Soccer Story [PC] | REVIEW

What better time is there than during the FIFA World Cup to embark on an RPG adventure built entirely around football? Whilst it might not use the ‘correct’ term for the sport in its name (something which is comically addressed in-game), Soccer Story offers a unique experience where players will play football whilst also completing quests, meeting plenty of quirky characters, and making sure that football isn’t banished from the world completely.

It makes for an intriguing and unique concoction of ideas that can be a lot of fun too, though it also has a few little issues that hold the experience back.

Check out some screenshots down below:

After an event known as the Calamity sees a corporation known as Soccer Inc ban football across the world, folk haven’t even been able to kick a football – let alone play a match. Imagine that: a world without football… ghastly. Luckily for us, the playable character of Soccer Story stumbles across a magical football, which isn’t only used to score some amazing goals but also solve puzzles across the world, help folk out, and bring an end to the banishment of the beautiful game.

It’s worth mentioning immediately that whilst playing football itself does feature heavily in Soccer Story, it’s the different individual elements of the sport that feel the most prominent throughout gameplay. Not only are you able to aim the ball and kick it with varying amounts of power across the world to interact with objects or complete tasks, but you’re also able to slide tackle across the environment to navigate through obstacles or find hidden collectibles. Both elements are used in some clever ways when completing quests, whilst there are also more conventional tasks to be done like simply scoring some stunners when you see some goal posts or targets in the distance.

Of course, you can’t have a football game without actually playing the sport itself, with Soccer Story featuring five-versus-five showdowns that feel closer to Mario Strikers than they do FIFA. These matches don’t follow the rules of football strictly, with things like set pieces or throw ins not part of the game; instead, you’ll focus on stringing together passes, scoring some worldly goals from all over the pitch, and wiping out opponents with an unending supply of slide tackles. No need to worry about red cards here, with fast-paced and aggressive action very much at the forefront.

“Not only are you able to aim the ball and kick it with varying amounts of power across the world to interact with objects or complete tasks, but you’re also able to slide tackle across the environment to navigate through obstacles or find hidden collectibles.”

The players on your team have different stats which can be improved throughout the game, so their effectiveness will grow as you progress. It’s a good job too, because Soccer Story’s matches certainly aren’t easy. You have to pass efficiently, look for the gaps in your opponent’s defence, and strike at the right moment, all whilst ensuring you’re quick and ready when a counterattack is hit against you. Your foes will be relentless whilst pursuing the ball, and whilst there are ways to exploit this, I always felt like I had to be a step ahead of them if I wanted to retain possession. It’s fun, but there’s definitely a learning curve in place that’ll make some of your earlier matches feel a bit trickier.

Scoring goals can also be a bit unpredictable, which is similar to the Mario Strikers series. Sometimes, you’ll feel like you’re through on goal and hit the perfect shot, only to have the keeper make a series of ridiculous saves; other times, you’ll shoot from inside your half and completely bamboozle them, making you feel like you’re the video game equivalent of Lionel Messi. Whilst it’s always satisfying to score amazing goals, it would have been nice if there was a bit more consistency to it – if only to add to the tactical nuance of the gameplay. Oh, and the goalkeepers’ ability to control the ball after a shot is a little frustrating, especially since it prevents opportunistic strikers from hitting in a cool rebound after a save. It can make those unpredictable yet brilliant saves they pull off all the more frustrating.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Outside of the football matches, players will complete plenty of quests for NPCs and even partake in a variety of kooky mini-games. Whilst the way that footballing is integrated into these regularly made me smile, the tasks you actually have to complete could get a bit repetitive after a few hours of playing. Shooting a football at everything felt novel at first, but it starts to fall a bit flat after you’ve done the same sort of thing time and time again. Now I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s boring because I had a good time seeing Soccer Story’s adventure through, but it doesn’t manage to maintain the creative momentum that’s established in the early hours of the game.

There’s simply no denying its charm though, with the world a colourful and vibrant place and the dialogue genuinely entertaining. There are plenty of funny characters to encounter across the world, and whilst some jokes do fall flat, for the most its entertaining and will appeal to players of all ages. I haven’t even mentioned the multiplayer options when playing matches either, which allow up to four players to compete both co-operatively or competitively – whilst it doesn’t offer the most robust multiplayer football experience, the unique aspects of the gameplay do make it fun to have a few matches with friends.

Developer: PanicBarn
Publisher: No More Robots
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://soccerstorygame.com/