This game does actually play a little like the original. But I can’t help but feeling that a joypad is the wrong controller to be using for it. There’s nothing added in terms of new controls, it’s still fundamentally pass and shoot. So bearing in mind that I used to use a two button joystick to great effect some 9 years ago I’m actually struggling a bit.
Sensible World of Soccer was arguably the game I spent most time playing. I spent so much time playing it on my old 486 PC that I almost flunked my degree. I reached the pinnacle (in my eyes) of performance when I won League, Cup and European Cup in one season and conceeding only goal and scoring something in the region of 350. I think my main striker topped the golden boot league with about 290 goals. Realistic huh. So as you can imagine I’m quite fond of this game.
Sensible Soccer 2006 does not work on a Xbox 360. Even with thr HDD. Sop I dug out my original Xbox. The gameplay is akin to the original, the ball rolls away from you if you turn too quickly (dribbling does seem to be harder though). Gone are the inidivual skills in favour of a star based system. Top players get 5 stars.
The licensing of players names does take a toll though. Michael Owan and Waybe Riinay up front for England (yes fortunately my nation’s team is called England and not Anglond) just seems a bit wrong. There is an editor so that you can rectifiy this, but it would take you some time to change all the names of all the players in the 2006 World Cup. League teams only decent as far as the second divisionnof any given domestic league. So no Mansfield Town versus Chesterfield clashes.
The game play is fast and a little frantic, like the original, but seems to lack and fluidity. Passing is essential as no player seems good enough to keep the ball and beat people. That said I used to be able to beat the same man three times in the original version, run back to just inside the opposition half and then smash a shot / cross into the far side of the goal. I’m going to give this some time yet. Afterall I failed to win the World Cup at the first attempt losing on penalties to the USA in the second phase. Brazil beat Argentina 6-1 in the semi-final but lost to Spain 4-1 in the final. Let’s see how prophetic that is.
I’d give Sensible Soccer 2006 2 out of 5 really (where Oblivion would have got 5 our of 5). It has a lot to live up to but doesn’t try to be anything more than the original. I can’t help but thinking that making SWOS available on Live Marketplace would have been just as good an idea.