STREET SPORTS SOCCER - A review
By Grant Kwai
Copyright (c) 1990 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
The local bunch of kids are out and its time for that long awaited soccer match! Choose your team from a group of 8 players. All have there own special characteristics; some are top goal shooters, others are good goal keepers. There are 5 male and 3 female players and any combination can win.
This fast moving arcade style game can be played by you matching your wits and skills against the computer, or against a friend in a 2 player match. For first time players, there is a beginners level, and intermediate and finally, the difficult level.
You have a team of three players. You can either choose a preset team, create your own teams or let the computer pick 2 teams at random. You are then faced with the option of which field you want to play on. Do you want to play on the streets or on the park field? Beware of all the obstacles on the street though!
The game can end after a certain amount of time which you set, or if you hate playing to a time limit, you can play to a certain goal score is reached( 20 goal maximum). After that menu, it's on with the game!
You control one of the players with either the joystick or the keyboard controls. The player you have control of appears with a white shirt on to distinguish it from the other players. Like in real soccer, you can pass, dribble, take shots at goal, steal the ball and even do headers. You can allow your goalie to run as well to create a 3 on 2 encounter but beware, if the opposition gain possession of the ball, they you have an open goal!
The double hires graphics are excellent and provide a free flowing game. The manual is only a few pages. It provides information about the controls, a statistics file on each of the eight players, techniques of play and also the rules. The package includes 1 program disk, 1 manual, 1 warranty form (Mine was for the US though), and a quick reference card.
It takes a long time to load up since it is copy protected. No back up is provided, nor an option in receiving a back-up copy. While loading, it makes the disk drive 'whirl' due to all the protection. Which makes me wonder how long my disk will last, especially with no back up.
Overall, this is a fantastic arcade game which will keep you peering into the screen for hours on end. There is little sound except for when you kick the ball and when you score a goal.
Permission is hereby granted for non-profit user groups to republish this content. PLEASE CREDIT THE AUTHOR AND THE SOURCE: Applecations, publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia