Actua Soccer 2

aka: Actua Soccer 2 featuring Alan Shearer
Moby ID: 1191
Windows Specs
Buy on Windows
$7.99 new on Steam

Description official descriptions

Following the success of the first Actua Soccer game, a sequel was likely. The game is fast-paced with more of an action than simulation feel, and an emphasis on ground play rather than heading.

A young Michael Owen provides motion capture to produce realistic player motions and actions - the different builds and styles of players are taken into account. 64 top international teams are featured, as are 24 distinct stadiums, with weather conditions having both visible and noticeable playing effects.

This was one of the first games to feature 2-man commentary, with former England captain Trevor Brooking joining Barry Davies in the analytical role.

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Videos

See any errors or missing info for this game?

You can submit a correction, contribute trivia, add to a game group, add a related site or alternate title.

Credits (Windows version)

74 People (68 developers, 6 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 79% (based on 22 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.4 out of 5 (based on 17 ratings with 1 reviews)

It was OK...

The Good
Good graphics for '97, and a nice consistent pace to it. The commentary by Barry Davies is great, and his dry humour ever present.

The Bad
Unfortunately, this game and 'realism' should not go in the same sentence. One minute you'll be up one end, in the next 4 seconds you'll be up the opposite end. The players run amazingly fast and you cannot do much fancy skill. The A.I is terrible, to say the least, with players running in the wrong direction, and the keepers are actually too good: You can never beat them. The referees are either too strict or too lenient, so you can never really have a fair game.

My biggest gripe about this game is the inability to play as a club, etc. You are confined to international teams, which really can restrict fans.

The Bottom Line
This game made football SIMPLE to the consumer. It's not for hard core fans, thats probably the job of the FIFA series, which allows either clubs or countries to be controlled.

I don't recommend buying this game, go for FIFA instead. ACTUA games are no longer made.

Windows · by Quackbal (45) · 2005

Trivia

Cover

Alan Shearer, the soccer captain of the English national team, is on the European cover.

Credits

In a time where some players questioned if game developers actually cared about the sport itself, Actua Soccer 2 included an interesting touch: In the printed manual credits, the name of each developer is followed by the club they support. The only exception is Barry Davies, who always made a point on never disclosing his supporting side. There's also a natural dominance of Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday supporters.

Information also contributed by Luis Silva

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Actua Soccer 3
Released 1998 on PlayStation, Windows
Actua Soccer: Club Edition
Released 1997 on DOS, PlayStation, SEGA Saturn
VR Soccer '96
Released 1995 on DOS, 1996 on PlayStation, Windows...
Fab 5 Soccer
Released 2008 on Nintendo DS
Actua Tennis
Released 1998 on Windows, 2000 on PlayStation, 2008 on PlayStation 3
Fox Sports Golf '99
Released 1997 on PlayStation, Windows
Alan Wake II
Released 2023 on Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
International Sensible Soccer
Released 1994 on DOS, Amiga, Jaguar...

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 1191
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Matthew Bailey.

PlayStation added by Kabushi.

Additional contributors: Martin Smith, Patrick Bregger.

Game added March 27, 2000. Last modified October 7, 2023.