Soccer Slam

Not only is Sega?s Soccer Slam one of the only exclusive new games for the GameCube, but it?s also one of the best.

Given little to choose from, save for PS2 and Dreamcast ports, GameCube owners sure have it tough these days. Amidst this slew of console hand-me-downs, however, is Sega?s fantasy-oriented sports gem, Soccer Slam. Visual Concepts, the development house behind the NFL and NBA 2K series, has made a visually fresh and frenetically addicting game that forsakes the depth and realism of the FIFA and International Superstar Soccer franchises, opting instead for a simpler, cartoon-inspired approach and outrageous, non-stop action?with fantastic results.

In Soccer Slam, the world?s most popular sport is just as much an all-out battle as it is a game of skill and finesse. If players aren?t content with just stealing from an opponent with a leg sweep, they can punch, smack, and backhand one another for possession of the ball. Not very sportsman-like to be sure, but once you experience euphoria from pummeling your opponent as he?s winding up for an open shot, you?ll know you?re playing something special.

Soccer Slam has some heavy fantasy elements as well. Every team member can perform a power-up, such as turning into a human torch or a running burst of electricity, for faster footwork and more powerful kicks. Executing passing and/or shooting combos increases your power meter, and once it?s full, you can perform Killer Kicks, which slow the action down to bullet time and enable you to perform devastating shots that are difficult to block.

Overall, Soccer Slam?s controls are like the game itself: easy to learn, hard to master. The control scheme is tight, simple, and mapped out beautifully on the GameCube controller, while the passing system is very intuitive. Pass/shot combos are a snap to execute, as are power-ups and Killer Kicks. Holding the A button to switch to your goalie is too time consuming, however; it would be better to do it with a quick button press.

Soccer Slam?s gameplay modes include Exhibition, Quest, and Tourney. In Quest mode your team will compete around the world with its eye firmly planted on the Continental Cup. As you earn money for each victory, you can buy such ability-enhancing equipment as shinguards and wristbands, which enable you to run faster, shoot better, and hit harder. There are only six teams to choose from, however, and the only unlockable bonuses are stadiums, so some may find that Soccer Slam lacks long-term replay value as a single-player game. Against other humans, however, it?s even more intense, addictive, and a hell of a lot of fun. Soccer Slam is one of the worthiest additions to your GameCube library that you?re going to find for a while.

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