New Star Soccer has been reviewed as a Football / Soccer Action App
The App is available in the for Iphone and Android devices
Value For Money – 7/10
The game itself is free, but to make any sort of progress (for example move to a bigger club), you need to buy a ‘pro licence’. That only costs 68p, and the game is so huge it’s worth it, but it feels a little underhanded. In-game purchases cost up to £32.
Sound – 6/10
Frankly, there isn’t much to say regarding the sound. There’s a few chintzy sound effects while games are on-going. But if you’re anything like me and can find things like soundtracks and sound effects a bit too intrusive, then it’s just fine.
Graphics – 8/10
The graphics are a big selling point of this game, but not for the reason you might expect. NSS deliciously retro and helps conjure images of the good ol’ Championship Manager days of the 90’s. From the two-tone grey menus to the top-down 2D match action, those of a certain age will love this.
Gameplay / Playability – 9/10
This is New Star Soccer’s strength. It takes in every aspect of being a footballer, from the training as a youngster to playing for England in the World Cup as a seasoned pro and retirement – end everything in between. That means dealing with agents, keeping girlfriends, team-mates and managers happy, and earning sponsors – all of which will help you progress in the game.
The actual matches themselves are simple and satisfying (and frustrating) to play. You essentially complete passes, crosses, headers, shots and interceptions as a series of individual events to help your side win games.
Because it is so multi-faceted there are plenty of surprises to keep you smiling (whether you want to accept the bungs is up to you…) and is enough to make you feel immersed. You’ll be pulling your hair out trying to keep everyone happy, and cursing the train for jolting when you were about to score a late winner.
The game is garnished with some nice touches and little nods too; from the newspaper splashes proclaiming you as the next big thing to the clichéd post-match interview to boost your ‘star power’.
Longevity – 8/10
This is where New Star Soccer really flexes its muscles; it’s addictive and big enough to keep you occupied for hours (which actually can be a negative; it took three hours of game time just to complete the first season as a 16-year-old).
Indeed, it can feel like a bit of a chore at times; it is easy to get stuck in a cycle of managing your energy and playing (and scoring enough) to progress while on a pitiful wage.
SM Interaction – 6/10
It’s a little sad not to see relatively little access to social media platforms. You can essentially post news flashes and performance analysis in a Sky Sports News style which is quite fun to start with, but given how fun and tongue-in-cheek the game is, this feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Originality – 8/10
In terms of the game itself, there are plenty of ‘build a football career from scratch’ games out there, but where NSS rises above others is its styling and light-hearted approach to it all. That makes a real treat to play.
