Soccer Kid
Like to kick balls? Try this one from Songbird
By Chris DonaldsonFebruary 5, 2001
Let's start off by saying that any games released on the Jag these days
are highly appreciated. After all, many thought Battlesphere would be the
last game we got. But thanks to Songbird Productions the Jag is alive and
kicking, and speaking of kicking, hey it's Soccer Kid! (ha ha beat that one)
Soccer Kid is, well, a kid who likes to play soccer. The game is a simple
16-bit platformer, and it never aspires to go beyond that done-to-death genre. So what makes
Soccer Kid stand out? Well, nothing. From it's goofy story (an asteroid destroyed the World Cup and you have to find the
pieces?), basic graphics, and even goofier soundtrack, this game just screams 16-bit, and for once I mean that in a bad way.
Graphics
Weak. That's the best word I can think of to describe SK's graphics. Colorful? To an extent. But flat and boring describe them better. The
backgrounds in particular look very flat, like they have nothing to do with
the levels themselves. The animation is alright I suppose, but this game had
a pretty poor artist. I just don't like the characters. There's not a lot to
like about the graphics. One plus is you can change Soccer Kid's outfit to
almost any colors you want. But what's up with the letterboxed screen? It's
not like this game is pushing the Jag's limits, a full screen should not
have been a problem.
Sound
Strike two is the sound. I think I heard some people saying they like SK's
music, but I really can't stand it. It gets on my nerves big time. The soundtrack is that
cutsey, ultra-synth sounding 16-bit stuff. It's really
busy and I just don't care for it. The sound effects are alright, but once
again, they get on my nerves. They're clear and work for this type of game
though, so that's something.
Controls
The controls are one area where the game is pretty solid. They're not great,
but they get the job done. My big problem with controlling Soccer Kid was
jumping off the ball. When you jump off it you get a sudden little push in
mid air, that will CONSTANTLY screw you up. You'll try to compensate for it,
but it'll catch you sooner or later. Handling the ball is a little stiff
too. Overall the controls are good enough for an average platformer.
Gameplay
The gameplay is flat out average. Nothing makes Soccer Kid stand out from
other platformers. It does what so many have done before it, but it doesn't
do it better. In fact there are some problems with the gameplay, namely the
game is cheap. You will get hit in SK most times not because you did
something wrong, but because you can't see very far in front of or above
Soccer Kid. The game is very hard because it gets cheap little hits on you,
not because it's challenging. Three hits and you're dead. Not only that but
the one audience this game should definitely appeal to, children, will be
turned off from it because it is so difficult. The only things that keep the
game above water are the solid platforming aspects. It does have some decent
levels and it does most of the bare minimums to make a good platformer. It
just falls short in so many other areas.
Overall
I didn't expect much from SK, and that's a good thing, because if I had my
hopes up at all I wouldn't be able to take it. As it is, Soccer Kid is a
poor, but not horrible game. Like so many sub par games before it, there is
some fun to be had here, but not that much of it. If you're a hardcore
platformer, then by all means go for this game. But otherwise I really can't
see the appeal Soccer Kid would have other than as a collectable. Sorry
Songbird, I know you meant well, but you should have just passed on this
one.
Game Data |
Scores
|
| Title |
Soccer Kid |
Graphics |
38% |
| Publisher |
Songbird |
Sound/Music |
30% |
| Genre |
Platformer |
Gameplay |
45% |
| System |
Jaguar |
Control |
69% |
|
|
Overall |
65% |
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