Ultimate Football for Pocket PC

[Guest Pondrew]

*New* Ultimate Football from SmartMobileGames

for Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC (QVGA)

3D football action on your mobile phone! Features single match and league modes.

Newly released by SmartMobileGames (so new the Pocket PC version is still not mentioned on their own site here!) is a port of their UIQ 3D football sim (with improvements to make better use of Pocket PCs capabilities 8) ) Ultimate Football.

Smartly presented with an easy to use menu interface, the game sets a good first impression. The interface requires use of the stylus so be aware if you prefer a button interface in your games. It should also be noted that the screen orientation is landscape with no portrait option. Neither of these are big problems and are consistant with previous titles released by this developer.

The options include screen invert (to cater for left or right handed use) and ability to set both music and sound effects volume. This title also caters well for the non-English speaker featuring French, Italian, Spanish and German language settings aside from English.

A simple tutorial is available which provides the basics you need to move a player around, pass the ball, and take shots at goal. And you're ready to begin playing for real!

Aside from the tutorial there are three other game modes, including a Demo mode where two computer sides play. The other two modes are a quick 'Single Match' for you to play straight away and a 'League' mode that allows you to play as a team throughout a season, with your success or otherwise deciding your position in the league and subsequent promotion or otherwise.

A nice touch is that the league mode includes multiple divisions/teams and the choice of an English or Italian league. During the course of a league you will play all other teams in your division with the usual points scoring deciding league positions and eventual promotion. The attention to detail here adds to the enjoyment and true footie fans will appreciate it though most of the team names are subtly different (presumably to avoid infringing any trademarks/copyrights?). Many will want to take the option of editing the league table to contain whichever teams they wish.

Control of the game comes easily enough. Use the stylus to direct your chosen player (you only control one player at a time) and to take a shot is just a matter of using the stylus to touch the goal where you want to shoot. Goals come easily enough and difficulty is about right. Only occasionally was I held to a 0-0 draw, occasionally a team would best me but I was often able to demonstrate my skills and overcome the opponents winning by a goal or two. I liked the fact the score lines never seemed unrealistic and a match would often end feeling hard fought...

A couple of nice features are the ability to tailor your formation and tactics coupled with an on screen representation of your players state of mind (tired, angry, happy or stunned after a tackle) influencing their performance during the game. This adds to the realism and emotion of the game :exclaim: and also means there's more to experiment with should you feel you want to change your game.

All in all this is a worthy release with good graphics and fun gameplay at a fair price. Not everyone will appreciate having to use the stylus to control the game but this doesn't take too much getting used to. I'd expect the game will appeal most to the football fans out there who can appreciate the realism and customisability of the league game.

Available from www.clickgamer.com

Cost is $14.95 | £8.74 | €12.78

[Guest nickcornaglia]

Wait! That's not football! :)

[Guest dolphinsmile]

This looks good.

I haven’t tried it yet but isn’t it a shame that we cant utilise the lovely keyboards on the Universal and Wizard. These devices are just perfect for a high level of control in gaming. I’d pay £20.00 even £30.00 for that.

[Guest Pondrew]

Wait! That's not football! :)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, soccer for you North Americans :D Your football involves shoulder pads and helmets huh?!

Dolphinsmile, I've emailed the developer asking about the chances of WM5 support. Will let you know what I hear back...

[Guest efjay]

FWIW i am running it on my XDA with WM5 and it is brilliant!! I have played a few demo matches and it is really good; it plays well and no apparent problems. Responds to screen taps well, just need to fine tune my skills cos the computer keeps on beating me. Ill be buying this once i get home from work. Excellent.

[Guest efjay]

An update: i bought the game i think the balance is too much in favour of the PPC controlled AI when playing in a league. Playing the single match i found the players to be a bit slow. When i started a league i seem unable to keep up with my opponents and they always seem to win tackles or shrug my players off easily and seem very nimble on the turn so im unable to keep the ball or win it back and cant get very far into the opponents area while the computer players seem able to outrun, outdribble my players and score from anywhere. I will email the developer and see if he can make it a bit more balanced.

Edit: I think my problem is I jumped straight into the premiership league rather than starting out in the lower leagues. Playing in Div 3 feels more evenly matched and the players move a bit quicker as well. After 4 matches i am second in the league with 3 wins and 1 loss.

Also the developer has replied to my email already and is quite receptive to feedback.

Pondrew, which league are you playing in?

Edited November 26, 2005 by efjay

[Guest Pondrew]

Really? I was in the top 3 my first season! Funnily enough I thought the Single Player mode was more difficult by default.

[Guest psionandy]

Thanks for the review.... looks like it might be fun

[Guest Pondrew]

Edit: I think my problem is I jumped straight into the premiership league rather than starting out in the lower leagues. Playing in Div 3 feels more evenly matched and the players move a bit quicker as well. After 4 matches i am second in the league with 3 wins and 1 loss.

Also the developer has replied to my email already and is quite receptive to feedback.

Pondrew, which league are you playing in?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I started in Div 3 myself. Seemed the most appropriate place to start!

My experience of SmartMobileGames has been extremely positive too. Good to have another developer who is not only turning out new games but developing the existing ones too :)

[Guest efjay]

Another update: as i said before my problem was starting in the wrong league. After playing in Div3 for a while my team is starting to scale up in skill, speed and tackling ability. The game is now very addictive and you find yourself (at least i do) almost shouting at the screen when the opposing keeper makes another great save after you have put together a multiple passing move. Its quite satisfying to have the ball in midfield, do a quick turn and pick out a team mate as he makes a run and have him pick up the ball and run at the goal.

I still find that the opponents AI give a good enough account of themselves even though i have gotten a lot better; not all matches are walkovers and i have had a few close draws, just managing to equalise in time.

Corners and throw-ins are included as well so you really get the full football feeling but no fouls even though i have dished out and received some evil looking sliding tackles!

Overall I think this game is outstanding with no major issues and the developer is very responsive and will hopefully be updating the game for an even better experience.