I must have over 90 games by now, and I've only ever really played about a quarter of them. Boil down that lot, to the ones I've ever truly got right into or clocked, and we're talking about ten.
So it was something of a revelation on Friday night when I discovered my newest favourite game. And its a footie game. Oh yes.
Now, as any of you regular readers will know, the Gagaman's dad is rather partial to a bit of Dreamcast footie. He's pretty good at it too, we're led to believe... And Teeleecee once made the outrageously controversial claim that 'UEFA Dream Soccer' was better than Pro Evo (yes he did really...) But common consensus is that when it came to football games, the Dreamcast never really cut the mustard. In fact it sucked big ones. We know those arseholes at EA Games never backed the DC, so it was left to Sega themselves (as well as developers such as Infogrames) to have a go at recreating the beautiful game. And do you know what? Those little software elves at Sega actually came upwith the goods in the shape of Sega Worldwide Soccer 2000 (Euro Edition).
But how did it find it's way into the Father's top slot? Cos I like you, I'll tell you, pull up a chair...
It went like this. My lifelong best mate Tay is my gaming nemesis. There is no one I enjoy beating the pants off, more than him. When he comes over to the lair, we usually have a bit of a fight on Soul Calibur (I win). We might indulge in a bit of a 'burn off' on V Rally or Sega Rally (he wins). Occasionally we get a bit 'Wimbledon' on each others ass with a session of Virtua Tennis.
Now the last footie game I had enjoyed was (I think) a game called imaginatively 'Euro 96' for the Saturn. Playing Pro Evo and Fifa with the two biggest Gingers was always a nightmare. The younger one induced a controller throwing huff in me last time we played, by bringing his goalie out to score two against me. The little shit.
But on this particular evening I fancied something different, something that involved grown men in tight figure hugging shorts getting physical with each other.
So the rarely played game was pulled off the shelves, dusted off and popped into the little white box.
The gameplay was fantastic, with a nice element of 'pick up and play'. The graphics are functional, no better. The goal keepers were effective, so getting a goal past them felt like a big acheivement. Passing and crossing were challenging, with the opponent usually ending up on the receiving end. Tackling was somewhat random, and although the ref was at times lenient, I got yellow carded very regularly throughout the series of matches that we played!
Players celebrations were hilariously camp, but had the desired effect of rubbing salt into the wounds of the opponent after a goal was scored- (as did the endless replays that could only be stopped when the scorer had had enough of watching their skills shown over and over!) A quick pull of the right trigger enabled one to do showboating turns and step overs, in the style of poncey Portugese winker, Ronaldo. But we don't want to say too much about that particular person do we?One sad feature of the game was that in 2000 when the game was released, my beloved Manchester City were wallowing in the First Division. On the flip side of the coin, my dad's beloved Sheffield Wednesday were making a rare appearance in the Premiership so I could play as them - (feel the Dad love growing throughout this post?) So there will be many more matches in the near future! A highly reccomended game!
If you are going to seek out this particular Dreamcast game make sure you get the Euro Edition.
Take this review of the resurrection of a failing title from Dreamcast Magazine issue 16:
Sega Worldwide Soccer 2000 -"Yet again we find Sega shooting itself in the foot by producing a totally sub-standard sports game for which there is no excuse. 62%" (Ouch!)
Sega Worldwide Soccer 2000 (Euro Edition) - "Talk about overhaul- this semi-sequel to an originally lack-lustre game totally changes everything. Its simply one of the most fun footie games EVER! 92%" (Hooray!)