Summary
Soccer, known as football in most parts of the world, has been the subject of countless video games over the years. From bizarre cash grabs likePeter Shilton’s Handball Maradona, right through to juggernaut series likePro Evolution Soccer,FIFA/EA Sports FCandFootball Manager, the beautiful gamehas been well representedin the gaming world.
In such a crowded market, some great games are bound to slip through the cracks, falling into obscurity behind their well-known counterparts. Naturally, some of these titles still have a dedicated following, but in the wider gaming world, they have been largely forgotten and deserve a moment in the spotlight.
10Kenny Dalglish Soccer Manager
Climbing The Pyramid With King Kenny
Long before the likes ofFootball ManagerandLMA Managerhad themonopoly on management simulators, the legendary Scotland, Celtic, and Liverpool forward lent his name toKenny Dalglish Soccer Manager. Controlling Dalglish, notable for guiding both Liverpool and Blackburn through successful periods, players start in the fourth tier of English football and work their way up to the top.
For its time, the graphics are very vibrant and pleasant, even featuring simulations of the actual matches, if players wish to view them. Gameplay is fairly intuitive too, with recruitment, tactics, and financial management being key factors to success, or leading to contract termination if done badly.
9David Beckham Soccer
Bend It Like Beckham
An example of a game overshadowed by its contemporaries,David Beckham Soccernever really took off compared to the mightyFIFAandPESgames. Featuring over 200 real-life teams, and many game modes, the game was particularly praised for its training mode, wherea virtual David Beckhamgives lessons to help players hone their technique.
Sadly, Beckham is the only officially licensed player, as many other players have similar but fake names to their real counterparts. Featuring 3D graphics, full commentary, and a decent season mode, it’s worth checking out, as long as players avoid the absolutely dreadful Game Boy Advance port.
8RedCard 20-03
Full Contact Sport
Perhaps most comparable withNFL BlitzandNHL Hitz,RedCard 20-03is best known for its flagrant disregard for the rules. While some may choose to play with referee strictness turned on, making the game very difficult while defending, the majority play with strictness off, causing all kinds of mayhem.
The action is more like WWE, with moves like dropkicks no longer off-limits. To make things even more crazy, the World Conquest mode features 50 international teams, plus some fantasy teams made up entirely of creatures like penguins and dolphins. On top of all this insanity, the fans go absolutely wild when a goal is scored, throwing confetti and streamers while the players dramatically celebrate.
7Soccer Kid
Platforming With Kid Kleets
Alternatively known asThe Adventures of Kid Kleets,Soccer Kidforgoes a traditional approach to simulating the world’s most popular sport, opting instead for soccer-themed platforming. Over 20 levels are set in footballing hotbeds like England and Italy, featuring boss battles against quite stereotypical characters from each land.
The story may be a bit cheesy, featuring an alien that tried to steal the World Cup and broke it, leavingthe titularSoccer Kidto collect the fragments of the famous trophy, as well as some trading cards in this enjoyable platformer. Combat may be tricky for some, but kicking or heading a ball at foes is highly entertaining.
6Soccer Brawl
Fast-Paced Futuristic Grappling
Set in the distant future,Soccer Brawlis a five-a-side arcade classic. Controlling teams consisting of androids and bionic humans, there are no rules in these fast-paced matches, and players can perform super moves to either aid in offense or defense.
There are eight of the usual countries to choose from, such as Brazil and Germany, each with their own super moves and jersey colors.Soccer Brawlis regarded by many who played it as one of thebest Neo Geo games, and despite being ported to some modern hardware, it has largely been unheralded.
5Club Football
22 Versions Of Essentially The Same Game
Something of an anomaly in gaming in general isClub Football, consisting of 22 different releases between 2003 and 2004. One release focuses on the England national team, and the other 21 are specific to some of the biggest clubs in seven different European countries, such as Bayern Munich and Newcastle United.
Featuring authentic kits, stadiums, and players, these games were praised for their graphics at the time, but the gameplay was unfavorably compared to rival games during that period. Still, these releases serve as a great piece of memorabilia for fans of these specific teams, especially those that are given less coverage, like Birmingham City and Hamburg.
4Adidas Power Soccer
Arcade Action, Heavy On Adidas Advertising
The first of four releases in this series in the late 1990s,Adidas Power Socceris anothermore arcade-style simulation, featuring special moves and some other less realistic gameplay aspects. Using motion-captured animation of real soccer players made the game quite realistic looking and revolutionary for the time, and it features teams from across several of Europe’s major leagues.
The most notable and memorable aspect of this game is the trademark Predator Shot, a more powerful strike named after the German manufacturer’s most popular boot brand, and it all but guaranteed a goal. Other interesting features include smoke and fire trails during tackles or shots, knocking over the goalkeeper and even juggling the ball, keepie-uppie style.
3Actua Soccer
Three-Dimensional Pioneer
Known in North America asVRSoccer,Actua Socceris noteworthy forbeing a pioneerof full 3D graphics in soccer games. The game features 32 international teams, each consisting of 22 players, and they are able to compete in various tournaments.
Actua Soccerfeatures multiple camera angles, another significant step forward in the genre, bringing games to a similar standard to television broadcasts. Gameplay is reasonable for the time, and a re-skinned version featuring the 20 clubs in the English Premiership was released shortly after this one.
2Sega Soccer Slam
3-on-3 Brawls With Some Soccer
Taking a few liberties with the rules of the game,Sega Soccer Slampits teams of three against one another with no holds barred. Choosing from several stereotypical characters who resemble the likes of punks and professional wrestlers, nothing is off-limits while teams attempt to score more goals than their opponents.
Graphics are highly stylized and gameplay is surprisingly intuitive. The inclusion of five different game modes and two minigames means that there is plenty to keep players interested, from a fairly deep quest mode with several unlockable items, to various challenges, and a practice arena where players can train their skills in both fighting and footwork.
1This Is Football 2003
An Overlooked Gem
Also known asWorld Soccer Tour 2003,the PlayStation 2 exclusiveThis is Football 2003had a plethora of excellent features, but was barely noticed by many due to other burgeoning series on the market. The actual gameplay itself is certainly enjoyable, and the most memorable gameplay feature is the ability to sometimes fool the referee by diving.
Including over 700 playable teams was incredible for the time, and the career mode includes arguably the best transfer system in soccer games that were released during the early 2000s. Classic teams from bygone eras can participate in custom tournaments too, and this is one of the only games to feature international competitions in regions other than Europe, even still to this day.
