8.0
Dev: New Star Games
Genres: Sport
Platform: PC, Mac, iOS, Android
Release Date: Out Now
Download for mobile
Genres: Sport
Platform: PC, Mac, iOS, Android
Release Date: Out Now
Download for mobile
TheIndieJar: New Star Soccer Review
Site Score
7.0
Good: Easy to pick up and play a few games.
Bad: No international games or multiplayer options.
User Score
9.0
(8 votes)
Click to vote
A few weeks ago I saw that New Star Soccer would be coming to iOS and Android, and I knew I would buy it no matter the cost, which turned out to be a lovely £1.99. New Star Soccer is originally a small PC game that is great in its simplicity. It takes nostalgic graphics likened to the Sensible Soccer games and throws in the ability to control your own footballer through their career.
I purchased the Android version and was instantly struck by the addictiveness that caused many hours of gameplay on PC a few years ago. You start off with a short tutorial introducing you to the basics of kicking – something that you’ll be doing throughout matches that you play. You’re then thrown into the game as a young 16 year old footballer with aims of becoming a world beater – a non-league will initially snap you up and then it’s time to play football.
New Star Soccer differs from your usual football simulator in that you get the opportunity to play out the career of a footballer, not just through playing match after match, but by building relationships with your boss, team, fans, sponsors and a girlfriend (if you’re lucky). Over time relationships will improve or decline, depending on your performances on the pitch and how much time you spend with them off the pitch. Trust me, your girlfriend won’t appreciate it if you don’t spend any time with her!
While juggling your relationships you can also buy things to improve your lifestyle. In the beginning you’re pretty uncool as you haven’t bought any ‘cool’ things – yet as you play through the game, accrue better salaries, more sponsors and higher bonuses, you’ll soon rack up enough cash to enable you to buy anything from an iPod to a designer suit, a sports car to your very own paradise island and with each purchase you’ll increase your lifestyle, making you more popular in the media and more attractive to the ladies.
Yet it’s not all fun and games being a footballer. You can also train yourself in your 5 abilities; Power, Pace, Technique, Vision and Free-kicks, whilst you can also buy snazzy football boots to boost your abilities – boosting your abilities is key if you want to play at one of the big names in the years to come. Matches are played through live-text updates and whenever the ball falls to you in commentary the game will cut to the pitch and give you the opportunity to pass, shoot or intercept. The more successful you are with your actions the higher your match rating and the more you’ll boost your relationships. Initially I would struggle with a few chances I had and squander glorious opportunities – but that only made me more eager to wait for my next chance or play another game.
Of course you can’t just buy and do everything straight away. Each action will take up a certain amount of your energy so that you’ll only be able to do a certain amount of things before waiting for your energy to replenish, alternatively you can buy energy drinks to boost your energy – yet of course this depends on your funds.
New Star Soccer is a great mobile game for football and non-football fans alike – hours of fun can be had playing football, developing relationships, gambling and splashing cash on pointless possessions. Of course, it’s always good to see your name in the paper after a man of the match performance.
- Easy to pick up and play a few games.
- Loads of fun.
- Good match experience and random events coupled with relationship building give the player an attachment to their player.
- Some people will no doubt be disappointed you cannot control the matches all the way through.
- No international games or multiplayer options.
- Energy depletes quickly early on in the game which can be frustrating.
- Occasional glitches.
The good points definitely outweigh the bad. The game is great fun yet people will find a few flaws or things that annoy them. Personally I find it great fun and perfect to pick up when you have a spare 5 minutes.
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Website: newstarsoccer.com
Download on the Android Marketplace
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I remember playing it back in first year of college (2002). I think I will be picking this up just to see how it develops.
It sounds a lot like I Am Playr, the Facebook game (which may have stolen the idea from NSS, who knows!).
This sounds amazing love sensible soccer and love the idea of having to manage all of the daily issues a player faces!! are there ethical decisions like do I take the performace enhancing steroids? which gives short term improvement to play but eventually leads to you losing the respect of your family and peers!
Indeed you do get offered bribes by shady people to throw a game – haven’t come across taking drugs but I can see it happening!
Been playing alnight amazing game so adictive