positions to seven players based on their individual strengths and weaknesses. The court is divided into two halves by a center line. Four players from each team stand on either side of the center line (infield), and three players are positioned around the edges of the opposite team's side (outfield).

Players are rated in 10 individual categories. Assign players with good Stamina to the infield, and players with good Super Throws should be positioned in the outfield. You're allowed to work your way through the competition in any order you choose.

The actual gameplay is fast-paced and intricate. Each time a player is hit or the ball is caught, that player loses Stamina. When his or her Stamina is completely drained, he or she must leave the game. Instead of simply throwing the ball over the center line, try passing the ball quickly from infield players to outfield players. Keep passing the ball until you see a good opportunity to strike, then let 'er rip.

There is no penalty for crossing the center line, but you have to jump over the line and throw the ball before you land on the ground. If you want to get really tricky, you can press the L Button to make a teammate run and jump over the center line. Toss the ball to this player when he or she is in the air, and you might be able to catch the competition by surprise.

Another important aspect of Super Dodge Ball Advance is the Super Throw. Each player has his or her own Super Throw, which makes the ball disobey the laws of physics and fly around the screen in wild patterns. These tosses are extremely tough to catch.

Super Dodge Ball Advance is a fun sports title with solid play control and a surprising amount of depth. The real fun lies in battling against a human opponent, so be sure to grab a Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable so you can peg your best friend in the noggin'!