Sega Soccer Slam

"FryBender3000 takes Sega Soccer Slam through the wringer..."

ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH? Go toe-to-toe with the wildest players ever in Soccer Slam, the high-flying, hard-hitting, 3 on 3 soccer game where winners go on to drink from the Continental Cup!

Sega Soccer Slam is Sega’s approach to the arcade sports genre, that is similar to Midways Blitz and there other titles. And thankfully enough, it will keep you happy longing that you have friends. Should you buy it? If you can find it yes, and here is why?

Gameplay - The most important thing in any game, is how the control is and how fun is it to play it, well for starters. Sega Soccer Slam does well in this area. Each player has their own stats and play according to it, Big guys will be slow, and the light girls will be fast. With the controls already mapped I feel correctly to the Gamecube controller, you can easily play it your first time and usually get it, if not, there’s always the practice field, to do well practice. Also in the game are the advance moves which are a sight to be seen such as one-timer passes and shots, Killer Kicks, and the matrix style Spotlight Shots. All again, are easy to do, and you will get it in know time and set up some Killer Kicks. The modes for this game are respectively Quick Start, Exhibition, Quest (Meats and Potatoes as you will of the game), Tourney (Multiplayer Fun), and Practice. Also through in Team Bios and the usual options and that's pretty much it. Now when you play exhibition, first you chose the side you want to be Home or Away, and advance to pick your team (6 total, yeah that is it). Next select your venue (Only three are available from the star) Including setting weather conditions: Fog, Snow, Rain, or Clear (But to the wise, it does not affect Gameplay; whatever you have the weather be). The A. I. for this game on the easiest setting, is well very easy, and normal is still kind of easy, so for a real challenge you will have to put it on its hardest difficulty. In Quest mode, its like exhibition accept with each win you get money to give your players “attachments” that boost their stats or you can get fan art of the players in the game. First you have Round one, and after every game is a mini-game you can play to get more money. Following that is, All Star Break, and than Round Two. Which when that is over goes to the Semi Finals and Final Round where you can get another Venue to play in. In Tourney mode, you basically take part in up to 15 games and battle it out, great multiplayer fun here. In this game with Exhibition, Quest and Tourney modes, you will get to play 6 teams, the following are El Fuego, Toxic, Spirit, TSUNAMI!, SubZERO, and Volta, each with players with different stats for each team. In Options, you can change the usual things, Match Time, game speed, etc. etc.

Now with that, this game has no rules to be seen, meaning you can punch and do whatever you can to get the ball back and score. Rinse, Wash, and Repeat.

Score- 9

Story -This is a soccer game, than only story here is the ones you tell of how bad you beat your friends beside the fact you do battling through Quest Mode.

Score- 5

Audio/Video - The graphics in this game are pretty good, compared to other Gamecube games. The venues are unbelievable beautiful right down to the slightest detail. And the animations are top notch between the Killer Kicks, Spotlight Kicks, and hitting. The sound is ok, with each team have their own tune, wait to you hear Volta’s Scottish tune.

Score- 8

Replayability - Once you play the game in quest with each team the number of times to get all the “attachments” and fan art if you will. The rest will be all up to if you have people to play with, is so. You can be battling up to the morning, playing back and forth with Tourneys and exhibition. If not, well than it might not be as good for you, unless your a soccer nut that does not mind its un-simulation playing, you will enjoy it too.

Score - (If you have other people and/or Soccer Nut) 9
(If not) 6

To buy or to rent? Well take the above info, and decide as that's what it comes down to pretty much. If you want fun, have some friends, and don’t mind soccer at all, this is a must-buy. If you like fun, and don’t have many friends, this can be a rent, maybe even a buy?

My Call- Buy It! If your into it, and all the above in this review, go now on search for this game.

Bottom Line- (Score is not an average) 9.0
Now take it in that it will be a point or a half lower if you can’t have the full experience of multiplayer.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/18/02, Updated 08/18/02