Super Kick Off review - Sega Master System

It's the game that made a small software house called Anco an overnight sensation! It's the game that has been hailed as the greatest sports simulation of all time! It's the game that's just popped up at the MEAN MACHINES offices and promises to be one of the best Master System games devised! It's Kick Off, of course, and it's ready to kick some Master System ass!

As the name and screenshots suggest, Kick Off is a football game - but it's not just any football game. Owing to a completely brilliant method of ball control it's the most realistic soccer sim ever devised. In normal soccer games, the ball "sticks" to the foot of the player in possession, but with Super Kick Off, the ball has to be successfully manipulated by dribbling, trapping and shooting - just like real life.

Just about every single rule of soccer has been programmed into Super Kick Off - with the exception of off-sides (according to the original programmers, it slowed up the action). Everything else is included - even fouls, penalties and sendings-off!

What the Mean Machines staff thought

The world's finest soccer game finally arrives on the Master System... and it's utterly, utterly superb. It's got exactly the same graphics, gameplay and game logic that made the Amiga version one of the greatest games ever written. The controls are superb, although those new to Kick Off might find them a bit strange at first because the ball doesn't stick to your feet like in other football games. Instead you "run" with the ball. It might sound weird, but believe me, once you master it you won't believe the moves you can get your players to pull off! The computer logic is simply brilliant, with your team seeming to read your mind! When you pass there's always another player running onto the ball, keeping play going and making it possible to string together complex, sweeping moves! The computer teams are very intelligent, and it takes an awful lot of practice before you can consistently beat them! And even if you do get completely brilliant at the game, there are an amazing amount of gameplay options, two different two-player modes (two players on the same team or two players head-to-head), two different leagues and a cup competition to keep your interest alive and kicking. The only thing that's disappointing about this game is the sound - the title screen has to be one of the crappiest, most repetitive and irritating pieces of "music" ever heard in the history of video gaming. It's absolutely dire, and the people responsible should have their ears syringed. Other than that, Super Kick Off is a truly outstanding game, offering gameplay, challenge and lasting appeal unmatched by any other Master System game. Under no circumstances should you miss it.

I saw an early demo of this game about four months ago. Then, it had the graphic look of the Amiga version but the playability wasn't quite right. Now, after exhaustive play-testing, the Sega version is ready and it's almost as mega as the original 16-bit game! It's just so good to play - the ball control is perfect and the way the computer decides which players to select for action is superb. With one and two-player options, a great kit design option and plenty of different pitches and referees, this scores incredibly highly on the presentation side too. The only thing that detracts from Super Kick Off is the sound. Adequate comment on this shambling aspect has been passed in a special box separate to this comment. As a conversion of the best soccer game ever, Super Kick Off delivers in just about every way possible and this game is probably the best £29.99 you'll ever spend on a Sega cart.