Reviewed: November 6, 2002
Reviewed by: Scott Shirhall

Publisher
Midway

Developer
Point of View

Released: June 25, 2002
Genre: Sports
Players: 4
ESRB: Everyone

8
9
7
9
8.5

Supported Features:

  • Analog Control
  • Vibration
  • Memory Card

    		•
    Before we start the review I want to clarify one thing. I know most hardcore fans of the sport call soccer by another name, which is football. For the purposes of this review and to attract interest from casual fans, I will be referring to the sport as soccer so please don’t harass me for not using the most widely accepted terminology. I live in the United States and we generally call it soccer here. So with that said let’s begin the review.

    RedCard 20-03 is basically a soccer game done in the Blitz and Hitz style made popular by Midway. Midway has taken a very good soccer simulation game and added a fun arcade twist to it. If you are a big soccer fan you will probably be a little skeptical of the arcade upgrade to your favorite sport but you should definitely give this title a shot. The basics of the game are all here and with adjustments you can take out most of the arcade extras. I would leave them in though. There is nothing better than dropkicking a guy in the head when he beats you on the wing. You know you hate being beaten and now you can do something about it.

    RedCard 20-03 features:

    • RedCard 20-03 - fast, hard-core adrenaline-style soccer.
    • RedCard 20-03 Gameplay - All different types of exaggerated kicks, mind-bending jukes and daring tackles. Also motion-captured animations such as bike, flip, and scissor-kicks as well as extreme footwork, dekes and quick passing from the feet and head.
    • 11-on-11 gameplay - Each team will have 10 players and a goalie. Each of the characters has the ability to be under the players' control, one at a time.
    • Game Modes - Four distinct game modes to enjoy: Finals Mode, a battle through 32 qualified national teams for the Cup Championship; World Conquest Mode, beat all 50 national teams and 7 fantasy teams to conquer the world; Friendly Mode, where players can hone their skills against any and all competition; Tournament Mode, where the battle for the Cup begins.
    • International Pageantry - fanatical fans rain cheers or jeers from the swollen stadium above.
    • Rewards - Skilled players can unlock modes, teams, stadiums, etc. Winning allows players to strengthen their team with additional attribute points.
    • Stadiums - Visually stunning environments with realistic texturing.
    • Total Soccer - FIFPRO license, national teams, national players and real stadiums like Saitama, Daegu and Yokohama.
    • Exclusive TIME-WARP-SLOW-MO-BLUR camera effects.
    All of the above features combine flawlessly to give you a great soccer game that will appeal to fans and casual observers alike. If you only have a minor interest in the sport of soccer then at least give this game a try as the arcade additions will improve on what you most likely think is a boring sport. Note: I do not find soccer boring but many people that do not like the sport cite this as the biggest reason for not liking the sport.

    The one feature that will attract avid fans of soccer will be the FIFPRO license. This feature is important because now fans can play with their favorite teams and players. Many fans of international soccer have certain players that they love to see play and root for. Almost every popular player you can think of is included in this game.

    Now that we have the cross, let’s put this one in the goal.

    The gameplay of RedCard is, simply, very good. The controls are extremely responsive and the special moves and kicks are animated spectacularly. Not having played a soccer offering from Midway, I must say that I am very impressed with their overall interpretation and presentation of the sport. Quick load times and multiple options make this game a pleasure to play.

    Player control is very fluid and the easy to learn. There are simple one-button controls for your juke moves and options for your pass types. The boost button used in combination with pass, slide tackle, or shoot will result in special moves. The special shots are fantastic when they go into the slow motion mode. Any player will be able to master the controls of this game with ease and can then hone some of the specialty moves and shots. The best part about the game controls is the over the top arcade moves. These moves add some exciting additions to your traditional soccer fare.

    The bad thing about the arcade action in this game is that there is not enough of it. I was expecting a combination of soccer and rugby. While the kicks and tackles are good, there could definitely be more of the arcade aspect added to this title. When someone buys a Midway sports game they are looking for some crazy arcade action and outlandish hits. While there are plenty of these in the game, you can never have too much. The controls and arcade touches in RedCard are excellent but another great feature is the multitude of options.

    The game is packed with adjustability. You can change skill levels, stadiums, weather and time of day. All of the options and skills that can be varied allow you to create the kind of soccer game you enjoy. If you want realistic you can set the referee strictness to the highest setting and this will hand out penalties like mad. If you want to turn the strictness off, trust me this is more fun, then you can obliterate your opponent with shoulder tackles and dropkicks without the referee noticing. The weather and time adjustments are self-explanatory. With the stadium selection option you can choose where you want your match to occur. Several fantasy stadiums can be unlocked by winning games in the World Conquest mode.

    Speaking of game modes, there are several to choose from. In World Conquest mode you must systematically defeat regular teams and a fantasy team from each continent. After defeating the fantasy teams you will unlock them and their stadium for further enjoyment. Once you have conquered World Conquest you will be eligible to participate in the Finals mode. Very simply, Finals mode is a world championship tournament. In Tournament mode you can select four, eight or sixteen teams and designate player or computer controlled teams and compete for the title.

    All of the good gameplay and control of the game would all go for naught without acceptable graphics to bring them all together. Fortunately, Midway has done an outstanding job in the graphics department.

    The graphics, with the exception of a few minor glitches, are much better than average. Midway has done some excellent work in the motion capturing of many of the moves routinely performed in a typical soccer match. The player movements are fluid and life-like. The kicks and tackles have realistic effects and improve the enjoyment of the game.

    The only minor problem with the graphics, that I could notice, is the netting of the goals and the goals themselves. The netting does not respond well as a solid object. Often, when you send a powerful kick at the goalie, the goalie will end up going through either the posts or the netting. This is minor and really doesn’t affect the gameplay. The only time it bothers me is when the goalie is knocked down and ends up to either side of the net and a goal is awarded. Upon closer inspection I noticed that the ball had actually crossed the goal line and the keeper had just passed through the net and post. If the posts and nets acted more realistically then there would be more opportunity for mayhem.

    Probably the best part of the graphics is the little touches added to the game. When the boost button is pressed and an action is taken there is a fantastic stream of light and sparks. The ball looks like a sparkling comet as it speeds towards the net. The sparks fly off the ball and fall realistically to the ground. I am sorry but I just love those sparks and the whole sequence reminds me of the bullet scene from The Matrix.

    Another one of those great little touches is the skid marks your player leaves when attempting a slide tackle. When your player slides you can see the blades of grass being kicked up and a long brown patch on the field where that grass used to be. For me, these little extra touches make me have hope that if they wanted to they could correct that net problem. All of the graphics features discussed above occur within the confines of a soccer stadium so let’s take a look at the stadiums.

    The stadiums are very well done and the raucous crowd adds to the overall international soccer experience. While the stadiums look very good the crowds are so-so. I am not surprised as the crowds in sports games have been difficult to reproduce. These crowds are better than most and have definitely come a long way from the days when the crowds were just little dots or posters of people.

    The weather and lighting in the stadiums are done fairly well. The shadows in the dusk games can prove to be very dark and the snow looks nice but never accumulates during the game. Just a little tweaking here and the graphics could easily approach the outstanding level.

    The sounds in RedCard are okay. There are a few good points and a few bad points. The good points are the crowd, player and action sounds. The bad points are the commentary and crowd sounds. Yes, I know that I said the crowd sounds were both good and bad and I did that for a reason. The actual sounds that the crowds make are good. They cheer when they are supposed to and get rowdier when there is some quality action on the field. The bad part is the lack of chanting. Yes there is chanting in the game but there is not enough and it is often garbled and difficult to make out. I want to hear some of those group chants and singing like I have seen when watching European soccer matches on television. When the crowd is into the game it makes the game more fun.

    As far as the commentary goes, it needs to be much deeper. After just a few games you have heard about every phrase that the commentators have in their arsenal. I don’t mind this too much but it becomes very boring and predictable when you know what the commentator is going to say before he says it. The one good part of the commentary is the fact that you can change the language. It definitely adds some variety to the game when you listen to the commentators speaking German, French or Spanish. I don’t speak any of those languages but it sure is fun to hear someone getting excited in a language that I don’t understand.

    By far the best sounds occur on the field. It is a pure joy to hear the players calling out to each other and grunting when they get creamed. Players yelling that they are open or for you to shoot the ball when you break free are nice additions. The sounds of the players when they attempt a boosted move are cool also. When you break towards the goal and press boost to take a special shot you are treated with a treat.

    There is your typical time warp sound effects followed by the sound of your heartbeat overpowering everything else. When the kick is actually made your hear an explosion and a roaring sound as the ball speeds towards the goal. These sounds are great and will force you to take those special shots as often as you can.

    The overall value of RedCard 20-03 is excellent. With the varying skill levels, World Conquest, Finals mode and team customization you will be able to enjoy this game for a long time to come. Add to this the multiplayer modes and tournaments and the variety of gaming options is almost limitless.

    Another thing that adds to the value of this game is the fact that it is a sports game. Because of this there are so many team combinations and the games are never the same. To me nothing says value like variety and when you think you’ve seen everything there are hidden teams and stadiums to unlock. Unlocking these fantasy teams is no easy task and it will take you many games to achieve this goal.

    Whether you are an avid fan of soccer or just a casual observer, RedCard 20-03 is worth looking into. This game has facets that will appease all fans. Even if you are not a fan of soccer you may still want to give this game a try because of the arcade action it contains.

    Midway has put out a quality game and should be commended on their efforts. While not perfect, RedCard 20-03 is definitely a step in the right direction for a game with a lot of potential and mass appeal.