In the pantheon of football games, Striker is one that - amidst FIFA Soccer, Sensible Soccer and Pro Evo - has faded from memory; a now distant remnant of international football excitement seemingly destined not to enjoy another day in the sun. But, 20 or so years after its release, it's worth asking how it holds up: has it been unfairly overlooked, or was it actually rubbish?
In short, and thinking back to being 13, it wasn't bad: no Sensible, to be sure, but a more than adequate forum for thrashing the hapless Angolans or Guatemalans.
Like most games, it was best enjoyed with friends; games against the computer could, predictably, be a little familiar: computer opponents were either terrible or overpowering and there was always a difficulty in setting the level quite right. Against friends, though, and especially friends that owned the game, a close battle royale could be expected. Tackles would fly in, wingers would sprint down the line, defenders would thump into nifty strikers and, if you got the angle of your shot right, a goal was guaranteed.
Graphically, the game was quite advanced for its time: players were kind of 3 D-ish, the goal nets billowed and the ball was at least round (something that anybody who has, ahem, 'enjoyed' World Cup 90 on the
Megadrive may know is not that easy to get right), and the action had a semblance of realism. On the other hand, hammering Guatemala 17-0 does get a tad repetitive after a while. And the rankings, especially at the top end, were not that instructive. One top 10 team was much like another - and it would have been nice, if perhaps technologically impossible in the early-1990s, for there to have been some variance in play, or for certain tactics to be employed by certain teams (Italy negative; England frustrating; Brazil flamboyant).
All in all, though, it was an interesting diversion from homework and provided ample hours of fun in matching one's wits against a friend. It never had the catch of SWOS. Nor did it have the drama, elan or excitement of its famous counterpart. But for football-mad boys eager to waste more time dreaming of the beautiful game, it was a more than adequate diversion - at least until Champ Man came along!
