Playman World Soccer Java Game

We'll make no bones about it: most mobile football games are blood difficult. Taking a console-style football game and making it work on a mobile handset with cramped buttons often ends in tears, or RSI at the very least. Even expert footy fans find it tough to successfully run, pass, shoot and tackle using keys that were never designed for the job. At least, that's our excuse, and we're sticking to it.

Playman World Soccer is different, though. We'd even go so far as to say it's something of a quiet revolution for mobile football games. Why? Because of the way your player constantly runs forward in a straight line, leaving you to just press 4 and 6 to turn him.

This gives you more time to time your passes, shots and tackles, while the game also helps you out by, for example, ensuring passes go to the nearest team-mate in the direction you're looking. You'll grasp the controls in seconds, leaving more time to actually play the game, unlike other titles.

The game has plenty of depth too, allowing you to play a quick match, parti te in a penalty shoot-out, or take on the full Career mode, which sets you a series of challenges. It all looks good too, especially if you've got a 3D-capable handset, with the cartoony graphics that the Playman series has become known for.

There are also some neat extras, such as the fizzing super-shot graphic effects and a host of frankly barking-mad unlockable features to customise your team. Okay, so it isn't the most serious soccer sim around - if realism's your thing, you're better off checking out Real Football 2006 (below) or the upcoming FIFA World Cup game.

But in our view, Playman World Soccer is the most fun and accessible mobile football game yet, and deserves space on your handset.

Info Info