"A great alternative to the same old soccer games that turn up every year"

Gameplay – 9/10

Sega Soccer Slam is a totally different take on soccer football. You play in small arenas, there are no throw-ins, free kicks or penalties, and it's 4-a-side. You've got the keeper and 3 outfield players. There's no referee so you can punch and kick the other players to get the ball. You can do some nice little twirls and dodges to get past players and score some outrageous goals. The longer you hold the shoot button down for, the more powerful your shot will be. Every now and then, a spotlight will come down on the field and if you hit the shoot button when you're under it, you'll jump up in the air and perform an unbelievable shot at goal which are the most difficult for keepers to stop. As you pass the ball around, dodge player's tackles and win the ball form the other team, you'll gain points. Once you build up your points meter to the max, you can do another magnificent shot on goal.

There are many modes including the main mode which is trying to win the Sega Soccer Slam world cup, where you travel all over the world playing in cities such as London, Tokyo and Las Vegas. There's the mini tournament where you play a round robin against other teams. Plus there are multiplayer modes. You can be on the same team, you can play against each other, or you can do the mini-games. The mini-games include one where you have to keep hold of a flaming ball for as long as possible and get rid of it at the last second when it explodes. The longer you hold the ball for, the more points you gain but if it explodes on you then you'll lose a ton of points! There are modes to keep everyone happy.

It's a great game and will keep you entertained for a long time. There are stadiums and players to unlock but the multiplayer is where you'll spend a lot of time at. It's definitely more fun going through the world cup mode with mates than on your own. Single player has limited life and after you've done most of the game, you won't find yourself coming back to the game much. Get a few buddies round and you'll be playing for hours.

Controls – 10/10

The controls for this game are great and easy to get used to. On the ball, A passes, B shoots, X makes you do a trick, Y makes you dodge, L gives you a running boost, and R performs your crazy shot. Off the ball, B punches the players and X tackles. Those are your main controls really and it's all very simple. You won't have any problems.

Graphics – 8/10

Not the GameCube's finest but they are certainly quite nice. There are many nice weather effects such as fog, rain and snow and the pitch gets worn out from all of the player's tackling and sliding. Great effects from turbo boosts and crazy shots which put the ball on fire.

Sound – 9/10

Not much music when you're playing but the menu ones are alright. The commentator is from London and he's quite a laugh with some good jokes. Some of the players can get very annoying, especially when you've got some nerdy little kid shouting out dorky brainy stuff when he scores… it just doesn't fit in with footie's tough men of today at all. Still, that's the fun of the game and it isn't meant to be real. This is a crazy game anyway. So anyway, the sounds are all fine and because of the unrealistic approach on the sport, it's got some huge sound effects from power shots and they go perfectly with the game.

Overall – 8/10

Soccer fans will love the game… but only for a while. After you've got everything, unlocked everything and bought everything, there isn't much replay value unless you get some mates round. The game's multiplayer brings Sega Soccer Slam to life and you'll love it. It's more fun than original takes on the game such as FIFA and Pro Evolution because those games can get quite boring after a while, but there aren't anywhere near as many teams. But like I say, this isn't the real deal and is meant to be a crazy soccer game which most will love.

People who dislike the sport might just enjoy this game because of its craziness. It's a great laugh with some pals some it's definitely worth a rent if you spot it about.

All in all, a great change from the original and same old footie games of today. If you can find it cheap, it's worth your cash.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/28/05