0 to Z of Playstation 1 Games - Adidas Power Soccer

       

Adidas Power Soccer is a football based sports game developed by UK based developer Psygnosis, the game was also published by Psygnosis, and was released in Europe in June of 1996, and later that year in North America, the game was released on the Playstation 1 as well as receiving a windows release later in 1997.

Like the Actua series, Adidas Power Soccer uses motion capture for its players, with more realistic , bicycle kicks, jump kicks and far more realistic player footwork than has been seen to date, the game comes with two modes the simulation mode, with what you would expect from a football game, slow build-ups from the back, crosses, through balls.

Then you have the Arcade mode where the rule book gets set on fire then thrown through a wood chipper, with burning kicks that set the goalie on fire, jump kicks to players head and shirt pulls become a key part of your tactics, as well as the feared Predator Kick, In both modes you have the choice to play tournaments or full seasons

Football game no story present

Review generally for this game are average or higher, Electric Playground leading the review scores for this game with a 9/10, with their review quoted as, I think if you're really a fan of the sport, you'll probably be springing for more than one of these titles anyway and I would have absolutely no reservations about recommending Power Soccer be that second game. With its European locales and flavor, not to mention the game's crisp animation and stunning array of features and options, Adidas Power Soccer would brighten up any gamer's day.

German publication Video Games were also positive with Adidas Power Soccer giving the game a solid 83/100 with their review roundup largely positive, with the review quoted with development department has delivered an all-round, well-programmed game and at the same time proved love for detail: renamed players bend themselves. Right on the ground, hobble after a foul or have circling stars above their heads. Also the animations are great. The only really hateful thing about this game is the German pseudo-commentator. With a shameless voice, he drifts to one silly phrase after the other:

IGN and Gamespot both agreed on the same scores for the game with both outlets giving the game a 7/10 with both reviews praising the new approach to football in the games Arcade mode, the game was not without critics however at the other end of the ratings scale Computer & Video Games UK (not sure if they even like video games) rated the game a lowly, let me rephrase that abysmal 1/10.

Game Revolution were not much kinder giving the game just a D which equates to a 25/100, they did have valid points for their low score however the, shameless plugging of Adidas Predator Football boots at every possible opportunity turning the game into nothing more than a commercial strewn TV show.

This is the part of 0 to Z where is visit five online retailers and see what the availability of the title is, and what price you would be looking at if you wanted to pick this title up, the sites that I will be using for this are Amazon.com,  eStarland.com, retrogames.co.uk and Gamedude.com I know the last one is very location specific, but from a podcast I listen to I’ve heard they have a huge stock of older games, I will also be including Ebay.com as well

So lets get down to business with Gamedude, who will give you $2 for you copy of the game if you are looking to trade it in, while if you are in the market for a copy of the game it will set you back $7 with Gamdude, eStarland.com currently have one copy available, this is a disc only copy so no case or manual, and it will set you back $4.37, this converts to £3.37 in the UK, in the Euro region it will set you back €3.73 while in Norway it will set you back 34.92 Norwegian Krone, you can also trade in your copy with eStarland.com, with the retailer paying $2.25 for a copy.

Heading over to Retrogames.co.uk who sadly don’t stock this title used or new, so swiftly moving on ttoAmazon.com who have the North American version of the game with a used very good quality copy of the game costing $1 +$4.59 for shipping, a collectable very good/like new copy of the game will cost considerably more with the copy on sale at $27.58 with an additional $4 for shipping, cost wise you would be better opting for the new copy that is on sale at $26.99 with $4.59 shipping instead, there is also the token over priced new copy on sale as well at $95.99, what the hell $100 with shipping.

Heading over the pond to the co.uk version of Amazon where £3 will get you a very good quality copy of the game this converts to 30.84 Norwegian Krone, in the Euro region it will set you back €3.30, while if you are importing it to the US it will set you back $3.86.

A decent if not extensive supply of copies on sale, but generally well priced for a good or very good condition copy, no new copies however, so if you are looking for a like new copy then you will have to fork out a fair bit more, with the only used like new copy currently on the market for £25.69 it does come with free delivery as well.

Moving to Ebay.com and a copy shipped from Germany is currently priced at $5.29, with an additional $2.34 for shipping, with two of these copies on sale both are complete copies with case, cover, manual and disc, this is the cheapest you will get a copy of this game from Ebay, with the majority of the remainder asking for a minimum of $10 once shipping is added in to the price, those copies that come with free shipping prices start around the $12 mark.

 

Written by

P J Gibbon