Sensible Soccer 2006

By Kristan Reed Published 5 May, 2006

Pre-E3: Save our summer!

It's rubbish being an England football supporter. Not only do we have to put up with the Neanderthal supporters that shame the nation wherever they go, something special and inexplicable always seems to happen to the football team just when it seems they're on the cusp of greatness.

The years of hurt trip off the tongue: the penalty blunders of Italia '90, Wembley '96 and Portugal '04. Sol Campbell's ruled out winning 'goals' in France 98 and Euro 2004. And now we can officially rue the curse of the broken metatarsal again. First Beckham in 2002, and now Rooney, just in time for this year's World Cup. England aren't exactly blessed with truly World Class players, but to lose a once-in-a-lifetime player like that at such a crucial time is another typical sob story that follows the England team like a crazed stalker with irritable bowel syndrome.

Only one thing can save our summer from this harrowing tale of underachievement and inevitable disappointment: the release of the first Sensible Soccer in eight years. Not only is it a game that recaptures the glorious instant, knockabout playability of the Amiga classic, but single handedly breathes new life into the genre.

Here Hare Here

Entrusted with a nearly-finished build of the game last weekend, we've been putting it through its paces and can confidently declare that Sensible veterans and newcomers will be absolutely thrilled with what Jon Hare and the Kuju Sheffield team has conjured. From the kick-off it's obvious that Sensible Soccer 2006 takes a vastly different approach to its big budget rivals by focusing on the kind of quick passing mechanic that made the original incarnations so irresistible.

Whereas recent FIFA efforts like World Cup seem bogged down with an almost glacial approach to knocking the ball between team mates, Sensible takes the opposite tact, with the ability to fizz fast, accurate balls straight to feet. Just as significantly, the standard touchline isometric view so beloved of PES and FIFA has been abandoned, twisted around to the old fashioned classic isometric top down view and zoomed-out so that you can properly gauge the positioning of your team-mates. It might sound trivial, but in practise it makes you question why the popular titles (PES included) persist in using a less helpful viewpoint.

And if you're sick to death of football games with vastly overcomplicated control systems that require the use of every button on the pad and encyclopaedic knowledge of obscure combo systems, then Sensible might be the game to get you back to playing liquid football again. With just two buttons and one stick taking care of almost every move in the game, the only other thing to focus on is judicious use of your limited reserves of sprint energy - dispensed with familiar ease using the right trigger. With the pass button doubling up as a ground shot button, and a context sensitive shot button also used for sliding tackles, headers, crosses and general all-purpose 'lunges' you find yourself fully in control right from the referee's whistle.

Power and the glory

'Sensible Soccer 2006' Screenshot nads

Aim for the nads.

If that sounds like an oversimplification, then the more advanced moves come about from mastering 360 degrees of aftertouch, allowing you to swing in dipping crosses and swerving, rising shots. Better still, a directional arrow points from each player, allowing you to properly judge the direction of your pass, cross or shot, while holding down the shot button increases the length of the arrow, giving you an instantly identifiable means of assessing the power behind your kick. Cunningly, the right stick allows you to take manual control of your keeper or position the free kick wall if you believe you can do a better job than the AI. It really is as if Hare and company took hold of the original Sensible, sprinkled in some good ideas from the present, came up with some great new ideas of their own and came up with something even better. The results are overwhelmingly positive, and a major surprise, to be fair.

Perhaps the reason for such surprise is the disappointing manner that Sensible Soccer left the scene back in '98. After five, solid years of 16bit, 2D sprite dominance, the terrible transition to 3D left many wondering whether the game could ever really work in three dimensions. Sensible Software sold up to Codemasters and disintegrated. The dream was over.

But with Hare back at the design helm, and the untested Kuju Sheffield team (no, not responsible for the Club Football titles, before you ask) doing the rest, Codemasters has been able to resurrect a cherished, lost classic - something not many thought possible.

Even the controversial visual style used for the game works a treat. A cursory glance at the slightly blurry screenshots might point to a self consciously wacky style that might seem faintly insulting, but they simply don't do it justice at all. For a start the animation is first class, and suits the slick, fast style of the gameplay with innumerable lovely little touches that you probably won't even pick up on when you first play it. Things like the pained expressions on players as they fall to the ground under a challenge won't even become apparent until the slow motion close up replay reveals it. Similarly, the tricks and flicks that players routinely show when they take possession aren't always apparent, nor the stunning saves that some of the keepers are capable of, or even the mumbled backchat to the ref behind his back after a booking. One thing you will appreciate is the goal celebrations, complete with their faux likenesses and exaggerated physical characteristics. Big heads on little bodies haven't worked this well since South Park.

Blockbuster

'Sensible Soccer 2006' Screenshot next

Bonus point for telling us what happened next...

As much as all of these are little touches, they make the game almost impossible to dislike - and even if you don't agree with the art direction, the game is built on the kind of gameplay foundations that make it hard to dismiss it merely for the way it looks. Thinking back, the old school Sensibles hardly won people over by virtue of their technical showboating, but you learned to love the little big headed block men anyway. This time, it's a more subjective and probably divisive thing, but it will matter just as little all the same.

Clearly the real, long-term appeal of Sensible is the multiplayer, and the tragic absence of any online support is a blow, but by no means the end of the world. If ever a game leant itself more to post pub, post school on-the-couch action, we've not played it. There's even a co-op mode if you can live with not being fully in control (we can't), but sadly online will have to wait for a future version, assuming this one does the business for Codies.

Needless to say, there's scope for all the international and club team match-ups (including Championship level, yay for Norwich) you could wish for, albeit with slightly bastardised team and player names to get around the dreaded licensing issues. Nevertheless, it's easy enough to edit the player names and change them all back if you've got time on your hands. For the curious, there is a wealth of friendly options, not to mention leagues and cups, so the scope is just as it was in the old SWOS days.

In terms of single player you can play it any which way, with a whole catalogue of unlockables to scalp if you manage to win each competition. None of them are exactly essential, but are never less than cool. Who could do without a mullet hairstyle, for example? We're also a big fan of muddy pitches and curious kits and balls, but that's just us.

Glory be

'Sensible Soccer 2006' Screenshot defending

Shocking defending. Who's marking the lurking midfielder?

For the really determined careerist, you can choose to create a custom team and climb the ranks from the depths of 300th place in the world to the top spot. The deal is to firstly choose the style of your team (normal, attacking, defensive, and more from a pool of eight) and blend a squad of 16 rookies (all of which you can edit and customise to your liking, both in terms of name and looks) to win the 40 trophies on offer (in any order you choose). These range from the rather worthless Scottish League Cup right up to the more glamorous star-studded affairs, but winning them gains you points with which to spend on upgrading the star ratings of each of your squad players. The more wins, the more points, the better your team and the more cool stuff you can unlock. Simple.

Fair enough, Sensible Soccer 2006 might lack the glitz and high budget glamour of the other footy titles around, but every football fan knows that the only thing that counts is the gameplay - and right now Sensible has oodles of the stuff. It's refreshing, straightforward and a fine return to first team action, and although it's clearly never going to replace PES in the simulation stakes, it instantly claims the throne of the best football action game by some distance.

If Rooney really has no chance of recovering in time for the World Cup, he needn't worry. This'll cheer the little scouser up, and a tearful nation into the bargain.

Sensible Soccer 2006 is due for release on June 9th on PS2, Xbox and PC via Codemasters.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (58) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • TripSkyway #1 6 years ago

    Sounds cool. Shame about no online. Which leagues does it cover(with it's fake names)?

  • Daikon #2 6 years ago

    Save our summer!

    Our summer? Speak for yourself, I'm looking forward to watching the Dutch team win the world cup, trouncing England in the process. ^_^

  • ekko #3 6 years ago

    Was there any widescreen options?

  • krudster #4 6 years ago

    No widescreen :(

    The game covers eight major European leagues. England, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, and Portugal.

  • #5 6 years ago

    I detest professional sports, but I really, really enjoyed Sensi with my friends. Can't wait!

  • gerald #6 6 years ago

    The controls seem to be made for a PSP version. SensiSoccer Portable with online-play would be great...

  • JetSetWilly #7 6 years ago

    Surely it would cost them next to nothing to port this to the Cube?

    Never been a fan of footy sims on consoles - nothing quite measures up to "Kick Off" (on the Atari ST - anyone remember that?) and of course Sensible on the Amiga for sheer speed and fluidity.

  • rascoj64 #8 6 years ago

    This sounds awesome, I can't believe they did not do an update sooner. This would be cool on the DS, it's seriously lacking any decent footie games. I think the lack of online play is dissapointing but I'm looking forward to having a few mates round to revisit the sensi glory days!

  • Beano #9 6 years ago

    "Shame they arent putting it on PSP. "

    I agree... it would be perfect on PSP!!

  • Aretak #10 6 years ago

    "Surely it would cost them next to nothing to port this to the Cube?"

    I bet it'd cost more than the £60 they'd make back through the two copies it'd sell.

  • Triggerhappytel #11 6 years ago

    Developed by Kuju, eh? They've been busy recently; seem to be getting their fingers into all sorts of pies.

    I don't really like football and I don't like football games, but I did like Sensi on my Atari ST a dozen or so years ago. I might just check this one out too.

  • JetSetWilly #12 6 years ago

    I bet it'd cost more than the £60 they'd make back through the two copies it'd sell.

    I know you're right, but after Eidos's decision to release Tomb Raider on the Cube one can but live in hope. Maybe if they could convince themselves it was a cheap way of having something playable on Wii at launch they'd consider it worth a punt.

  • Sko #13 6 years ago

    "Yes Kuju is involved in the dungeons and dragons turnbased game.

    Sadly that game looks awful."

    Ich. Looks like they've put a 3D wrapper on an ascii roguelike game.

  • Man_s #14 6 years ago

    Portuguese league? Yay!

  • Eighthours #15 6 years ago

    I hope this gets to be backwards compatible with the 360.

  • w00t #16 6 years ago

    Ich. Looks like they've put a 3D wrapper on an ascii roguelike game.

    Cool! I've gotta get me some of that!

    And Sensi looks good too.

  • Markusdragon #17 6 years ago

    *holds up sign saying 'Bring back Cannon Fodder!'*

  • Perry #18 6 years ago

    Krudster, any idea if they are entertaining a PSP version?

  • krudster #19 6 years ago

    I'm sure it's under consideration, but like any publisher, they'll see how it does on the other formats first.

  • Stickman #20 6 years ago

    This is easily my most anticipated game of the next few months. Bored to death of FIFA and PES type football. Bring on the fun times!

  • PlugMonkey #21 6 years ago

    *holds up sign saying 'Bring back Cannon Fodder!'*

    "Go to your brother,
    Kill him with your gun.
    Leave him lying in his uniform,
    Dying in the sun!"

    Pure class!

  • MrChuckles #22 6 years ago

    'Ich. Looks like they've put a 3D wrapper on an ascii roguelike game.

    Cool! I've gotta get me some of that!

    And Sensi looks good too.'

    My sentiments exactly.

    Roguelike games rule, wish there was one for the DS, i'd play it to death.

    I've been going back to Fifa 2005 and PES4 recently, can't wait for something where i don't have to get RSI to hold the controller properly. X+A+RGT TRIGGER (+Y to rush the goalie out...ow!) etc...

  • OnlyMe #23 6 years ago

    You wanted the best, you got the best! Sensible Soccer will once again take over the world and be the game of choice anywhere!

    Tbh, I have a feeling this has the potential to outsell both FIFA and PES, if it's a football game that even non-fans can enjoy. There needs to be a simple fast-and-furious alternative to both FIFA and PES, as even FIFA is going in the simulation direction now. It's not a pick-up-and-play game for non-gamers anymore, unlike FIFA '99 was.

  • del_86 #24 6 years ago

    I know this has been mentioned before, but why not port one of the original sensible soccer games over to the 360 live arcade, add some live functionality and voila, a sure fire winner.

    Going slightly off topic, what really, really annoys me about Pro Evo and FIFA is the lack of multiplayer tournement options for when you have a few of the boys round and a crate of beer :)
    Sensi had this sussed years ago - you could start with a league,then decide how many go through to the next stage, which could be knockout/mini league based. You could play each team once, twice, 3 times - have 1 legged cups/2 legged, extra time, straight to pens.........the options were endless.

    Forward 10 years to the present and you cant even set up a decent single machine tournie with either of the big 2........and don't even get me started on the shite options that are, or that should be ARE NOT available over Live.
    Why o why o why is there no league or knockout options for Pro Evo or FIFA??? I'll even come and programme it myself, FREE :) :)


    Going back on topic, if its BC for the 360, count me in

  • Perry #25 6 years ago

    Checking pre-orders now....

    £24.99 at Play.com

    Sold

  • binky #26 6 years ago

    Kruds, can you still pull back on the stick/pad to get a lofted ball??

  • Tomo #27 6 years ago

    I WANT IT.

    June 9th... what a fitting date too, the day my exams end. woot! I'm very curious to see how the sales of this go too. Interesting whether people still recognise the Sensible Soccer series.

  • Stickman #28 6 years ago

    There's no chance this will even come close to matching sales for FIFA or PES in my opinion. Doesn't matter about the gamplay. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you FIFA Street.

  • krudster #29 6 years ago

    Binky - yep, that's exactly how it works. Pull back for lofted balls, push forward for a dipping ball, with aftertouch, of course...

  • OnlyMe #30 6 years ago

    Ah, but you completely ignore the fact that this game could even attract people who usually don't like football games. And FIFA (streets or whatnot) or PES isn't much less than intimidating for people who's never touched a controller before either.

    While FIFA/STREET/PES is aiming for football fans, Sensible Soccer is aiming for everybody. I'd say that's a slightly bigger market than just the football fans.

    And I know people who doesn't even touch a football game today, but was completely addicted to KICK OFF/SWOS on the amiga. They just don't see the fun in the new games anymore.
    Edited by 1 at 05/05/06 @ 11:14

  • binky #31 6 years ago

    *phew* That is indeed great news. It wouldn't be sensi without that pad movement.

    Officially can't wait.

    /preorders.

  • abeit2 #32 6 years ago

    Cool now i will download it on snes roms

  • OnlyMe #33 6 years ago

    It'd be a shame if you are underwhelmed by the game just because you played the horribly inferior SNES version though. See if you can find a PC version of SWOS instead, or maybe an amiga emulator and the amiga swos .adfs.

  • MrChuckles #34 6 years ago

    I worked with the team that did Kick Off on the Amiga (Anco), the first ever game i worked on was Player Manager 2 on the Amiga/PC.

    Hell, even i was even the commentator on it!

  • binky #35 6 years ago

    Mr Chuckles are you from Dartford?

  • MrChuckles #36 6 years ago

    God no, used to work there 12 years ago though. What a hell-hole :-) (No offence if you do)

  • binky #37 6 years ago

    (yes i do)

    I was so sad to see Anco go :(

  • krudster #38 6 years ago

    Can anyone confirm that the new Dino Dini footy game he was working on for DC studios has been canned?

  • MrChuckles #39 6 years ago

    Most of Anco is working on the Champ Manager series now.

  • OnlyMe #40 6 years ago

    krudster: you mean the one he was touting as the best soccer game of all times? Probably. If his gamedevelopment skills were as big as his head, he could create quite a few masterpieces. He got lucky with Player Manager and Kick Off 2, but then he faded away into the extremely large pool of mediocre/average gamedevelopers.
    Edited by 1 at 05/05/06 @ 12:12

  • IP #41 6 years ago

    Please. Don't. Fuck. This. Up. And that goes for the magazines, too. I can see (sadly) plenty of OutRun 2-style reviews, with idiots moaning that this game lacks realism and "challenge", ignoring the fact that it's a lot of FUN, which is what videogames were supposed to be about in the first place. Still, at least EG still seems to understand this concept.

  • Luigi #42 6 years ago

    Can't wait to give it a try...

  • Lovemoose #43 6 years ago

    pleasebegoodpleasebegoodpleasebegoodpleasebegoodpleasebegood pleasebegoodpleasebegoodpleasebegoodpleasebegoodpleasebegood

    etc.

  • El_MUERkO #44 6 years ago

    >.

  • wolfen #45 6 years ago

    Last I've checked, Dino Dini turned to musician and seemed happy, and the prospect of not seeing another footy game with him in the pure class of Three Lions 98 makes happy me too.

    Still, any hints on how the game could be modified? As I doubt there will be promotional stuff with apples and oranges, playing on the moon and throwing grenades at ginger dutch players, will the game allow for a few extras to be thrown in ?

  • Jimster71 #46 6 years ago

    Any dates for demo versions of this? They were pretty hot on demos for the amiga versions.

  • OnlyMe #47 6 years ago

    Cannon Soccer all the way!

  • Bezzy #48 6 years ago

    "Better still, a directional arrow points from each player, allowing you to properly judge the direction of your pass, cross or shot, while holding down the shot button increases the length of the arrow, giving you an instantly identifiable means of assessing the power behind your kick. "

    Fucking hell. That's exactly the same as hoopworld's approach.

    Yay. Now the Rev. gets to come and tell me I ripped off Jon Hare.

    (Still looking foward to this, despite having inadvertantly created the same mechanics)
    Edited by 1 at 05/05/06 @ 15:02

  • Corben_Dallas #49 6 years ago

    me too please :D

  • posh_geordie #50 6 years ago

    Post deleted at 18:45:04 02-01-2012

  • nickthegun #51 6 years ago

    If they dont include

    "Youre a goal scoring, superstar hero"

    Its Sensible Soccer in name only.......

  • Tufo #52 6 years ago

    it's got goalscoringsuperstarhero in it, check the video. this looks in every way to be sensible soccer :D can't wait

  • nickthegun #53 6 years ago

    Sweet! Now if the game can come with an underweight eighth of draw, cut to buggery with diesel and other crap i dont want to think about, I can successfully recreate my misspent youth.

    Only until 10 oclock though, because ive got work in the morning....and some of my friends have kids........

  • Tufo #54 6 years ago

    haha don't know about those extras. Sod work, i'm gonna take a day off when this comes out

  • GamerAddict #55 6 years ago

    Sounds like it could be good............which is surprising considering initial rumours were that this was simply Club Football turned 90 degrees..........and lets face it CF was a diabolical affair!

    I do like the idea of playing post-pub with mates though, that'd be ace :)

  • Yeevle #56 6 years ago

    I reckon 6 out of 10.

    I'll probably forget by the time it is released though.

  • Sunrise #57 6 years ago

    Looking forward to it. Shame about not being released on a PSP, because PES5 portable isn't really doing it for me.
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/06 @ 22:05

  • Troutio #58 6 years ago

    I'm starting to worry: are there no novelty teams in this verison?

    Dead Rock Stars, Things You Find In Drawers, Delicatessen FC - a far sight better than your fully licensed bollocks for my money...