Jon Hare’s legendary Sensible Soccer finally makes it's long overdue return to the virtual pitch this summer as Codemasters announce the forthcoming release of Sensible Soccer for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.
Hardcore fans of the original have long campaigned for it to be recognised as one of the all time greats of videogame football. Indeed, SPOnG has witnessed near fist-fights in public bars between fans of the original Sensi and fans of that other all-time great, Kick Off 2.
Why is the game so revered? SPOnG believes that the reason our peers get so rheumy-eyed when they talk about the game is down to three very basic reasons. It was loads of fun, it made you laugh out loud, and it was more addictive than crack cocaine (or, back in those more innocent days of the late 80’s, more addictive than those Embassy Regal you used to buy from the corner shop for 10p each).
The All New Sensi, as we will now affectionately call it for the duration of this piece, makes no pretence to be a realistic representation of a the game of football, and therein lies its genius. In these days of the annual Pro Evo versus FIFA battle for footy realism and authenticity every autumn, it's hopefully going to be a real breath of fresh arcade air.
Sensi is about insane speed and hilariously over the top after touch on the ball. Its about curling the ball into the top of the net from 40 yards out. It’s the stuff of football fans' dreams made real and brought to your telly.
Mix this in with the classic, hilarious replays and a whole host of very cool sounding new features and you can see why SPOnG is getting excited. In footballing terms, while Pro Evo and FIFA may well be the equivalent of United and Chelsea (okay lads, just argue amongst yourselves on that point) Sensible Soccer is the equivalent of Pele’s short-lived but legendary New York Cosmos team from the 70s. It’s not in any way real, but that’s not the point. It’s the stuff of legend.
The All New Sensi features 5,000 caricatured players with the biggest heads you've ever seen in football, all in cartoony cel-shaded 3D. Not real, you see, but funny. SPOnG has to make the obvious point that some of our premiership players don’t really need their heads enlarged any more than they already are, although if it makes them look any dafter than they already do, what with their girly hairstyles and their big gay jewelery and tats, then we’re happy with that.
The All New Sensi will also include fast cutting replays that take you right into the action as your big-headed players, shown in a new 3D cel-shaded visual style, celebrate those outrageous curling goals from 30 yards out in those glorious animations that we still to this day bore strangers about in pubs.
After the replay, you’re straight back into the action viewed with Sensi's trademark zoomed out, birds-eye camera, which lets you see more of the pitch and provides you with the very best way to execute your passing, dribbling, and perfect finishing.
Jon Hare, designer and producer of the original Sensible Soccer and games design consultant on this edition has the following to say about The All New Sensi: "It’s the perfect blend of past, present and future with all the speed, fun and playability of the original combined with all the animations, four-player fun and spiced up with a magical sprinkling of original gameplay features that have never been seen before, including a mega single-player mode, 360-degree control and video style replays featuring cel-shaded caricatures of those lovable big-headed players."
Here are some of the first screens we’ve seen from the game. Bear in mind these are taken from early PS2 code, which, whilst in no way near finished, give a good idea of the caricatured big-headed players.
Codemasters will publish Sensible Soccer for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC this summer. For more info on big-headed banana kicks and halfway-line hoofers check out[url=http://www.codemasters.co.uk/games/?gameid=1846] more online at the game's website here.[/URL]. Oh, and there’s a mobile phone version planned too, which might well convince us that not all mobile phone games are pointless after all.
Finally, soccer fans have something to look forward to in the summer, other than waving goodbye to Sven.
Hardcore fans of the original have long campaigned for it to be recognised as one of the all time greats of videogame football. Indeed, SPOnG has witnessed near fist-fights in public bars between fans of the original Sensi and fans of that other all-time great, Kick Off 2.
Why is the game so revered? SPOnG believes that the reason our peers get so rheumy-eyed when they talk about the game is down to three very basic reasons. It was loads of fun, it made you laugh out loud, and it was more addictive than crack cocaine (or, back in those more innocent days of the late 80’s, more addictive than those Embassy Regal you used to buy from the corner shop for 10p each).
The All New Sensi, as we will now affectionately call it for the duration of this piece, makes no pretence to be a realistic representation of a the game of football, and therein lies its genius. In these days of the annual Pro Evo versus FIFA battle for footy realism and authenticity every autumn, it's hopefully going to be a real breath of fresh arcade air.
Sensi is about insane speed and hilariously over the top after touch on the ball. Its about curling the ball into the top of the net from 40 yards out. It’s the stuff of football fans' dreams made real and brought to your telly.
Mix this in with the classic, hilarious replays and a whole host of very cool sounding new features and you can see why SPOnG is getting excited. In footballing terms, while Pro Evo and FIFA may well be the equivalent of United and Chelsea (okay lads, just argue amongst yourselves on that point) Sensible Soccer is the equivalent of Pele’s short-lived but legendary New York Cosmos team from the 70s. It’s not in any way real, but that’s not the point. It’s the stuff of legend.
The All New Sensi features 5,000 caricatured players with the biggest heads you've ever seen in football, all in cartoony cel-shaded 3D. Not real, you see, but funny. SPOnG has to make the obvious point that some of our premiership players don’t really need their heads enlarged any more than they already are, although if it makes them look any dafter than they already do, what with their girly hairstyles and their big gay jewelery and tats, then we’re happy with that.
The All New Sensi will also include fast cutting replays that take you right into the action as your big-headed players, shown in a new 3D cel-shaded visual style, celebrate those outrageous curling goals from 30 yards out in those glorious animations that we still to this day bore strangers about in pubs.
After the replay, you’re straight back into the action viewed with Sensi's trademark zoomed out, birds-eye camera, which lets you see more of the pitch and provides you with the very best way to execute your passing, dribbling, and perfect finishing.
Jon Hare, designer and producer of the original Sensible Soccer and games design consultant on this edition has the following to say about The All New Sensi: "It’s the perfect blend of past, present and future with all the speed, fun and playability of the original combined with all the animations, four-player fun and spiced up with a magical sprinkling of original gameplay features that have never been seen before, including a mega single-player mode, 360-degree control and video style replays featuring cel-shaded caricatures of those lovable big-headed players."
Here are some of the first screens we’ve seen from the game. Bear in mind these are taken from early PS2 code, which, whilst in no way near finished, give a good idea of the caricatured big-headed players.
Codemasters will publish Sensible Soccer for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC this summer. For more info on big-headed banana kicks and halfway-line hoofers check out[url=http://www.codemasters.co.uk/games/?gameid=1846] more online at the game's website here.[/URL]. Oh, and there’s a mobile phone version planned too, which might well convince us that not all mobile phone games are pointless after all.
Finally, soccer fans have something to look forward to in the summer, other than waving goodbye to Sven.
Comments
kid_77 7 Feb 2006 11:59
1/6
Sensi Soccer WAS better than Kick Off 2
*hides*
*hides*
marmaduke 7 Feb 2006 12:42
2/6
This could have been a killer app for the PSP if they'd, you know, bothered.
And Sensi was better than Kick Off
And Sensi was better than Kick Off
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Bitterman 7 Feb 2006 14:38
3/6
Is there anyone alive who actually even thinks Kick Off 2 was better? If so... well, you're wrong.
The only game to come close to Sensi was Microprose Soccer and that's only because when it rained you could do a sliding tackle from the halfway line to the goal line.
The only game to come close to Sensi was Microprose Soccer and that's only because when it rained you could do a sliding tackle from the halfway line to the goal line.
Zoyd Wheeler 7 Feb 2006 14:53
4/6
I think Kick Off 2 was better. It was a purer videogame experience, plus it also took up most of my so-called University Career and thus destroyed my subsequent life chances.
If anyone wants a fist-fight over this I am up for it. Only with those massive comedy Kenny Everitt gloves on though.
If anyone wants a fist-fight over this I am up for it. Only with those massive comedy Kenny Everitt gloves on though.
Radiant 12 Feb 2006 18:50
5/6
Microprose Soccer!
ahaha! The one where you could do a banana kick and make the ball go in a full circle?
Loved that game :)
That was one of the last footie games where the ball was stuck to your foot.
Any of you ever played Matchday 2?
Two player co-op on that was the f**king bomb.
Do you guys remember that for years the best football game was International Football on the c64?
Then Kick Off came out and killed the king before Sensi killed that.
ahaha! The one where you could do a banana kick and make the ball go in a full circle?
Loved that game :)
That was one of the last footie games where the ball was stuck to your foot.
Any of you ever played Matchday 2?
Two player co-op on that was the f**king bomb.
Do you guys remember that for years the best football game was International Football on the c64?
Then Kick Off came out and killed the king before Sensi killed that.
DoctorDee 12 Feb 2006 20:04
6/6
I don't really care either way. I was never a fan of either, and for my money Speedball 2 was best.
But...
...anyone who says something that is welcome on our forums. Any day!
hhaving said all that, there was a long, deep and biitter debate in the Amiga Format office over this whole affair. I never cared, so cannot tell you now who was of what opinion. But Bob Wade, Maff Evans, Whiffy and Damien Noonan used to opine at length about the matter, I seem to recall.
Amiga Power liked Sensi, of course.
But...
If anyone wants a fist-fight over this I am up for it.
...anyone who says something that is welcome on our forums. Any day!
hhaving said all that, there was a long, deep and biitter debate in the Amiga Format office over this whole affair. I never cared, so cannot tell you now who was of what opinion. But Bob Wade, Maff Evans, Whiffy and Damien Noonan used to opine at length about the matter, I seem to recall.
Amiga Power liked Sensi, of course.