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Utterly baffling would be a rather appropriate way to summarize one of Konami’s first releases under their much-vaunted Disney Sports brand. Disney-based releases are often developed for the lowest common denominator, targeted so well at children that other age groups would find it tough to enjoy. Not so with Disney Sports Soccer, however. If anything, Konami’s surprising release has more in common with a real-life soccer simulation. Though Disney Sports Soccer weaves realistic elements into its gameplay, it certainly does not mean the game doesn’t appeal to its target audience. On the contrary, gameplay is simple enough that anyone who picks up the controller could jump straight into the action (A and B control passing/shooting), while players interested in more advanced techniques have such options available to them. For example, holding L and A, B or Y yields different styles of passes (i.e. though pass, one-two pass, etc.).
Chances are, players checking out Disney Sports Soccer have laid a hand on Sega Soccer Slam, an insanely fast purely arcade-styled adrenaline rush of a sports title. Disney Sports Soccer, however, is much slower paced; it forces the player to concentrate on having a decent passing game and doesn’t ignore some of the rules Sega Soccer Slam tosses out the window. For younger gamers, disabling fouls should help make games less frustrating when they do not have to be concerned about accidentally slide tackling a player from behind. Turning on the ability to use magic in Disney Sports Soccer goes miles for spicing up the action during games ten fold. By enabling magic, players are unleash the elements of fire and lightning with their shots, which helps keeps goalies on their toes. Sporting a clean, polished look, the Disney formula of visual appeal is represented very well here. Disney Sports Soccer maintains a silky smooth 60 frame per second, even with a dozen players running around on screen enabling magical attacks simultaneously. It probably helps that all the players on every team look exactly like each other, save for the team captain (i.e. Goofy, Donald Duck), but the graphics still hold their own. Disney Sports Soccer is definitely not the game it appears to be. Similar to Electronic Art’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Konami has created a title that manages to hit the group it was developed for, while still appealing to the rest of the world. And hey, what’s cooler than watching Mickey slide tackle into Minnie? Not much.
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