Head-On Soccer
Description
This isometric football game features 51 different national teams that can compete in two different game modes: Exhibition and Tournament (a series of seven games on four continents, with a final against the World All-Stars). Players have the ability to set time, difficulty level, see cutscenes after goals, and determine whether or not players are allowed to freely kick each other around without committing (many) fouls.
In spite of the fact that the game seems to be lacking in features compared to those of 1995, the tournament mode includes a twist: depending on how well the player defeats his opponents, he is given the option to trade his "standard players," who won't do anything spectacular (but at least fill up the ranks), for star players, who not only look different, are able to cross and backheel the ball, but also have a special ability that can be used at the player's discretion: the player can
The Marker is able to latch on to an opposing player and prevent him from escaping with the ball by preventing him from running away;
Goalkeeper 1: has a greater ability to avoid being hit by shots than the regular goalkeeper;
Barger is a large and muscular player who has the ability to push everyone else out of his way;
The ability to jump (or bunny hop, to be more precise) with the ball tucked between his feet in order to avoid being tackled;
This player takes the whole thing to the next level, being able to dig fouls out of nowhere, at the expense of the ball (if he's carrying it or the referee waves play on) or just some stains in his shirt (if he's trying to pull an offensive foul), with the odds of 50/50 (25% for penalties); while it's difficult to talk about fair play in a game in which kicking a defender's leg to gain a corner is (mostly)
Passer: able to feed forwards with passes that have a high level of laser precision;
Striker 1: has the ability to let fly with shots that are impossible to slice and can score from virtually any position inside the offensive zone;
Striker 2: This striker has a shot that is so powerful that the ball ignites as it approaches the goal, and it is most effective when used from positions directly in front of the net;
The second Goalkeeper has a better chance of saving difficult shots from either of the Strikers;
In exhibition matches, each team chooses their own starting lineup, which can range from no players to the entire roster. Playing on wet grass eliminates all ball bounce; playing in sand results in the opposite; and a rocky field results in the most dramatic change, where the ball can change direction after hitting the ground, turning throw-ins into corners and poor attempts on goals and vice versa. The playing surface also affects the gameplay.