GameCube

Disney Sports Football

For kids, this won't be a bad football primer, but the rest of us already know that, unlike Bo Jackson, Konami don't know football.

Disney Sports : Soccer est une bonne petite surprise en son genre qui prouve qu'on peut faire des jeux destinés aux plus jeunes sans pour autant bâcler le travail aussi bien sur le plan de la réalisation que du gameplay. Joli, maniable et bénéficiant d'un casting approprié, ce titre saura certainement séduire les plus jeunes amateurs du ballon rond et futurs Puyo en devenir. Bien sûr, les joueurs adultes plus exigeants et moins sensibles au charme des personnages de dessin-animé pourront passer leur chemin sans grands regrets, à moins d'être vraiment très riches, ou collectionneurs.

Konami a fait un boulot correct au niveau de la réalisation mais on soupire en voyant la faible durée de vie du titre qui manque de modes de jeu intéressants dont un championnat par exemple. Pourtant malgré ces lacunes, le jeu est destiné avant tout à un jeune public qui saura apprécier à sa juste valeur un gameplay simple, une ambiance chamarrée et des matches pleins de peps.

It's not easy to make a good football game -- just ask the guys at 989 Studios. Konami took a chance in trying to bring a complex football sim to the younger Disney crowd. Instead of just watering down a traditional football title until it became a mindless button-masher, it kept many of the genre's elements intact. This forces the gamer to spend a little more time in the learning phase, but the end result is worth it. One negative is that it may be a bit too much for younger children to learn on their own, but if you're a parent who wants to get your child interested in football and football gaming, this is a great way to go. Mickey and company prove that John Madden isn't the only cartoon character that can deliver a respectable football game.

Disney Sports Soccer is definitely not the game it appears to be. Similar to Electronic Art's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Konami has created a title that manages to hit the group it was developed for, while still appealing to the rest of the world. And hey, what's cooler than watching Mickey slide tackle into Minnie? Not much.

Disney Sports Football definitely has a lot of problems. Its gameplay walks the line between arcade and sim-style football a little too close to the middle to ever be truly enjoyable for fans on either side of the line, and its lackluster graphics and sound devalue the experience significantly. Still, as a football game for younger kids, it has just enough gameplay depth to make it a worthwhile rental. More discerning football fans, however, should look just about anywhere else they can and leave Disney Sports Football in the bargain bin.

From a lighter, less harsh and jaded view, parents might find that this game is entertaining enough to keep their younger kids busy, but not alone. Disney Sports Football is far too complicated for younger kids to really enjoy on their own. And that's all she wrote because that's probably Disney's/Konami's intention and target market for this one; the little tikes. At $50 dollars it's a tough sell, but at least it's not violent, but we'd rather combine Jenna Jameson with some Tomb Raider shenanigans. If you want a well-made sports game for kids, go with Disney Sports Soccer instead -- a far, far superior game.

Spelets främsta egenskaper är grafiken och flerspelarläget. Karaktärerna är stora och inramningen färgglad. Tillsammans med en kompis eller ett syskon kan Disney Sports Baseball säkert vara en jätterolig förströelse i väntan på Bolibompa eller Nickelodeon. Vi som föredrar att sova på mornarna hoppar givetvis över det.