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WORLD CUP ITALIA '90 (SMD)
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Publisher: SEGA.
Developer: SEGA. Released: November 1990. Genre: Football. Other versions: SMS. Posted 28th April 2021. By Tom Clare © 2021 |
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Whilst there are a few gaming compilations that can claim to sport a stronger line-up, few are so well-remembered as Mega Games 1. SEGA’s three-in-one software bundle was the perfect pack-in accompaniment to the console itself, giving players a taste of the variety they could expect from the Mega Drive. Super Hang-On provided adrenalin junkies with a bonafide, arcade racing masterpiece. For those after something a little more cerebral, supremely addictive puzzler Columns ticked all the right boxes. Rounding off the trio was World Cup Italia ‘90, which gave gamers the chance to experience the beautiful game and its biggest tournament, from the comfort of their own home.
I don’t think it’s controversial to suggest that World Cup Italia ‘90 is the weakest of the trio. In such esteemed company, SEGA’s football game always seemed a little clunky. To a generation of gamers however, there’s an uncomplicated, pure blast of warts ‘n’ all nostalgia associated with endless two-player matches against siblings and friends. Those in the press were rather less enamoured, decrying it a duff Kick Off clone and in some cases, listing it among the system’s worst-ever games. As is so often the case, there’s probably a whiff of truth to both viewpoints.
The ball sprite is probably one of the most impressive aspects of World Cup Italia '90. Lofting high, diagonal balls is your best bet for scoring
It wasn’t the official game of the World Cup: Virgin Mastertronic would loan SEGA the use of some properties relating to the tournament. It isn’t long before you run into some quirks. The 24-team, round-robin format fits the bill, sporting real countries in (mostly) appropriate colour schemes. However, included are a number of teams who failed to qualify for the finals (amongst them Japan, China, Algeria and Hungary) at the expense of a fair few who did (notably Cameroon, Egypt, Colombia and Costa Rica). Consequently, there’s no recreating the tournament as it would have played out. Even with the correct teams, this would have been difficult as there are no options, whatsoever. No difficulty settings, no tweaks to the control layouts or the lengths of games, nothing.
The football itself is similarly uncomplicated. It’s impossible to commit fouls, meaning the game retains something of a rhythm with relatively few stoppages. The problem is, the controls are incredibly ropey. Responsiveness is horribly slow and it’s especially odd that players are incapable of kicking the ball when stationery. The Mega Drive’s three buttons allow for a lofted high ball, a delicate pass and a low shot, but it entirely lacks the finesse and depth of Kick Off. Indeed, whilst occasionally compelling, the action is perhaps best described as chaotic. Scrambles in the penalty area descend into a mess as keepers often spill the ball, only to recapture it as outfield players are incapable of responding quickly to any of the on-the-ground actions, making it extremely difficult to capitalise. The best way to score is to send diagonal balls into the penalty area, with headers back across goal far more likely to fox the keeper than direct attempts on goal.
The football itself is similarly uncomplicated. It’s impossible to commit fouls, meaning the game retains something of a rhythm with relatively few stoppages. The problem is, the controls are incredibly ropey. Responsiveness is horribly slow and it’s especially odd that players are incapable of kicking the ball when stationery. The Mega Drive’s three buttons allow for a lofted high ball, a delicate pass and a low shot, but it entirely lacks the finesse and depth of Kick Off. Indeed, whilst occasionally compelling, the action is perhaps best described as chaotic. Scrambles in the penalty area descend into a mess as keepers often spill the ball, only to recapture it as outfield players are incapable of responding quickly to any of the on-the-ground actions, making it extremely difficult to capitalise. The best way to score is to send diagonal balls into the penalty area, with headers back across goal far more likely to fox the keeper than direct attempts on goal.
FOCAL POINT: PENALTY POINTS
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Penalties. For fans invested in the 1990 finals, that one word alone would come to evoke a breathtaking array of emotions. WCI ’90 goes some way to capturing the gut-wrenching lottery that is the dreaded shoot-out. Here, the standard top-down view is eschewed in favour of a more dramatic third-person perspective. Like much of the rest of the game, the technical elements of the shoot-out don’t hold up to much scrutiny, but there’s one oddly comic aspect that has stayed with me down the years. If you’re playing against a friend, it’s possible for the person controlling the keeper to trigger them into a dive, before the penalty has been taken. The keeper then remains in a crumpled (and presumably dejected) heap until the penalty taker deigns to shoot.
The world map selection screen, whilst admittedly a little drab looking, provides a novel means of selecting your preferred team and sussing out their attributes. The West Germany’s, Brazil’s and Argentina’s of the time are blessed with speed, agility and more powerful shots, whilst those looking for a challenge might want to see if they can lead the more-modestly rated Morocco, Peru or South Korea to glory.
Whilst the dramatic and occasionally samba-driven music is a real plus, the sound effects are exceptionally poor. The noise of the dribbling is as if the players are shifting rubble. Then there’s the bizarre, tinny ping of the goalposts, the off-key referee’s whistle, the sandpaper-shuffle of slide tackles and the strangled cry of “gOoOal!” when you boot up the cartridge. All-in-all, very strange.
World Cup Italia ‘90’s presentation is lacklustre. The visuals are underwhelming, with samey players exhibiting awkward movement and poor animation. It does the job on a purely functional level, as the pitches are sharply defined, creating a strong contrast between the players, the ball and the surroundings. It also employs some nice third-person static screens to embellish the taking of penalties, goal kicks and corners, adding a little pizazz to the occasion. Perhaps the coolest touch is seeing the football sprite itself, enlarging and decreasing in size again as it’s launched up high, a la Speedball.
Whilst the dramatic and occasionally samba-driven music is a real plus, the sound effects are exceptionally poor. The noise of the dribbling is as if the players are shifting rubble. Then there’s the bizarre, tinny ping of the goalposts, the off-key referee’s whistle, the sandpaper-shuffle of slide tackles and the strangled cry of “gOoOal!” when you boot up the cartridge. All-in-all, very strange.
World Cup Italia ‘90’s presentation is lacklustre. The visuals are underwhelming, with samey players exhibiting awkward movement and poor animation. It does the job on a purely functional level, as the pitches are sharply defined, creating a strong contrast between the players, the ball and the surroundings. It also employs some nice third-person static screens to embellish the taking of penalties, goal kicks and corners, adding a little pizazz to the occasion. Perhaps the coolest touch is seeing the football sprite itself, enlarging and decreasing in size again as it’s launched up high, a la Speedball.
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Once you’ve got the hang of it, you should have little trouble winning the World Cup, as despite some highly suspect controls, the relatively passive, uncompetitive nature of the A.I. means you can get on top of games without too much of a struggle. For early Mega Drive adopters, winning the tournament and competing with a friend proved the best ways of getting a bit more play from an otherwise fairly lean package.
For an event as spectacular as the football World Cup, it’s a surprisingly by-the-numbers effort from SEGA. Energetic music and attractive action viewpoints hint at the game’s potential, but its gameplay is firmly rooted in the bargain-bin. Patchy controls render World Cup Italia ‘90 a bit of a button masher, whilst bland presentation and a complete lack of options mean there’s little incentive to return, down the road. Except for the nostalgia, of course. I found a few good memories still lingering here, but to be clear: nostalgia alone does not a good game make.
For an event as spectacular as the football World Cup, it’s a surprisingly by-the-numbers effort from SEGA. Energetic music and attractive action viewpoints hint at the game’s potential, but its gameplay is firmly rooted in the bargain-bin. Patchy controls render World Cup Italia ‘90 a bit of a button masher, whilst bland presentation and a complete lack of options mean there’s little incentive to return, down the road. Except for the nostalgia, of course. I found a few good memories still lingering here, but to be clear: nostalgia alone does not a good game make.
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VERDICT
"A by-the-numbers effort from SEGA. Energetic music and attractive action viewpoints hint at the game’s potential, but its gameplay is firmly rooted in the bargain-bin. Nostalgia alone does not a good game make." OVERALL: 4/10 |