While the
attention of the world is focused on Germany and the passion, the glory, the
sheer athleticism that is the World Cup, SCEE is hoping to capitalize on a
little of the soccer/football fever with the release of World Tour Soccer ’06
for the PSP handheld console.
While this
title does not have the deep career modes, the ability to guide a team through
qualifying to the lush pitches of the German venues – which is part of the EA FIFA title, what this game does offer is quick little game modes that offer a
variety of challenges to test player skills.
Dispossess
the other team and you may have only 15 seconds to work the ball down the field
and take a shot, otherwise giving up a penalty kick. Another challenge may have
you making certain that each player on your side touches the ball before you can
take your shot on the opposing net.
While the AI
at lower levels can be a little too easy at times, the game generally flows
well. Don’t expect to turn the fire of World Cup intensity up a notch with this
game. Settle back and enjoy what is offered here and you will find a title that
has a nice arcade feel and is well seated on the platform.
Game modes
include Play Now, World Tour, Medal Mode, Exhibition and Multiplayer. The
Exhibition mode does offer the traditional soccer simulation with 70
international teams and more than 1,500 world-class players named.
Options in
an exhibition match include setting the time (4, 6, 8 or 10 minutes), eight
stadiums, the ability to set the extra time to four settings (with the top end
being the golden goal), and four difficulty settings.
Play Now is
a random selection of teams, the type of challenge and the stadium. The World
Tour is a progressive challenge mode, starting in Africa. Medal Mode starts out
with three challenges, and expands with seven more than can be unlocked as you
meet the requirements.
During the
World Tour and Medal Mode, as you play you will earn points for passing,
tackling, dispossessing other players, and conversely lose points if you lose
the ball or surrender a shot or goal.
The
interesting elements of the game center on the 10 new challenges. There is the
Classic Challenge in which each skill is scored. The Zone Challenge will
generate points for playing in certain zones of the field; Challenge Plus will
task gamers to exploit rules at the right time to get a boost in scoring points
within the game; Totally Outnumbered means you start with fewer players than
your opposition; Time Attack tasks players to reach a target off before time
expires; Pass Clock is a passing drill in which the ball must move and no one
player can hold onto it for any length of time; Checkpoint Challenge asks gamers
to dribble or pass the ball through checkpoints; Shot Clock Challenge is akin to
Time Attack, but you have to get the shot off before the clock expires; Player
Tag Challenge means you must get the ball to the highlighted player without
losing the ball; and All-Rounder means each of the 11 on the field must touch
the ball before you can shoot on the opposing net.
The game’s
controls are solid and gamers will not find themselves embroiled in a learning
curve. Using the hotkeys to pass, and shoot, the shoulder buttons for speed
bursts and special moves and the analog stick to control direction makes this a
game that sits nicely inside the PSP controls.
Graphically
the game is solid. The animations are decent and the stadiums look nice. The
audio does not stretch the system’s capabilities and are average.
World Tour
Soccer ‘06 is a nice little arcade exercise that uses soccer to promote the
challenges it holds. While not the type of game that huge soccer fans will
immerse themselves in, anguishing over losses, it still offers a skill-based
challenge that will serve players well in other soccer video-game venues. In its
own right, this game may have the veneer of simple in concept, but it does have
solid challenges that will entertain.
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Gameplay:
7.5
There are decent
load times for each game, which is not terribly good. The game’s controls,
though, are simple to understand and use effectively. There is a nice adherence
to the game’s rules during the Exhibition mode.
Graphics:
7.2
Solid, but hardly
the style or animation that will have you dropping your jaw at the wondrous
abilities of these cyber athletes.
Sound:
6.8
Nothing here that
will jump out and nab you.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
The game does
have a range of difficulty levels that ramps up the AI.
Concept:
7.0
This is an arcade
game that could easily have been translated – with modifications, of course – to
other sports.
Multiplayer: N/A
The game does
include a multiplayer mode but this element was not available to test at the
time of the review.
Overall:
7.1
Those looking for
a realistic soccer simulation may wish to look elsewhere, but those looking for
an entertaining skill-based arcade title that uses soccer as a backdrop will
find this title both entertaining and challenging. It looks decent, plays well
and is well suited to the handheld format.
