Sensible World of Soccer coming to XBLA Dec. 19
by Justin McElroy 
{ Nov 27th 2007 at 12:57PM }
Speaking as Americans who barely even understand soccer, let alone a whole video game devoted to soccer, we can't really tell you why some people are so excited about the game, or why it's one of the most important of all time, according to Chris Grant and his band of old guys. We'll leave that job to the onslaught of European commenters we assume have already started drafting their exceptionally terse response.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark @ Nov 27th 2007 1:02PM
Wow, I can't wait til they release Double Dribble.
aMac @ Nov 27th 2007 1:12PM
Sensible World of Soccer was one of the greatest Amiga games of all time, and as someone who isn't into it as a sport, Sensible is also the only football game I've ever enjoyed/loved.
This game is also responsible for the breaking of MANY joysticks do to frantic abuse and trying just that bit -too hard- to curve the ball. Aaaah memories. Amiga games were so damn good!
Pawsaldo @ Nov 27th 2007 4:26PM
I highly highly highly agree with you, I still haven't found a football game just as good.
T3H WICKERMAN (FDF) @ Nov 27th 2007 1:21PM
I will take the release date with a grain of salt...Ive been waiting on this for awhile.
Luka M. @ Nov 27th 2007 1:24PM
yes please.
John @ Nov 27th 2007 1:33PM
It's the epitome of deceptive simplicity, one button play that takes a lifetime to master.
Grapefruit Juice @ Nov 27th 2007 1:39PM
not only does it look good but the video really shows off the game's depth.
Alucard @ Nov 27th 2007 1:43PM
Yeah It's True That Americans Don,t Understand Football Because They Still Call It Soccer And They Call That Other Stupid Sport Football When Barely Those Big Stupid Gorillas Use Their Feet This Happens Only In The U.S. And Canada
Squid @ Nov 27th 2007 1:57PM
At least most of us understand proper grammar and capitalization rules!
mike_p @ Nov 27th 2007 6:52PM
We don't understand football because we call it soccer?
So THAT is what it was all along... Thanks for clearing that up for everyone. Now you should read a book and brush up on proper English.
It's funny how I'm the one of very few Americans playing FIFA 08 online over here (in England atm) that actually understand what position I'm supposed to be in during a 5v5 match... and the English lads run defenders from the back line and play them as strikers/midfielders leaving a gaping hole in the defence. After we start losing, they quit. Why not teach your own peeps a few things about football other than chasing the ball around the field, desperately hunting for glory? Stop acting like girly men.
Neon Jebus @ Nov 27th 2007 1:41PM
So if Mr. Grant is speaking along with this group of old guys does that mean you are calling him old? I sure hope so!
I would say it but my parents taught me to respect my elders. :)
As for the game, heck I pretty much hate hockey but loved Hockey on the Atari 2600 and Blades of Steel on the NES. That being said, I look forward to trying if out.
Po0py @ Nov 27th 2007 2:16PM
For a simple top down footy game this was the most realistic of its time. I remember scoring many free kicks, curving the ball round the wall and into the top corner. Amazing fun. I hope it hasn't aged too bad. It was a stunning game when it first came out. For a period in the UK there wasn't a single gamer who wasn't playing it.
I don't know if its one of the most important games of all time but for UK gamers it was a major step forward in footy games.
bigsofty @ Nov 27th 2007 2:36PM
SS is great fun, simple, nothing fancy and no 3D camera to mess up your kick... pick it up in 5 minutes...!
sp @ Nov 27th 2007 3:00PM
where is my freaking Discs of Tron?!
Hernán @ Nov 27th 2007 3:35PM
Because it's 100% playability. The gameplay is the best you can find in a football game: fast, fun, easy and fast to learn...
It was very popular in the 90s, it even had a Genesis and SuperNES version (don't remember if it was launched in the US).
Anthony @ Nov 28th 2007 5:12AM
Sensi distils footy down to it's bare essentials. It provides you all ofthe things that make football the amazing sport it is.
It's as easy to play as the real thing. It's also nearly as difficult to really master as the real thing.
It's not a simulation, it just captures the essence of the sport. It's simplicity, flow and enjoyment. Moments of genius. Moments of pain. Moments of comedy.
You've got one button that does everything. Pass, Shoot, Head, Tackle. It's like the context sensitive 'A' button in Gears of War - except it works flawlessly.
I personally played the game from it's very first version through to SWOS 97/98. Then I kept playing it for over 5 years after. (SWOS is huge. It's career mode gives managerial abilities: buying and selling players, moving clubs, being a national coach etc - all set across dozens of nations, hundreds of leagues and thousands of teams and players)
Earlier in the year I had a bunch of mates around and we played the (comparatively poor) Mega Drive (Genesis) version of the original Sensible Soccer in a big league.
It plays as awesomely as ever. Even guys who hadn't played any games in 5-6 years gave as good as they got.
Anyone can play it, but it doesn't dumb anything down either.
I honestly can't say enough about the game.
It is still my favourite game of all time.