 N64 software is hitting all categories/genres
now. Mahjong has been covered with next week's Mahjong
Master from Konami. All we need now is Starfox 64 to give
us the category of 3-D shooter. Perfect Striker from
Konami is one of the finest soccer games that I have
played. It hails from the popular J-League Perfect Eleven
series of games and establishes Konami as the king of the
soccer field since the latest Fifa was little more than a
data update with no significant improvements over its
earlier versions. Unlike baseball, soccer is not an
American tradition and is pretty much unknown as a
commercial sport in the USA. A push was made in the 70s
and early 90s to entrench the game into the national
psyche but those efforts have been met with dismal
results. For its fans, soccer must turn to Asia and
Europe where soccer is a fanatical passion. It is a sport
that pits neighbor against neigbor, region against
region, and country against country. Fights have broken
out over soccer arguments, stampedes have erupted because
of unruly fans and songs have been written about the
mayhem that it can cause. Needless to say, soccer is not
in want of fans in Europe and Asia. The
graphics in Perfect Striker are unremarkable to look at.
They are bitmapped and a bit unclear when the animation
moves fast but the control is undeniable. It is flawless
with the analog stick and your target player [who is
surrounded with a clearly defined ring] responds with
extreme precision to the taps and fine tunes that you
make on your pad as you juggle and guide the ball towards
the opposing net. It is difficult to describe the
satisfaction that I felt when playing this game with its
excellent controls. A game is only a game, it shouldn't
immerse you but I fell victim to it. I won't be so cliche
as to say that 'you'll feel like you're there' but the
atmosphere and the whole drama of the game is laid on you
the moment your players take the field and line up in
formation with the crowd behind you and the opposing team
taking their positions. It was war and the only
resolution was to play ball. The player animations are
very well done. They move like human beings with human
nuances and reactions. Players will turn their heads to
check the ball and charge for possession when given a
chance. They will also stoop down to get a better kick
when an opposing player is coming at them. Striker is a
superb product and offers the avid soccer fan many
evenings of enjoyment and suspense. Konami has given the
N64 a perfect gift for the resolute and demanding soccer
fan.
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