Cert: 7+
Platform: NDS
Genre: RPG, Sports
Release Date: 26/08/11
Watch the Trailer

From the makers of Professor Layton comes an anime football RPG. The Raimon school football club is to be discontinued for the not unreasonable fact that it can't even attract enough players to play a match. Mark, team captain and complete football obsessive, vows to prevent this. Unfortunately, to remain afloat the Raimon team must defeat the current champions in a friendly. All hope seems lost as their opponents have super powered moves but Raimon is joined by a reluctant star player and using Mark's grandfather's special technique book, Raimon fight back. Then starts a quest to recruit more players and develop super-techniques to win the championship.

The first thing to highlight are the cut scenes. Like the Layton games, I am shocked by how much animation could be packed into the DS cartridge. They are a double edge sword for the game though. I found them entertaining but I am certain that anyone who dislikes anime will not - in no small part thanks to Mark, the quintessential anime hero - an annoying child who never shuts up about football. Think Ash Katchum only with a bigger ball.

On paper this game should be a disaster. Football and RPG are an odd mix. Soccer superpowers I could take but opening treasure chests hidden on school grounds for power ups or the random encounter football matches were a bit too disjointed. The gameplay also has issues. The RPG sections are probably too basic for experienced gamers while the football match battles may initially be too intimidating for less experienced players. For some reason, however, the game works. I found that I grew quite attached to certain members of my team and was often at odds between needing to pick a well rounded team and choosing characters I like. A sign, in my opinion, of a good RPG.

During the matches themselves, key moments (tackling, shooting) are determined by a mixture of the players stats, their element type (fire, air, earth, wind) , the number of players in the encounter and whether or not a super move is used. At first this is an intimidating amount of variables, but comes down to selecting the strongest players for the match, then judging when and where to spend the points on using a super move. This becomes fairly natural but may intimidate the young or less experienced. An option to practice moving players with and without opponents present would be beneficial.

Had I not had to review it, I'd never have played it and I am glad that I did, but I am still unsure who to recommend it to. Those who like RPGs will have fun. Those who hate Anime should avoid. For everyone else, I would say that it is worth a shot but be warned it does take some time to get use to.

Rent or Buy: Buy
Graphics: 4/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Replay: 1/5
Overall: 4/5

Review By: JP Gallagher