Soccer for me / soccer for you / I’ll grab a ball / You grab one too.
PLAYERS: 1-4 simultaneous
PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: Technos
GENRE: Arcade soccer
RELEASE DATE: December 1990
A precursor to Mario Strikers, you ask? Not at all! Nintendo World Cup is a Kunio-kun soccer game dressed up in a bland corporate title. From Technos, the makers of Crash ‘N The Boys and River City Ransom, comes another large-eyed, squatty beefcake fest – with a soccer ball! For a potentially cutesy soccer game, Nintendo World Cup doesn’t fluff around: thirteen teams to choose from/play against (including W. Germany and Cameroon – ah, the past), four-player compatibility, and, as is custom with Kunio-kun, senseless, hilarious violence. Get the soccer ball away from the opposing team by sliding into them or tackling them. Not only is it cathartic, it’s essential to winning matches. While you’re only in control of one teammate out of six, you can issue commands to shoot or to pass to your other teammates when they get the ball. There are also five “super kicks” you can use per half of each match. The style of kicks vary from team to team, but all are powerful, nearly unblockable shots; particularly helpful if you’re close to scoring a goal. Nintendo World Cup delivers a mean game of soccer, but the attention to detail is what make this game for me. Example: while each team bears visual similarities (large heads, small bodies), all have different styles of play and take time to master/destroy. The soccer fields look different depending on what country you’re playing, and even the music changes themes several times to accompany your progression. I’m not even a soccer fan and Nintendo World Cup drilled a hole into my heart. Oh Kunio-kun! Squash me in your arms and never let go!
B+
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3 replies on “#453 – Nintendo World Cup”
I love how the box touts that it’s realistic soccer, when in fact the best part about the game is that it isn’t realistic soccer.
I loved all the Kunio-Kun games we got over here. I wasn’t as big of a fan of Crash and the gang, but Rivercity and Dodge ball are some pretty big shoes to fill.
I enjoyed the character design so much. I think their charm lies in how simple the graphics were, but still managed to convey all kinds of emotions.
When I think of Nintendo it doesn’t take me long before I am reminiscing about the games Technos made.
Sleepyweasel
I had discovered this game before any of the other Kunio-Kun games. It remains one of my favorite soccer games of all time and it is still extremely playable today.