Champions of Europe

Did You Know?

• In issue 34 of Zero magazine, reviewer Patrick McCarthy gave the game a score of 87%.
• McCarthy's criticisms related to collision detection for the goalkeepers and the formation changing function.

Game modes

The game includes single-player and multiplayer modes. Practice mode lets one player pass the ball around the pitch with no opposition. Exhibition mode allows one or two players to play a single friendly match. Tournament mode lets one or two players progress from the group stages through to the final, mirroring the actual tournament's structure of two groups of four, two semi-finals, and a final. A demo mode lets players watch a match. The menu screen offers a selection of referees, though no noticeable difference exists between them. Players choose any European country from a map screen. With two human players, player two plays as the opponent for all of player one's tournament matches.

Gameplay

Matches are viewed from a 75° angle, with an optional pitch radar. Each team wears correct kit colours for its country, but shirts are always plain. The control pad uses one button for passing and tackling, and another for shooting. When not in possession, a button can trigger a speed-burst. The directional pad moves players and applies aftertouch to shots or passes. Formations can be changed while in possession, though this is considered impractical during play. The introduction animation features an uptempo soundtrack. In-game sound effects include the ball being kicked or bouncing and the referee's whistle. Players and the referee often display speech bubbles with brief wording. A glitch awards points for scoring in one's own net, and another glitch occurs when quitting a 0–0 game at the semi-final stage, automatically advancing the player to the final.