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ECTS First Impressions: 90 Minutes Preview
Chris Leyton
00/12/0000
Can Smilebit stop the buckward trend of dreamcast footie titles?
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
TVG football fans will recollect that we've been following this closely over the last few weeks, trying to pries any information from the secretive Sega. Would this finally be the title to end all football titles on the dreamcast, a final swansong for the die-hard fans bemused by the lack of quality football titles on the DC. Were the rumours that Jet Set Radio creator, Smilebit producing the title true? Well on the good news, Smilebit are developing the title, on the bad news I donāt think this will set your dreamcast alight.
The first thing that strikes you is the graphics, unfortunately looking a little ropey in this nearly complete version. Player models look rough, with poorly defined textures that lack detail and any real distinctiveness. Despite some nice animation, the lack of textures and drab visual style doesn't seems shocking when you consider this came from the team responsible for the visual masterpiece that is Jet Set Radio.
Playing the game takes a little getting used to; however once the basic controls have been mastered you'll soon be stringing passes together and knocking in shots from distance. My main problem with football games is that they don't flow properly, asides from the mighty ISS series every other title always seem to suffer from that stop-start feeling. Unfortunately 90 Minutes takes on this approach, hopefully more time with the game will result in a more enjoyable experience however from my short time on the title I wouldn't expect it.
Player moves seemed to be obtrusively restricted, with a sever lack of any 'special' moves, in this day and age of shimmy's, step-overs and juggles we could have at least expected a few to make the starting line-up, however due to either my gaming ineptness or the lack of them no magical skills were to be found on the pitch during my ninety minutes.
The usual game modes accompany a fairly extensive selection of clubs and the ability to create a player mode. The highly rumored online play has unfortunately turned out to be a red herring, though given SoE reluctance to do anymore with online titles in Europe and the game's limited US appeal this doesn't come as too much of a surprise.
