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- International Soccer [Telegames] [1982] [Video Game – Atari Video Computer System]
International Soccer
Put on your cleats and head out onto the field for some soccer action in Mattel's International Soccer for the Atari 2600.
The game contains two equally matched teams -- one yellow and one blue, each with four players and no goalie. Each player controls one player on their team, with the computer controlling the other three.
A game is divided into two simulated 45-minute periods, with the teams switching sides after halftime. There are no penalties, throw-ins, out of bounds, corner kicks or overtime. Only one game option is available and the difficulty switches don't affect gameplay.
One-third of the screen is visible at any given time during gameplay; as players move, the display scrolls to show the rest of the field.
International Soccer is for two players only, as there is no option for a CPU-controlled team. ~ Brad Cook, All Game Guide
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Product Details
| UPC: | |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | 1982 |
| Platform: | Atari Video Computer System |
| Genre: | Sports |
| Style: | Soccer |
Review
The only worthwhile soccer game on the Atari 2600 is the first one, Pele's Soccer. RealSports Soccer is terrible, and this one, which was released between the other two, isn't much better.When you first turn on the game, you might think that the players in Super Challenge Football took the European name for soccer literally and wandered over to this title. As far as I know, they're not the same guys, though the team colors are the same and they look exactly alike, even down to their sizes.
International Soccer's gameplay is mediocre at best. I don't know why the developers of Mattel's sports games made them all for two players only, but they did. Did they just not want to do the work to program the computer players' movements? Did their incredible graphics take up all the space they had? Who knows? Maybe they were afraid that they would encourage kids to sit by themselves and play games all day without socializing. Many people back in the late 70s and early 80s were sure that video games would destroy that generation, so perhaps the developers didn't want to contribute to their demise.
At any rate, you'll need to find a friend to play this game. While he/she's over, you might want to set a block of time aside so that you can play two 45-minute halves. Sure, the clock moves faster than that, but would it have been so hard to allow for variations that played faster?
And would it have been such a bad idea to include a goalie? I realize that the Atari 2600's technology didn't allow for everything you'll find in a soccer game to be represented, but I can't imagine that a goalie would have been a stretch.
Finally, I have no idea why this game has the word "international" in the title. There is absolutely no allusion anywhere in the game or the instruction manual to countries playing each other. It's just the guys from that football cartridge in a game with only one option and lousy gameplay mechanics. ~ Brad Cook, All Game Guide
Credits
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| M-Network (Mattel) | Developer |
| M-Network (Mattel) | Manufacturer/Publisher |
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© 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Game Guide®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. 
