Sega Worldwide Soccer '97

"The finest soccer game in history."

Worldwide Soccer 97 was released in mid to late 1996 by Sega. WS 97 is considered by many people, including me, to be the finest soccer game in history. The game acheived such high respect as a result of it’s unparalleled combination of great graphics, sound that made you feel like you were in the game, and seemless gameplay that matched the exciting play found in actual soccer games with a mix of simulation and arcade aspects that are all pulled off perfectly.

The arcade-style gameplay, as I mentioned before, is super-smooth. The transition between each and every tactic in the game, from offense to defense, is seemless, without a single break in the smooth gameplay. Most games feature some rough spots in this type of a transition, but not this game, the transition is absolutely perfect and goes off without a hitch. There are plenty of modes in the game, indluding world cup, league, tournament, and exhibition, all of them allow you to test out the game’s super-smooth gameplay for yourself. The simulation aspects of the game are done to perfection, the play calling is a breeze, as is the player substitution aspect of the game. Words cannot do justice to how smooth the gameplay in the game is, what is most surprising is how fast-paced the game is amid the seemless gameplay. You and the opposition can trade control of the ball back and forth without a single hiccup in the gameplay, no matter how tense and frenetic the action, the gameplay engine can handle all of it without a sweat. Very few games, even today, can make a claim of seemless gameplay, and none of them can say it with action this intense.

The control in WS 97 is just like the gameplay, flawless. They are simple, easy to learn, and they have many subtleties in them so that you keep learning as you play the game. The control scheme in the game is very sensical and unobtrusive. The controls themselves are quite responsive, and they really compliment the seemless gameplay perfectly.

The graphics in the game are amazing. The player models are built realistically and are chock-full of great animation. Each and every animation in the game, from the kicks to the headbutting of the ball, looks great. There are tons of subtleties in the characters, for example, a goalie will have a worried look his face when the ball is coming towards him. It’s the little things like this that add emphasis on the action in the game and really help enhance the feel of the game and add a whole new dimension to the players. There is a nice scoreboard in the game that has many hilarious actions in it, for one thing, it’s got the Saturn logo on each side of it, which I, for some odd reason, think is funny, and with each GOAL a new, hilarious animation will pop up, anything from a guy getting his ass bit by a horse, to two drunks spelling words out on the scoreboard. All of these things add up to graphical brilliance in the game.

The sound in the game can’t be beat. The commentator is right on top of the action calling the action as it happens, there is no delay from the action to his commentary. If you get in trouble, he’ll be on it right away making snide observations that are both astute, and funny at the same time. The sound of the ball being kicked is dead-on, as are the sounds of the whistle blowing, these two sound effects are pretty important because you’ll be hearing them a lot.

WS 97, is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the finest soccer game in history. It combines the fast pace of arcade soccer games, with a simulation touch, all of this is wrapped up in great graphics and sound that is a treat for the ears. WS 97 is also jam-packed with replay value, the gameplay is addictive and you’ll always have something new to learn.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/05/01, Updated 08/05/01