Simplistic 360-degree controls
When starting a match Sensible Soccer 2006 skips straight to the action, the only decisions you’ll need to make is either swapping some of your players around or choosing one of the twelve formations available. There’s no fancy intro sequence at the start of a game; it’s a quick zoom across the team line-ups and then straight into the action. The match conditions and rules can also be changed before friendlies and the beginning of competition.
The player in control of the ball has an arrow at their feet that can be rotated in any direction with the left thumbstick, giving the player a 360-degree control over any shot or pass. The top-down view of the pitch is crucial to the gameplay as it allows you to pick out your team-mates by being able to spot their forward runs and position on the pitch. This view is far more effective than the established side view.
The passing of the ball is simple, just aim in the direction of a team-mate and hold down your pass button for the length required. Unlike many football games the ball won’t automatically land at your player’s feet, you’ll need to use pinpoint precision in order to pull off a decent pass. If you’re unfamiliar with the Sensible Soccer games you’ll probably find it slightly frustrating initially, but after a couple of games you soon get the hang of it.
The problem with passing to a player is getting that player to react; this can sometimes be an irritation. Switching between players isn’t as smooth as you would like as the computer often seems switches to an inconveniently placed player.
Each player in your team has an energy bar that gets lower as the game progresses and is an indication as to when you should make a substitution. Using the sprint function is crucial in gaining a few yards on an opponent but will bring the energy bar down much quicker if used too frequently.
The powered kick can be used to pass the ball in the air or take a shot on goal. The longer the button is held down the more power is applied to the ball. The first few games I played saw the ball flying anywhere but the goal, hitting the corner flag far more times than I would have hoped. But, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be spraying the ball across the pitch and taking 40yrd pot shots at goal without hesitation.