Pure Football was released in time for the World Cup and offers an alternative to your average football title.
It immediately reminds you of 'FIFA Street'. Football with a twist, though I do wonder why developers strive to bring in a gang-style element into the sport. Your objective in the game is to climb the respect ladder around the world in 30 days by beating teams with a number of different objectives.
This isn’t one for the purists with no offsides and fouls. A ‘Pure’ meter rises when you have a shot on goal, when it reaches a certain level your next shot will be very powerful and is likely to find the net.
The game modes include first team to reach a certain number of goals and then there are timed games. Players can be unlocked depending on how well you fair in the matches.
The ideas are good but they just haven’t been capitalised on.
Firstly I’m afraid Ubisoft have not tapped into EA’s sharp control system.
Awkward is the best way to describe it. The players look unnatural in footballing terms, the graphics do not reflect the limited number of stars featured in the game and the two camera angles are both flawed.
These type of titles always have one thing in their favour. It is football. It will always entertain a lot of people no matter how poorly it plays. I admit at times I did enjoy it and the multi-player can be a bit of fun because of the ridiculous aspects in the game.
Slide-tackling your opponent when he is through on goal and getting away with it is quite pleasing, unless you are the other player of course.
The solo-play can be a bit repetitive and I had no desire whatsoever to unlock the new players as they do not really make a difference to your team. Once you learn the tweaks in the game, that will be enough to get you through.
This is definitely one to try for a night or two, but no more than that I’m afraid.
It is a busy time in the gaming world with E3 taking place this week, the big focus is on controller-free gaming. Microsoft’s Kinect is set to steal the show - we’ll have details on that next week, as well as on the big titles that are unveiled.
The other teaser I’ll offer you is that 'Red Dead Redemption' is as good as all the hype. I only started it on Monday but the early impressions are fantastic and a review will appear here soon.
Rory Houston
