PC Zone review of Sensational Soccer
January 2006 - Issue 176 - Indie Game Of The Month - 79%

If you don't fancy forking out 20 quid for Sensible Soccer 2006, then why not try this excellent Sensi clone for half the price?

Created by the same developer who brought us New Star Soccer 3 (see 'Top 5 Indie Games', opposite), Sensational Soccer differs from its predecessor by putting you in control of the entire team rather than a single player. While this new approach does rob the game of some depth and character, it's still a joy to play, with countless leagues from across the world recreated in minute detail and every player possessing a raft of stats and abilities.

Once you get to grips with the controls (gamepad, keyboard or mouse), the action transforms from a frustrating button-masher to a silky game of soccer, where mazy dribbles, one-touch passes, crunching tackles and stinging shots become commonplace. Throw in some fairly lifelike physics and you're left with a ball game that's almost as much fun as playing with your own.

While it lacks the novelty value of NSS3 and doesn't quite stack up to Sensi 2006, Sensational Soccer is by far the most entertaining and detailed team-based footy experience currently doing the rounds on the indie game circuit. Worth checking out.

Martin Korda