Virtua Striker 2002
Virtua Striker 2002
Manufacturer: Atari (Limited availability)
Football makes for good business when it comes to computer games and, ever eager to score a few shillings for the coffers, Sega have unleashed the latest version of their arcade footy game Virtua Striker onto the Gamecube masses. Arcade really is the keyword here–there are no officially sanctioned player names and little in the way of tactics, and ball control consists of a couple of button taps. That’s not to say it’s not fun–we hadn’t laughed so much in ages when our Tongan side beat Germany 6-0 in an oddly disjointed game featuring poor animation, no commentary and sparse sound effects which are totally inappropriate within the context of the game.
It’s hard not to feel this is an opportunity missed. Virtua Striker 2002 has oodles of play modes for single and multi-player action, but there’s something unsatisfying about the playing experience. The lack of proper challenges makes tackling an awkward affair and team members either slide dramatically across the turf or produce some kind of nervous tic which throws the opponent away from the ball. And matters don’t improve when the other side gain possession. Time after time a computer-controlled friendly player will dash perilously close to a loose ball only to snatch himself away and run off in a random direction–it’s frustrating to say the least.
If you can bear its inadequacies, Virtua Striker 2002 can be very good fun–it’s certainly the most hilarious footy game for the ‘Cube to date–but those looking for a more realistic representation should stick with the FIFA or ISS series. –Chris Russell
decentIts a decent game, but lacks depth. Good for a quick go every now and then, but if you want more depth then get iss or fifa, or import winnning eleven from japan
Arcade at home!
I have to admit the sad joy I used to get from scurrying to the local arcade to play Virtua Striker 2, the sheer drama of the game enthralling my mates as we battled eachother for victory. After buying the game for my Dreamcast it seemed pointless walking to pay £1 for a game I owned. But the adventures didn’t end there as the game still retained the arcade element and was a good game even at home.
When I saw that Virtua Striker 2002 was appearing on the Gamecube I was cheering to the heavens expecting the same joy as from the previous game. I already own ISS2 so you might ask ‘Why buy another football game?’ which is a fair question of my sanity. the answer is that they are totally different games. While ISS2 has the well-rounded mark awarded to it, Virtua Striker has that arcade feel to it which really adds something to the experience of playing.
The game looks fantastic, smooth animation as with the arcade and Dreamcast games. The controls are simple to manage and you can score some great goals with practice, or not sometimes which can mean frustration against ‘weaker’ human opposition but hey it adds to the drama! As mentioned in the ‘Amazon’ review, the gameplay is fast and furious which is no bad thing.
If you want the full football package with a degree of realism to it then 1) avoid FIFA titles at ALL COST 2) Buy ISS2. But if you want to enjoy a football game with a unique feel and experience to it then Virtua Striker is your man, woman, whatever your persuasion…