Product Reviews

Modern football games, such as EA's FIFA, might have the licence and realistic graphics, but there are usually a handful of keys and dozens of combinations to memorise before you're good enough to take on the computer. Sensible Soccer 2006 aims to shake things up with the simplistic controls and fast-paced fun of the original game, released in 1992.

The updated version's charm lies in the fact that developers haven't tried to compete with the big names, paring the game down to its basics instead. There are just three buttons to use - pass, shoot and kick - plus directional keys, so you can install the game and start playing

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without needing a massive manual. This might sound too simplistic by today's standards, but it really isn't. Sensible Soccer runs quickly, and the more you play it the more you master the finer points, such as how to pass better and use the after-touch to swerve your shots past the stunned goalkeeper.

The graphics are basic, but this doesn't matter. It's not about how the game looks but how it plays. Photo-realistic representations of major players and official licences, which FIFA has, don't necessarily make a game good.

There are some disappointments, though. Sensible Soccer is better when played against another person, so it's a real shame that there's no online mode. If you haven't got a friend round, you'll have to make do with friendly and tournament games against the computer. There are no difficulty modes, either, so once you're good at beating the computer, there's nowhere else to go. Finally, the game cues up your keystrokes, so if you accidentally hit pass twice, the next player to get the ball will pass it on, usually to the opposition.

These are small niggles, though. If you want a simple, fun game that you can play with your friends, there's nothing like Sensible Soccer.