When it's all said and done, World Soccer Strikers '91 is a fun game, but like a lot of indie soccer titles, lacks sufficient depth and long-term value to warrant a purchase for any serious soccer fans. Even at its cheap price ($6), there isn't enough here to keep you coming back once you win a tournament or league. While I appreciate the approach and attempt to create a footy game with true freedom, there are just too many other indie soccer games that offer deeper gameplay with just as much fun.
The developers over at Unfinished Pixel did a tremendous job with both Super Sports Soccer and Super Sports Blast this past year, even patching the game to feature improved AI. While we often get caught up in the intricacies within FIFA and PES, it's good every now and then to just have some fun. I had a smile on my face the entire time I played this game, and unlike a lot of indie sports games, this one will be staying on my PS5 for quite some time.
Simulation games aren't for everyone. Neither are cycling games. What happens when you combine both of those into one game? You get a game that's meant for a niche audience, so if that's your cup of tea then PCM 2021 is the game for you - even despite the reported negligible yearly differences. If you're looking to get into cycling by trying PCM 2021, you're probably going to be a bit overwhelmed. Don't worry though, there are plenty of guides floating around, as well as tutorials on YouTube to help bridge the learning gap. PCM is moderately priced at $39.99, and with PC mods as well as continued support from Cyanide Studios (a patch has already been released), the true fans should be able to keep this game alive. If you're breaking into cycling, it's probably worth it to wait and catch this one when it goes on sale.
The developers over at Unfinished Pixel did a tremendous job in June bringing us a fast and fun footy game. Bringing back the volleyball and tennis games and offering them in a bundle is even more of a win. While we often get caught up in the intricacies within FIFA and Madden, it's good every now and then to just have some fun. I had a smile on my face the entire time I played this game. That alone is worth $20 bucks.
Now, let me get back to my save!
It's not a system seller, but if you're lucky enough to snag some new hardware and you're even just a casual soccer fan, it's worth checking out (especially because you can find the current-gen version for a cheap price and then just get a "free" upgrade to next gen).
A divided community (offline vs. FUT) and those competing priorities leave the future of FIFA in doubt. Will FIFA make strides in the future towards being a simulation or will it be a flashy card game? We might never know, but the FIFA 21 I'm playing today is simply not good enough.
Unfortunately, all of the positives that stem from better gameplay are diminished a little by stale modes and lackluster online play. If you enjoyed eFootball PES 2020 last year, you'll have some fun with this update as it improves on gameplay. However, if you skipped last year's game and have to pay full price, I'd probably pass. There's just not enough improvements off-the-pitch to warrant $60.
With its quality visuals, easy-to-learn controls and captivating story mode, Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is a throwback to what video games should be about: fun.
Full disclosure: Maximum Games provided us with a review code for this game