184: Kick Off

Number 184
(11.6 points)
Kick Off
1992: 43

Dino Dini's first instalment of his football series is more highly ranked than the sequel, due to it featuring in 1992's list, but is it really a better experience?

Aside from playing a one-off exhibition match, you can play an 8-team round-robin league, though there is no knockout cup option. You can play in four different formations, and players have varying abilities. The style of control is very different from most other football games, and controlling the ball can be a challenge for new players.

The Amiga Power team certainly thought Kick Off was better than its sequel, but I'm still not a fan of either. The play might be a tad slower in this edition, but the way it works just doesn't feel right to me. True, I haven't put hours of practice in, but the way you have to hold fire to trap the ball, stopping your movement, or just ping it off your foot, just don't feel right. Looking at how football games developed in the years hence, this method didn't catch on for good reason.

Recommended TOSEC disk(s):
Kick Off (1989)(Anco)(PAL)(M5)[cr QTX]