Once upon a time football gaming titles weren’t merely judged on how ‘authentic’ and ‘life like’ they were. Cast your mind back a decade and the greatest example of the beautiful game – in terms of video gaming at least – was a simple little title by the name of Sensible Soccer.
With its top down viewpoint and miniscule players under your command, Sensible Soccer was the best footie sim bar none. If you haven’t enjoyed an eight hour Sensi tournament with a number of drunken pals, then you haven’t gamed.
But as time progressed and Sony’s Playstation ushered in era of 3D, we became obsessed with realistic graphics and wildly complicated control methods. Shame.
Well it’s time to turn the clocks back. Slightly. Codemasters have seen fit to resurrect the series – along with it’s original designer Jon Hare. Are we witnessing the rebirth of one of the best multi-player titles ever?
They say:
GameSpot: “Sensible Soccer 2006 succeeds in retaining the feel of the original series, but with some important niggles in the gameplay, it doesn't usurp SWOS as the best game in the series.”
Eurogamer: “It goes without saying that Sensible is best enjoyed in two player mode. That was always the case, and it still holds true today, so it's a blow that there's no online play option.”
Pro-G: “Sensible Soccer 2006 is a game that you want to love, but frequently find yourself hating.”
We say:
Despite its aging looks, the player characters are a huge step up from the last Sensible Soccer title. The huge bobbly heads might not be quite to everyone’s taste – particularly those who’ve been brought up on a diet of pure FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer action – but you’ll find yourself warming to them after a while.
Taking control of a team is way easier than Pro Evo or FIFA. Sensible Soccer uses a mere handful of the buttons on your joypad and is all the better for it.
Though the lack of a through pass or the ability to instigate a wild trick may grate at first, it forces you to use your footballing brain to make your way towards goal. Lengthy passing moves, rounded off with a twenty yard curling strike into the top right hand corner just feel so much more fulfilling here.
The sheer simplicity of the control system gives you the feeling that it’s you who’s put that move together. You’ve not merely pressed a handful of buttons and watched the AI play out your supposed action.
Sensi doesn’t have it all its own way of course and chinks in the proverbial armour are discovered as time progresses. The simplistic control method denies you the opportunity to quickly tap a button to control the man closest to the ball. Instead, the man you control is purely down to the choice that the game wants you to have, and it can cause a few hair tugging moments of frustration.
The goalkeepers seem to be much more David James than Paul Robinson, sometimes letting poorly hit strikes close to their body drift in, while spectacularly saving a shot bound for the top corner. Exactly akin to the Man City ‘keeper, whose antics cant fail to amuse when he does one of his wild meanders from goal one minute, yet makes an incredible world class save the next.
Even these flaws ultimately can’t hide the fact that Sensible Soccer is pure unadulterated fun. Though the experience may not be long lasting in single player terms, get a few pals around to play the odd tournament after the last World Cup Match of the Day has finished and you’ll be hooked till dawn.
Like this? Try these:
Pro Evolution Soccer 5 – PS2, PC, Xbox
Football Manager 2006 – PC, Xbox 360
New Star Soccer 3 - PC
FORMAT REVIEWED
PS2
OTHER FORMATS
Xbox, PC
POSTED...
Tue 13 Jun 2006 at 10:32pm
