Video Game Gazette
Back in the early 90s platformers were common as dirt. You could hardly turn around in a game store without looking at one. However, there were some systems that lacked their fair share of platforming action. One such system was the 3DO. So someone had the brilliant idea of releasing Soccer Kid on the system. The game would have been totally overlooked on the SNES, but it was just what the 3DO library needed. Although the game sold well, it was hampered by the fact that it had the look of a 16-bit game, and was aimed at a younger crowd. This kept it from its true potential.
The story of Soccer Kid begins in London at the 1994 Soccer Cup final. Before the match begins, an alien pirate steals the trophy. However, before he can escape orbit he crashes into a satellite and the trophy is broken into five pieces that fall back down to earth. The Soccer Kid travels the globe searching for the missing pieces of the Soccer Cup.
The game has five areas: England, Italy, Japan, USA, and Russia. Each area has several stages. If you collect enough hidden soccer cards you will be rewarded with one of the five trophy pieces. Soccer Kid features fast gameplay like Sonic the Hedgehog. The controls are tight. You also have a unique set of special moves including bicycle kicks, headers, sliding tackles, and super ball jumps. This, along with the many hazards in the levels, gives Soccer Kid its own flavor. Like most platformers the game has all of the standard power ups including health, extra life, invincibility, and super speed.
These days 3DO games are pretty cheap, so if you want some 16-bit platforming you should pick up Soccer Kid.
