The genius of Sensible Soccer

[Fletch]

I've been messing around with the old ST quite a bit this past week and also playing a bunch of ST games via Hatari on my Mac.

 

I was never a big Sensible Soccer fan back in the day. I used to play a demo version I had from ST Action and I had it on my Jaguar but frankly it never really grabbed my attention.

 

Well, tonight the wife was watching bad TV and the son was busy doing something on his computer so on a whim I fired Sensible Soccer up on the Mac and promptly got my rump kicked by the computer. I must have played 10 games before I even scored a goal. But each game I picked up a bit more of the control structure and started to realize what makes this game so great.

 

The subtle taps of the fire button coupled with a nudge of the gamepad at the right time gives some amazing results. But most of the time I just didn't seem to be able time the passes right of get the ball on net like I would like.

 

Anyway, the battery on the Mac ran out so I headed into the basement to see if I could find the old demo disk I had from ST Action so I could keep playing. (I suppose the charger for the Mac would have worked too ) After a few minutes I found it on an ST Action Easter Holiday disk. The Demo I have is quite humorous. Its called UnSensible Soccer and it allows you to play as Apples v. Oranges. The Goalies are pears and the fruit players seem to drop bananas from time to time. The demo also lets you play as Norwich v. Manchester United.

 

The demo really showed me the game's true genius. This game is meant to be played with a joystick! The gamepad I had been using in emulation couldn't hold a candle to the real deal. Suddenly I got it. The passes were connecting. The shots on goal seemed to actually have direction. This game is a hoot.

 

I no longer have my Jaguar or I'd give it another chance on that platform. But frankly I think the joystick made all the difference. The jagpad would probably be as poor a choice for me as the gamepad was tonight. I really need to get the full version of Sensible Soccer over to the real hardware this weekend.

 

Here are some pictures from UnSensible Soccer for all to enjoy. They were taken with my iPhone of the monitor so they aren't the greatest.

 

Fletch

 

 

 

 

 

The demo really let get a feel for how the game was meant to be played, with a real joystick!

[Tempest]

I never played the ST version, but I remember firing it up on my Jag once on a whim and being sucked in. Usually I hate sports games, but for some reason SS captured my attention. I guess it reminded me of the Neo Geo sports games which were more arcade like than strategy games. Even my non-gamer friend got into it after I showed it to him. SS is one of the few games I miss since I sold off my Jag.

 

Tempest

[BuddyBuddies]

ill have to try this game on my Jaguar,i havent plated it in years and i only ever played it for a few minutes.....

[Christos]

Kick off II rules all over Sensible soccer. And the best football game I ever played is Goal!. Unfortunately it's very buggy....

[ggn]

Kick off II rules all over Sensible soccer. And the best football game I ever played is Goal!. Unfortunately it's very buggy....

 

FAIL!!!! (just for the bugs, ko2<<<<<sensi)

[Christos]

Sensi lovers... paaah

[ggn]

Bug lovers, blech

[Fletch]

Christos,

 

Ok, I tried Goal and Kick Off 2 over the weekend. The Kick Off series must not be my cup of tea. I didn't enjoy the graphics and the game play just didn't hold my attention.

 

I guess that is why we have options

 

Fletch

[Christos]

Fletch, indeed you are right. The sensi vs kick off battle is even worse than the ST vs Amiga one (and quite similar too). BTW, in Goal! you can select to have a more sensible soccer like view.

 

Technically speaking the best football game on the atari (STE/Falcon) is Team. Unfortunately the AI (especially the one of your teammates) is horrendous so it becomes an absolute failure. It's a pity because when it comes to graphics, sound and technical merits, it's excellent.

[+doctorclu]

..... I no longer have my Jaguar or I'd give it another chance on that platform. But frankly I think the joystick made all the difference. The jagpad would probably be as poor a choice for me as the gamepad was tonight. I really need to get the full version of Sensible Soccer over to the real hardware this weekend.

 

Fletch... cool name.

 

I have a Jaguar, and while I consider myself basically having a complete collection of Jaguar games that I want (maybe Minus Towers 2) I haven't BOTHERED with the sports games. I do have an arcade stick for the Jaguar, so I might just have to hunt this game down and try this suggestion.

 

However, to me sports should be played on a field, the controller should be your feet, and the "game system" should be a spherical thing you kick.

 

I only do in video games what I can't do in real life, like shoot and blow up stuff, and all that fun.