worldcup-theduke Commodore 64 game

World Cup II

World Cup II is an arcade simulation of the World Cup. The action starts in the quarterfinals, accommodating up to eight players with eight competing teams. Real-life players can participate.

The game unfolds on a football pitch approximately three times the screen's length. It adopts a format akin to Commodore's International Soccer, offering a 3D panoramic view of the pitch. The match is observed through a scrolling window that tracks the ball's movement.

Each team comprises six players, represented as expanded multicolored sprites.

When the game kicks off, players rush onto the field and take their positions. One team is arbitrarily awarded the kickoff, while the defending team must wait until the kickoff is taken before moving.

Unlike International Soccer, where you control the nearest player to the ball with the computer handling switching automatically, here you have limited control over the player you want to use. To switch players, press the fire button, allowing you to control the player closest to the ball. The remaining players stay in their designated positions. After using a player, they return to their original spots.

The goalkeeper becomes active when the ball comes near them. You can move the goalkeeper when needed.

In a genre where any football game is inevitably compared to International Soccer, World Cup II holds its own. It resembles IS in presentation, complete with music (with an option to turn it off, thankfully). The animation is decent, although the ball's movement isn't entirely realistic. A nice touch is footballers leaping into the air when they score, but it takes a few seconds to register the goal and the same amount of time for the celebration. The game is relatively inexpensive and better than most in its category, but Commodore's soccer game remains the benchmark.

Zzap!64 November 1985

Joystick Only

International Soccer set a high standard for this type of game. Any similar product would need to be of high quality to make an impact. Unfortunately, World Cup II doesn't quite meet that standard. The only new features are the music and competition structure, which can be a drawback if you want a one-player game and are forced to play seven games due to the competition format. The graphics are blocky, and smooth scrolling isn't utilized. The ball lacks realism in its movement. Compared to International Soccer, World Cup II falls short. It might be more forgivable as budget software, but for the price Artic is asking, it's not worth it.

In-Game Play

In the game, you can control the goalkeeper's movements when the ball is near. Your options are to dive left or right. Move the joystick in the desired direction and press the fire button.

When playing against the computer, it adheres to the same rules as you, moving only one player at a time. The match consists of two halves, with a brief graphic intermission as teams leave and return to the field to take their positions.