Sensible World
of Soccer '96/'97
Egads! Another SWOS update, you say? Well flambe my hobnobs if these don't come along more often than the 38 bus to Good Time City
Ah, but this feels good! Its been too long since I wandered up to my Amiga room like some sad-but-happy old bloke trundling down to his allotment shed. It really is the only way to be; lock away the harsh realities of telephone bills and responsibilities, load up ye good olde SWOS, and get into some seriously week-wasting career. Yes, were here again in familiar territory my old chums, with that reassuring ache in the wrist (and you can keep your dirty comments to yourselves, thank you) and the knowledge that the moment you lose concentration youll be relegated from managing the mighty Arse to cleaning the urinals with a toothbrush for Southend United. But that is the good thing about SWOS and indeed the legacy of Sensible Soccer as a whole; you can leave it alone for a year, but the moment that menu tune plays out, a surge of nostalgia-fuelled adrenalin floods through the body, and the detail of every little cheap shot and set play comes as naturally as it ever did. So why exactly are we here again? Simple its time once again to update the teams. It youre already an owner of SWOS then you can simply pick up the upgrade for a tenner, of should you be a Sensi virgin then nows the chance to open your mind ... Theres only oneAnd were off - albeit after a quite training match to soften
up those knuckle joints - straight back into the familiar embrace of hour after hour of
crowd-accompanied footy joy. Its all as it was when we first discovered SWOS, with
bending passes being used to lead players forward, new-improved goalies, and the welcome
addition of heading CPU teams. If you want to get REALLY anal, you can still set up your
own tactics and formations, but as is always the case, the best funs to be had with
a gang of mates and a good old fashioned knockout league. And there you have it. Still the
best football game ever. Still worth playing never mind the rendered and motioncaptured
pap the wonder consoles are putting out. And STILL as captivating and
addictive as it ever was. Did you expect anything less? I didnt think so
Matt Broughton
From CU AMIGA - January 1997