PlanetDreamcast | Features | Dreamcast Soccer Shootout

Dreamcast Soccer Shootout A candid comparison of the soccer titles available for your Dreamcast - by Tren Page 6/6 Conclusions So you've read this far, and you�re after a Dreamcast soccer game in some shape or form. Which one do you settle for? Virtua Striker 2 Well, if arcade thrills and an addictive multiplayer mode are your thing, and you're don't mind the lack of 100% realism, then Virtua Striker 2 is definitely the game for you. As long as you won't quibble with the game lacking some of soccer�s finer tactical points, there�s quite an enjoyable game to be played. Be aware that you will need to put some time in, getting used to the controls and the game's bizarre arcade style. It does pay off, and if you play this one regularly with your friends you�ll begin to notice when the final score becomes higher in your favour. If you�re a real hardcore soccer fan and want to replicate your favourite soccer matches as accurately as possible, but still want a fun game as well, then UEFA Striker / Striker Pro 2000 is the title you'll want to get. UEFA Striker is the best soccer kick about on the Dreamcast right now, and the single player mode will keep you going for sometime, and has decent rewards for doing so. SWWS Euro Edition The other title covered in this feature, Sega Worldwide Soccer 2K (and its European update) are really very average games. They probably aren�t worth getting over UEFA or Virtua Striker 2, unless you already have UEFA and want a new challenge. SWWS's multiplayer mode is still quite fun, if you have the patience to put up with the awful loading. Overall, there's a soccer title for nearly everyone, although whether or not their quality as a whole is up to scratch yet is debatable. Despite the fact that these games are fun, compared to some of the other console�s fantastic football titles (International Superstar Soccer comes to mind) these games are in a different league. I know people who still play the N64's ISS64 years after its release, simply because the game is so deep. While there is definitely room for mastery in the soccer titles presented here, they're nowhere near as deep as the ISS series (which is also available on the Playstation). If you demand only the best from your footie games, you may want to hold out on a Dreamcast soccer title (or at least rent whichever of the ones featured here sounds most appealing to you) until either bleem! comes out and supports ISS Pro, or the Dreamcast gets a truly world-class soccer game. UEFA Striker Thankfully, there�s hope yet for a proper Dreamcast triple-A soccer title. Firstly there�s Sega Worldwide Soccer 2K1, due out later this year. Hopefully the title will return more to the classic gameplay of the Saturn SWWS, whilst improving on the faults of Euro Edition and introducing some sort of lastability to the single player game. A lot more depth, so as to improve the addictive qualities of the multiplayer mode, wouldn�t go amiss either. Further, it was recently announced that Sega Europe had the intention of creating the "best football game in the world". Seeing as the European arm of Sega has sponsorship deals with some of the "best football clubs in Europe", it would behoove the Dreamcast to feature an excellent official soccer title, since SWWS doesn't quite cut it. SOE reported that the design for this killer title has already been sent off to Sega of Japan. If this title were to combine the realism and excellent single player modes of UEFA Striker, an astoundingly high quality soundtrack (with excellent commentary and dynamic crowd noises), the graphics and physics of Virtua Striker 2, and the fun element and depth of a title like the N64 or PSX�s International Superstar Soccer, Sega would surely have a winner on its hands. However, only time will tell if such a game will be created, but it's worth noting that Sega of Europe has a decent track record with overseeing and signing up quality 1.5 party and first party titles. In all, it's fair to say that the future looks bright for soccer on the Dreamcast. Previous Features Comments on this feature? Mail Feedback.