“This Game Broke My Ankles – Sociable Soccer 25 Madness!” ⚽🥅

Welcome to another ⚡Ten Minute Taster⚡ where chaos reigns and tackles fly (nearly)!

Jon Hare Talks To Rich About Sociable Soccer 25, Banana Shots and Beef & Horseradish Sandwiches ⚽🥪🍌 @Sociable_Soccer @jonhare

Jon Hare has been a video game design hero for me since the days of Microprose Soccer, Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder and SWOS to just name a few great games that Jon had a hand in making.

Jon is now fully committed to delivering a new and fun footy experience across PC and consoles in the form of Sociable Soccer and it's iterations since 2017.

When I was given the opportunity to ask Jon a few questions I obviously leapt at the chance and then thought what the hell do I ask the guy who created one of the finest football video games to ever be created...

So I regressed to 12 year old me and all was good...

Sociable Soccer 24 | Nintendo Switch Review 7/10 "Sociable Soccer 24 isn't a serious soccer sim—it's a joyful, pixelated carnival ride." ⚽️ @Sociable_Soccer #IndieGame #GameDev

Ah, Sociable Soccer 24, the game that struts onto the pitch with all the subtlety of a neon-clad goalkeeper doing the running man. 

Developed by Tower Studios, this is a wild carnival ride aiming to bring back the golden era of 90s footie gaming by lacing up those oversized boots, grabbing a nearby rattle and diving into the soccer fuelled chaos.

The gameplay loop in Sociable Soccer 24 is like a sugar rush after a 500ml can of Virgin Cola. It's fast, frantic, and utterly addictive. The controls are as simple as a two-button pass, but don't let that fool you. The game rewards timing and positioning with a dash of sheer luck. Once you get used to the passing mechanic you'll find yourself chaining passes together and scoring screamers with the glee of a kid who just discovered a hidden stash of cola cubes. It's like the '90s arcade soccer games never left us—only now, they've got a fresh coat of neon paint.

When you score, the game erupts into a pixelated fiesta. Players cartwheel, moonwalk, and even breakdance. It's like a discotheque invaded the penalty box. I half-expected a pixelated MC HAMMER to strut in with baggy trousers and point at the goal.

Now, here's the secret sauce: crank up the difficulty. The lower levels are as challenging as a Sunday kick about with your nan. But slide that difficulty slider to the right, and suddenly, you're facing AI opponents who channel their inner Messi. It's like playing chess against a caffeinated octopus. Trust me, it's where the real magic and challenge happens.

I love a good stat. But unfortunately Sociable Soccer 24 doesn’t give me much to work with. I’d like to see some player ratings, top scorer charts, league tables, heat maps, and a breakdown of my striker's biscuit consumption during halftime. 

The refs in this game are like a box of chocolates—you never know what you're gonna get. One moment, they're waving play on as your defender performs a flying karate kick. The next, they're brandishing a red card because your goalie sneezed. Consistency? Nah, we're too busy breakdancing.

I appreciate the retro vibe, but I need more than one stadium type. It's like playing every match at Loftus Road. Give me a stadium with a giant kop at one end and some open corners, and I'll be happy.

SUMMARY

Sociable Soccer 24 isn't a serious soccer sim—it's a joyful, pixelated carnival ride. It's the spiritual cousin of Sensible Soccer, high-fiving it across the decades. 

It’s also impressive how much this game has come along since I played it in its first incarnation a few years back.

So grab your joystick (yes, I said joystick), crank up the difficulty, and let the nostalgia wash over you. Just remember: stats are for nerds, celebrations are for legends, and the '90s never really left us.

Note: 

This review was written while wearing oversized sunglasses and listening to "Wonderwall" by oasis.

@thegamesfreezer Sociable Soccer 24 Nintendo Switch Review #nintendoswitch #reviews #videogamereview #soccer #sensiblesoccer #videogame ♬ original sound ❄️ Games Freezer ❄️