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Sony’s sophomore soccer entry gets more right than it gets wrong. The PSP isn’t exactly in need of soccer titles with a number already being released by both Sony and Electronic Arts. World Tour Soccer 06 was developed to satisfy the arcade soccer niche and it manages to pull that off very well.
World Tour Soccer 06 includes a number of single-player modes. You’ll find play now (which will pick random teams), exhibition (which is the typical quick play mode), medal mode (where you have to progressively win matches for the game’s 10 different conditions before winning that condition’s medal) and world tour mode. In world tour mode, you’ll encounter a number of matches spread across six continents with the most notable teams from that continent. In these matches, you’ll need to get a gold medal and satisfy one of the game’s conditions (more on these two later). As you progress through the game you can unlock 6 all-star teams (one for each continent) and a global all-star team.
World Tour Soccer 06 introduces some new wrinkles to the standard soccer fare. The game uses a points system that will reward you for keeping the ball, making harder goals, and passing the ball longer distances. Conversely, it will take points away for getting the ball stolen and getting scored on. If you meet a certain number of points, you can gain a bronze, silver or gold medal. In addition to the points, the game has different match conditions. These conditions include all-rounder (where each player needs to touch the ball before you can score), player tag, checkpoint, shot clock (where you have 15 seconds to score and if you fail the other team gets a penalty kick), the zone, totally outnumbered and others.
The actual soccer gameplay is solid. Passing and shooting is intuitive and easy to get a hold of. The game allows you to pick a strategy before you begin but you’re also able to change it during the actual game. You’re also given the option to choose which players will take corners and free kicks, which can come in handy since the game uses real players and attributes.
World Tour Soccer 06 includes four-player multiplayer whether you’re playing locally or online via WiFi. The standard features can be found online including a lobby system and a leaderboard. The game uses the game share feature of the PSP allowing you to give them a version of the game that will let them play multiplayer with you.
The game’s visuals are good. The player models are fairly detailed with all of the biggest players getting the most attention; it’s easy to pick them out. However, because of this the game includes a little over 70 teams compared to the 250 plus found in the first World Tour Soccer for PSP. The animations are at times a bit stiff but for the most part the game moves fluidly. The different soccer stadiums are very well modeled, each looking unique and adding some nice visual touches. On the other hand, the game’s load times are a bit on the long side.
The sound is equally solid. The soundtrack is comprised of licensed music though none of it is instantly recognizable to the average person. The sound effects sound crisp and help bring the game to life. This is especially true for the crowd effects. The in-game commentary follows the game reasonable well.
World Tour Soccer 06 is a solid arcade soccer title. The gameplay is easy to pick up while the various challenges and conditions will test advanced players. If you’re looking for an all inclusive soccer title, you may be disappointed with the paltry number of teams, the exclusion of club teams, and the lack of some expected game modes. The actual gameplay may be too simple for some, but most should enjoy World Tour Soccer 06. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Jul 5, 2006
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