MicroProse Soccer
Forerunner of the Sensible Soccer series, based on Tehkan World Cup.
MicroProse Soccer, a football video game from 1988, was published by MicroProse. Sensible Software created the original version for the Commodore 64, with ports later made for other systems. In the US, it was marketed as *Keith Van Eron's Pro Soccer*, named after the player. Jon Hare designed the game, and Chris Yates programmed it. They took the gameplay style of the arcade title *Tehkan World Cup* (1985) and built upon it with their own ideas. This title is the direct predecessor to the 16-bit *Sensible Soccer* series.
The game lets players choose between a full 11-a-side match on grass or a 6-a-side indoor game, inspired by the American indoor league of the era. A single player can compete in a World Cup or Indoor League tournament, or face a series of increasingly difficult computer opponents. Two players can play a friendly match against each other. Controls were kept simple to encourage fast, fluid play. A quick tap of the fire button passes the ball forward; holding it longer performs a chip. Pushing back and pressing fire executes an overhead kick, while pushing forward and firing takes a shot. A notable feature is the "banana kick," with three adjustable strength settings in the options menu. By pressing a diagonal direction when shooting, the ball curves in the air to bypass defenders and the goalkeeper. This after-touch mechanic was later added to the rival game *Kick Off*. Most versions include a simulated action replay after a goal; the C64 version displays black-and-white stripes to mimic a rewinding video.
Jon Hare cited *Tehkan World Cup* as the game's basis and inspiration, calling it an "arcade conversion" but not a "carbon copy," as they added their own gameplay elements. *Tehkan World Cup* used a trackball to control shot direction and speed, which the team adapted for standard joystick controls by reworking the game physics. Preview images of the game appeared in *Zzap!64* magazine, along with a request for a publisher. The Electronic Pencil Company handled the Amiga and Atari ST ports, creating a 6502 emulator to transfer the game's code and logic to those 16-bit machines.
*Crash* magazine awarded the game 90%. It won Best 8-bit Simulation of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards. On the Spectrum sales charts, it briefly reached number one before being overtaken by *Kenny Dalglish Soccer Manager*.
Quick Facts
- Title
- MicroProse Soccer
- Developer
- Sensible Software
- Publisher
- MicroProse
- Programmer
- Chris Yates
- Artist
- Jon Hare
- Composer
- Martin Galway
- Released
- 1988
- Genre
- Sports (association football)
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game was designed by Jon Hare and programmed by Chris Yates. Hare cited the arcade video game Tehkan World Cup, released by Tehkan (Tecmo) in 1985, as the basis and inspiration, referring to it as an 'arcade conversion' but not a 'carbon copy' as they added their own elements. Tehkan World Cup used a trackball to control shot direction and speed, which they adapted for conventional joystick controls. Preview pictures appeared in an issue of Zzap!64 magazine with a plea for a publisher. The Electronic Pencil Company ported the game to the Amiga and Atari ST using a 6502 emulator to transfer code and logic to 16-bit machines.
Gameplay can simulate a full 11-a-side game on a grass pitch or 6-a-side soccer based on the American indoor league. A single player can work through a World Cup or Indoor League tournament, or take on increasingly tougher computer teams; a two-player friendly can be played head to head. The control method was designed to be simple, with a quick tap of the fire button passing forward, a longer hold chipping the ball, pushing backwards and fire doing an overhead kick, and pushing forwards and fire taking a shot. Most unusual was the 'banana kick', with strength variable among three settings in the options menu; pushing diagonally as a shot was taken made the ball swerve. Rival game Kick Off would also add this after-touch feature. Most versions featured a simulated 'action replay' after a goal, with the C64 version using black and white stripes to resemble video rewinding.
Reader's Guide
MicroProse Soccer is notable as the direct forerunner of the 16-bit Sensible Soccer series, created by the same designer Jon Hare and programmer Chris Yates. Its legacy includes a spiritual sequel, Tiny Football, released by MicroProse on Steam in 2023, and the original game is also available on that platform. The game received a 90% rating from Crash magazine and was voted Best 8-bit Simulation of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards. In the Spectrum sales charts, it briefly reached number one before being replaced by Kenny Dalglish Soccer Manager; in the all-formats charts, it was kept off the top position by Robocop, which had been at number one for a record eighteen weeks. The game's adaptation of Tehkan World Cup's trackball-based shot control to joystick, along with its simple control method and banana kick feature, influenced later football games like Kick Off and Sensible Soccer.
Did You Know?
- The game was released in the United States as Keith Van Eron's Pro Soccer, named after Keith Van Eron.
- The C64 version's action replay featured black and white stripes to resemble a video rewinding.
- Preview pictures appeared in Zzap!64 magazine with a plea for a publisher to come forward.
More in Video Games of the 1980s, Part 1 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced