"Hard as a rock..."

Introduction
This is one of the best games based on Captain Tsubasa, the best japanese anime/manga about soccer. As you may already know this series is about a boy who loves soccer more than anything in his life... He wanted to go to Brazil for becoming a professional player with his old coach Roberto, and so begins this game...

Gameplay
This game has a gameplay similar to the ''classic'' Captain Tsubasa games, I mean, you'll be playing in a field and you can just see a the player who has the ball, all the others will be seen in a small field and you can only control a defending player (which you may switch, pressing a certain button), pass the ball, dribble or make combinations, selecting those options in a menu that you can make appear by pressing another button. At first sight it may seem hard for you to understand the controls (mainly if you don't understand a single japanese ''letter'') but after some practice you will notice that they aren't hard to understand at all.As for the special moves, one of the most interesting things on Captain Tsubasa games, are the ability of some characters to use special techniques, for example, Hyuga Kojiro, Japan's ace striker, has a dribble that can send hurt the opponent and some special shots that can blow up the opponent goalkeeper. There is also a goalkeeper that uses the bar to help him stops the hard shots and all other things. Unfortunately there isn't any 2 player mode, but the game itself is REALLY HARD, you will have a hard time finishing it...

Story
Tsubasa has gone to Brazil to play with his old coach Roberto in the famous Brazillian team called San Paulo FC, and he will now play for this team... So, you will control him in the Brazillian cup, also on some practicing matches and you will finish by joining the Japan national team, entering the World Cup...

Graphics/Sound
Both the music and the sound is astonishing in this game... The graphics are the tops ones ever created for a NES game, and as for the sound, just think there is a music for each game you are going to play.

Play Time/Replayability
Although this game doesn't have much replay value (it is its only weak point), it is hard to finish and if you like Captain Tsubasa, you will surely play it more than once.

Final Recommendation
This is A MUST!!! Even if you don't like the anime/manga at all, I think you should get this game, it is really good.
It just didn't have a 10 because it doesn't have much replay value...

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/11/03, Updated 04/11/03