Head-On Soccer

"Mindless football fun"

Head-On Soccer is a great arcade-style soccer game with good, fast-paced gameplay. Whether it be against the computer or a friend, Head-On Soccer is a moderately enjoyable experience.

Gameplay - 8/10

Head-On Soccer features some interesting gameplay that attempts to include some of the more realistic aspects of soccer. In addition to the normal breed of soccer player, there are also 9 star player characters that appear on some of the better teams such as Holland or Brazil. These players include two special goalkeepers, an especially good defender, a brutish barger who bullies people off the ball, an amazing passer, a cheating actor who likes to dive, a tricky dribbler, a banana shot expert and a guy with an absolute cannon of a shot. Each of these star players has a unique appearance as well. This adds to the gameplay and allows for special maneuvers to be executed. The normal players are not very good and the special maneuvers are left to the star players.

There are no club teams in Head-On Soccer, but there are a multitude of national teams that one can choose from. Great teams such as Brazil, England and France as well as not-so-good teams like Kuwait.

The game provides an adequate view of the pitch, but things such as headed are difficult to execute and take time to master. It is also rather frustrating to take penalties. The goalkeepers also have a habit of making miraculous saves, which can become annoying.

Graphics/Visual Effects - 6/10

The graphics are not that good, but they are not terrible either. The fact that star players have unique appearances adds to the visual appeal of the game. The different pitches are well-colored and the graphics are overall not too shabby.

Audio - 7/10

The music that plays when a goal is scored is superb. The sounds of the ball being kicked and the voice of the referee is also not bad. All in all, the sound in Head-On Soccer is decent.

Replay Value - 10/10

I could play this game for hours and I did when i first got it some 10 years ago. Playing with a friend is very entertaining, as most sports games tend to be. Being a fan of soccer and being able to choose from the large number of national teams makes replaying this game very appealing.

To Be or Not to Be?

I would definitely pick this game up if you're a fan of soccer. The fast-paced action is very exciting and this is definitely one of the best SNES soccer games out there.

Overall - 7/10

Great soccer game. A classic.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/13/04