Emlyn Hughes International Soccer


by Andrew Calver, Graham Blighe, Nigel Alderton, Peter Calver, Terry Wiley
Audiogenic Software Ltd
1989
Sinclair User Issue 84, Mar 1989   page(s) 8,9

Label: Audiogenic
Author: In-house
Price: £8.95
Memory: 48K/128K
Joystick: various
Reviewer: Tony Dillon

If there is anyone who can be accused of being overfriendly, it's our own lovely Emlyn. 'He's a weasel' chirped one member of staff. 'He's chubby and cuddly' said another. 'He's a squeaky, friendly mouse' threw in a member of Britain's yoof. Whatever you call him, the plain and simple fact is that not many people like Emlyn. Even Princess Anne hates him. Now, let's not jump to conclusions. Just because a game is endorsed by El Wimpo doesn't mean it's automatically going to be crap. Far from it. Emlyn Hughes International Soccer is better than any other Speccy footy game that has appeared to date, even Matchday 2, daddy of 'em all.

What sets EHIS apart from the rest are the HUGE amount of options and the advanced control system. First things first, the options. There is quite a large amount of messing about and tweaking you can do to the game before you actually play it.

This is done via four pull down menus that between them carry more than 50 options that range from the normal things like Load and Save, as well as things like select a team to play and start up a cup, or season or a league. Ooooooh!

The game options let you change all the basic aspects of the game itself. You can choose whether to watch the computer playing against itself, should it get the chance and whether or not to play extra time. There are 10 skill levels to choose from, as well as the chance to play practice mode, which results in all the opposing players not doing anything at all. You can also determine the number of kick directions selectable from 1 (forward kicking only), 3 (forward and 45° either side) and 5 (forward, 20° and 70° either side). You can choose backheel on/off and whether to have the goalie under computer control.

The teams are made of lots of individual players (Nah, really Tone? - AS), each with lots of different stats, governing how fast the character is on field, and his respective attacking, defensive and midfielding skills, all of which can be altered. Load and Save team just save stats and names of the players Load and Save all saves all details including things like whether you are in the middle of a cup, league or season, as well as all scores.

Right, that's the boring bit over with, here comes the fun. The most important and really hooking factor of the game is that the match is accurate and includes all rules apart from offside. All free kicks, penalties, throw ins and corners are there, and they need to be judging by the accuracy of the gameplay. Everything is pixel perfect. The man currently under your control is highlighted by a halo over his head Game control is where the game really comes into its own. You can do almost anything in EHIS (apart from throw coins and punch supporters when you lose) and all from simple joystick motions. Push the joystick in a certain direction, and the man under your control will run in that direction. Continue to hold the joystick in that direction and the man will accelerate until he reaches top speed. Fire acts like a sort of clutch. Hold down fire and the man continues moving in the same direction if you have the ball. If you don't have the ball he will either do a sliding tackle, a lunge or a diving header, depending on the vertical positioning of the ball. If you have the ball, then what you do with the joystick determines the type of shot. If you push the joystick in the opposite direction to the way the player is facing, then the shot will be a lob. Push the joystick in the direction he's running, and it'll go along the floor, the length of time you hold down the button selects how hard the shot will be, from 28 different strengths. Pushing the joystick left or right from the direction the player is moving decides which direction the ball will go. Can't be bad.

Graphics are fab, brilliant and better. All of the characters are smallish, to be sure, but detail and animation is great. All the little men run around smoothly and some of the little animations are really cute. Like the three step goal kick, and the little triumphant wave after scoring a goal. Sliding tackles and diving headers are all catered for in their own sweet way.

EHIS is the best footy game I've ever played, well, on the Speccy anyway, forget the endorsement, it's pretty darn good, or as the great Liver puddy himself would say. 'It's great'.


Graphics: 86%
Sound: 31%
Playability: 96%
Lastability: 91%
Overall: 91%

Summary: Best Spectrum football game. Ever.

Award: Sinclair User Classic

Transcript by Chris Bourne

Sinclair User Issue 126, Aug 1992   page(s) 39

Label: Touchdown
Memory: 48K/128K
Price: £3.99 Tape
Reviewer: Paul Rand

Football has certainly been on the minds of most people lately, what with the recent European Championships in which England performed so, well, just so. But don't let the sad debacle which is the national team put you off Emlyn Hughes, International Soccer before it's even kicked off!

Endorsed by the squeaky-voiced ex-Liverpool captain himself, Emlyn Hughes' International Soccer is a horizontally scrolling action game with managerial undertones. You have control over all of your team members, although not at the same time. Control is passed to whichever footballer is closest to the ball, and he can perform a number of actions - run, turn, pass, shoot and the like. As in the real sport, the aim of the game is to score more goals than the opponent - either the computer or a human player. Free kicks, corners and throw-ins are all in there, as are penalties should a player fouled in the opposition eighteen-yard box.

If play is not going the way you want it, or if one of your team is injured, substitutions can be made. And, in the management section of the game, the entire look of your squad can be altered - even names changed and attributes tinkered with to form your favourite side! There are three different competitions to take part in; a league of eight teams, a knockout Cup competition and a season incorporating both league and Cupe.

There aren't a desperate amount of good soccer games for the Spectrum, except perhaps for Manchester United. Emlyn Hughes' International Soccer is a more advanced game than that, with better graphics and more enjoyable gameplay. As with most games of this ilk, more fun will be had in the long run with two players than battling against the computer which, after a while, becomes a doddle to beat.

The management side and various competitions add variety to Emlyn Hughes International Soccer and, even if aren't desperately keen on the man himself, you should find the game he's endorsed a lot less irritating.


ALAN:
In some ways I prefer Emlyn Hughes Int. Soccer to Manchester United as I feel the game is a little bit smoother around the edges. Certainly one for the collection if you want a really good football sim.

Graphics: 80%
Sound: 39%
Playability: 79%
Lastability: 84%
Overall: 82%

Summary: Not quite as good as GBH's superb Manchester United, but avid footy fans looking for something different should give this one a kickabout.

Transcript by Chris Bourne

Sinclair User Issue 127, Sep 1992   page(s) 45

Label: Touchdown
Memory: 48K/128K
Price: £3.99 Tape
Reviewer: Paul Rand

Football has certainly been on the minds of most people lately, what with the recent European Championships in which England performed so, well, just so. But don't let the sad debacle which is the national team put you off Emlyn Hughes, International Soccer before it's even kicked off!

Endorsed by the squeaky-voiced ex-Liverpool captain himself, Emlyn Hughes' International Soccer is a horizontally scrolling action game with managerial undertones. You have control over all of your team members, although not at the same time. Control is passed to whichever footballer is closest to the ball, and he can perform a number of actions - run, turn, pass, shoot and the like. As in the real sport, the aim of the game is to score more goals than the opponent - either the computer or a human player. Free kicks, corners and throw-ins are all in there, as are penalties should a player fouled in the opposition eighteen-yard box.

If play is not going the way you want it, or if one of your team is injured, substitutions can be made. And, in the management section of the game, the entire look of your squad can be altered - even names changed and attributes tinkered with to form your favourite side! There are three different competitions to take part in; a league of eight teams, a knockout Cup competition and a season incorporating both league and Cupe.

There aren't a desperate amount of good soccer games for the Spectrum, except perhaps for Manchester United. Emlyn Hughes' International Soccer is a more advanced game than that, with better graphics and more enjoyable gameplay. As with most games of this ilk, more fun will be had in the long run with two players than battling against the computer which, after a while, becomes a doddle to beat.

The management side and various competitions add variety to Emlyn Hughes International Soccer and, even if aren't desperately keen on the man himself, you should find the game he's endorsed a lot less irritating.


ALAN:
In some ways I prefer Emlyn Hughes Int. Soccer to Manchester United as I feel the game is a little bit smoother around the edges. Certainly one for the collection if you want a really good football sim.

Graphics: 80%
Sound: 39%
Playability: 79%
Lastability: 84%
Overall: 82%

Summary: Not quite as good as GBH's superb Manchester United, but avid footy fans looking for something different should give this one a kickabout.

Transcript by Chris Bourne

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