Virtua Striker 2002 has been designed exclusively for the GameCube, and features 10 unique modes packed with all-new simulation elements. Choose one of 64 national teams, set up your rosters and formations, and hit the field running. Flex your coaching skills and train your players in a four-year quest for the ultimate glory--the International Cup. And, of course, the trademark fast and furious Virtua Striker gameplay is back and better than ever.
Review
Sega has unleashed the latest version of its arcade soccer game Virtua Striker onto the GameCube masses. "Arcade" really is the keyword here--the game features no officially sanctioned player names and little in the way of tactics, and ball control consists of a couple of button taps. That's not to say it's not fun--we hadn't laughed so much in ages as when our Tongan side beat Germany 6-0 in an oddly disjointed game featuring poor animation, no commentary, and sparse sound effects that are totally inappropriate within the context of the game.
It's hard not to feel that this is an opportunity missed. Virtua Striker 2002 has oodles of play modes for single and multiplayer action, but there's something unsatisfying about the playing experience. The lack of proper challenges makes tackling an awkward affair, and team members either slide dramatically across the turf or produce some kind of nervous tic that throws the opponent away from the ball. And matters don't improve when the other side gains possession. Time after time a computer-controlled friendly player will dash perilously close to a loose ball only to snatch himself away and run off in a random direction--it's frustrating to say the least.
If you can bear its inadequacies, Virtua Striker 2002 can be fun--it's certainly the most hilarious soccer game for the Cube to date--but those looking for a more realistic representation of the sport should stick with the FIFA series. --Chris Russell -- Amazon.co.uk
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You get Awesome visuals, 64 Countries to play with, 1400 selectable athletes, 13 Large and Extremely detailed statiums, lots of modes like Road to World Cup, Tournament and Versus Match, and plus, 1-4 players! Virtua Striker 3 v.2002 on the GameCube will retain the DNA of the past Virtua Strikers in the series but will hopefully attempt to improve up the awkward controls of its predecessors. The game at this point in its development doesn't seem to improve up the controls of its previous efforts. The controls feel loose and fail to live to walk side by side with the games incredible visuals. Where Amusement Vision has impressed however is in the facade of the title. Going into a football game has never felt so intimidating in a soccer title before, with the impressive size of the well animated crowd barring down upon you and the usual pomp and National anthems associated with games of this sort. All the usual modes are included in this game, from a versus mode to a decent tournament mode. However we'll get to that later because the most important inclusion in Virtua Striker 3 v.2002 is a Road to the World cup mode. Within this mode players willl have to choose from one country from a pool of 64 and take that said country through to the world cup. The task isn't as that though, there's years left for you to play in the game. That's right, I said years. In the Road to World Cup mode the player must increase their teams abilities over a period of four years playing through preliminary matches, a group league and then search for glory in the final tournament. The team that the player builds during this mode can be used in any of the other modes in the game as well. Now you can finally pay back some of the teams that trounced you in the past with a carefully nurtured dream team. The other modes are standard soccer fare and shouldn't really throw up any surprises. International Cup is the same mode you'll see in any other soccer title you pick up in your local [retail store]. Pick one International team duke it out against 32 other teams for the International Cup (it wishes it was the world cup). Four groups of eight teams battle through to the last eight before the showdown between the final two challengingers. The next mode is a little more interesting though. The Tournament mode involes choosing your team to go into a tournament against four, eight or sixteen other countries. League mode is obvious. A league of either four, sixteen or thirty-two countries and challenge each other home and away. What is not so obvious is the fact that points are awarded for playing style which is an interesting little addition to spice up the mundane league mode (especially without real player names). Among the plethora of modes is Ranking mode which allows players to play against up to four cpu controlled teams. The results of the matches are then analyzed and you are given a rank. Finally there is your standard versus mode where you can go up against your friends as each of your repectd countries and let the dissing commence. Virtua Striker 3 v.2002 also features a create-player mode as well as editing abilities allowing fully customiseable football freaks or superhumans depending on your editing abilities. The game allows almost anything in site to be edited. Player names, uniforms, formations and even full teams can be created along with the kit color. The place in which the game really shines however is in the visual department. The stadiums are massive and contain the best itteration of a crowd since... well ever. The player models are extreemlly detailed and animate wonderfully. The GameCube doesn't have any problems drawing these high detail polygon models at 60fps. Detailed texturing and shadows add to the realism of the experience while incidental details such as grass blades ripping out the ground at every twist and turn. Finally a beautifully rendered sky and accurate uniforms will have you double checking you tv screens. Virtua Striker 3 v.2002 will arrive at a time when Fifa 2002 will have infitrated many home and ISS2 will be breathing down it's neck. The great aspect of it though is that the title should retain it's arcade roots and this may act as another advantage for the title. While others attempt imitate soccer right to the formations of actual managers Virtua Striker 3 for the GameCube looks to distance itself from the others with simplistic arcadey gameplay. Graphics, great! I can't belive they could do so good with it! 10/10 Fun, this game sounds fun, but I think it could get boring after a while. Even with World Cup. 8/10 Gameplay, as I said, I think it could get boring after hitting the ball 50 times, 8/10 Sound, no word on Sound yet, I'm making a guess. 9/10 Overall, you like Soccer Games, you like this game! 8.5/10 Or 4 Stars for Amazon.com!
the sound is sorta dull boring and doesn't blast in to your face
all the players have fake names. this part is really a struugle you have to change the players names to feel more realistc. it's a lot of work editing 22-23 players of 64 countries names to match closely to their models. the models are based on real soccer players though, so you could tell who henry or ronaldhino is on the game so it's easy to do that. just get fifa if you want liscened things and players.
except for that it's a good game, especially road to the international cup mode and it takes fewer memory blocks than fifa.
i think it's 2 blocks for a profile, 3 blocks for each replay save, 15 blocks for the four year mode the road to the international cup, and 20 blocks for editing players and teams.
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2006
Well I'll be you must get this game it has over 40 teams and cool soccer action oh and one more thing
WARNING SPOILER
You can unlock Sonic the Hedgehog!!!!!His team is called F.C Sonic.
Here's how you get his team and I'm telling the Truth:
Go to ranking mode and get 20 points. F.C Sonic will challenge you. Beat them and you can play with his team!F.C Sonic has Sonic,Tails,Knuckles,Amy,Eggman, and six chao from Sonic Adventure/Sonic Adventure 2. Get the Japanese version and you'll have one angel and one Dark Chao.
I can't wait to get this game. After playing this series on other systems, I can attest that this game is one of the best soccer games available. I'm sure that Sega will do an awesome job for the Cube, making this the best one yet!
