World Tour Soccer 06

Those looking for a realistic soccer simulation may wish to look elsewhere, but those looking for an entertaining skill-based arcade title that uses soccer as a backdrop will find this title both entertaining and challenging.

It's certainly not the ultimate handheld football game, but that's more through a selection of ambition than a lack of it - and that's why it makes an impression.

If you've already got your traditional football fix, though, World Tour Soccer 2 offers something that neither of the big boys does. It's an arcade game, so don't expect to be putting together beautiful free-flowing moves that Brazil would be proud of, but the challenges make for a game that feels very different to normal football, and a title that will fill the gaps between World Cup matches very well indeed.

An enjoyable experience, especially over short periods of play. Flawed when it comes to the 'basic' game of football, it nonetheless give players a mix of gamemodes offline, before taking the football experience online via the Ad Hoc and Infrastructure modes.

Hardcore (read: non-American) fans will find it vapid, but those same fans are far better served by "Winning Eleven."

Visually, however, it stumbles terribly, as it's not a particularly good-looking game, although its framerate could be a lot worse.

With its simple learning curve, snappy controls and quick match times, there's no doubt that World Tour is built for on-the-go gaming goodness.

A lot of fun and a soccer game that doesn't take itself too seriously. If you were disappointed with "Sensible Soccer" but want an arcade alternative then you can't go wrong with this game.

All football games will always suffer from Pro Evolution comparisons. World Tour Soccer 2 is a good attempt at a slightly alternative football title, but as all of us footie fans know too well, form is temporary, class is permanent.

Arcade deliciousness is soured by the lack of a carer mode, but it's still oh so sweet. [Aug 2006, p.83]

While it's possible to just dive in with the traditional play mechanic of score-as-many-goals-as-you-can-in-90-minutes, the game's central dynamic demands a little more effort from those looking for victory.

A likeable addition to the PSP's footy ranks that successfully offers something very different to the latest FIFA and PES. [Aug 2006, p.97]

It's fun and clever blended-arcade approach to the sport worked for me, and the variations in game play are welcome.

If this were a console game, I’d be rather upset with the limited number of play modes; however the modes fit the PSP perfectly and makes a good pick up and play game.

It's disappointing to see season play missing. After all, what's the point of polishing up one's soccer skills if there's no championship to win, no drafts to reward a player for winning a series of games with the worst possible players?

Betters the original, but still rooted in the Second Division compred to "FIFA" and "PES." [Aug 2006, p.61]

Fun for a few minutes, but destined to be substituted for something superior.

One of the best portable football games because its developers elected to avoid the sport's complexities.

There’s an overriding feeling of novelty, however, and as much fun as the game can be, it’s hard to shake the impression that your interest will eventually wane. [Aug 2006, p.131]

Sony made a fatal mistake in excluding a tournament style game mode and restricting “proper” soccer to exhibition games, but even so what they have put together still has a lot of fun.