| Introduction
I used to love LEGO when I was younger and remarkably,
it's now being used in schools as an educational tool.
Not one to be left behind, the plastic brick manufacturer
has decided to leap into video games, and has released
titles on both PC and console systems in the last twelve
months.
Even the GBC saw its fair share of LEGO titles, and
this Football game is one of a handful of games to make
an appearance on the GBA before the end of the year.
However, there are already many football-inspired titles
to grace the GBA's short but productive life, so does
this really offer anything different?
GamePlay
LEGO Football Mania allows you to tackle the beautiful
game in two very different ways: “The Quest” and “Friendly”.
I'd advise everyone to head over for a Friendly match
first, as this allows you to take part in a sample game.
There are only seven teams available to start with,
but when all are unlocked there will be 36 teams to
choose from.
The Quest is best known to most as the Championship
mode, and it's here that you're challenged to win the
coveted LEGO Cup. Choose your team and be prepared to
battle it out with other teams throughout the various
LEGO worlds.
The games themselves feature many editable features;
you can decide the number of players on each team, the
length of the match, difficulty and even which end to
play. All of this is incredibly useful, as it allows
you to have exactly the type of gaming experience you
want for as long as you wish it to last.
Finally, there's the multiplayer option that allows
two or four players to battle it out on the football
pitch. Unfortunately, this is yet another title that
requires each of the players to have a copy of the game,
and again it seems a shame that the GBA's original 'single
game pack' feature is not being supported nearly as
often as it should. We've had far more complex titles
in the last 18 months that have offered up to four players
from a single copy of the game, so why LEGO Football
Mania couldn't pull this off is a complete mystery.
Controls
The controls can be a little tricky to begin with,
but this is quite normal with any isometric-view game.
Fortunately, there's a comprehensive tutorial section,
which takes you through a whole training section. Everything's
here--from dribbling and tackling, to passing and shooting,
with the theory being that once you've mastered all
of these various skills, you should actually be able
to score a goal.
Graphics
Most of the graphics in LEGO Football Mania have
been kept to a very basic visual level, but because
of its nature, this actually enhances the overall game.
Everything from the players to the various pitches looks
very solid yet also incredibly basic in its rendering,
much like real LEGO bricks & figures.
The various menu systems, however, are outstanding.
They all become fully animated when the cursor is rolled
over them, and resemble a high-end multimedia web site
or CD-ROM rather than a children's game. Without spoiling
too much, a final mention must go to the victory dances,
where the various teams celebrate their scoring of a
goal in very stereotypical fashion.
Sound & Music
The audio in Football Mania emulates the excitement
of a football match. Everything starts out with a typical
“Match of the Day” type soundtrack. The actual in-game
sound effects are even better, which includes the crowd
chanting, whistling, and clapping. It's all wonderful
stuff and seems to suit the feel of the game perfectly.
It's definitely another game where headphones are essential,
so that you can really immerse yourself in the gameplay
and don't annoy anyone else.
Final Comments
Before I say anything, please bear in mind that this
really is a football Sim aimed squarely at children,
so anyone searching for a fully-featured version of
the beautiful game should be looking elsewhere. The
game's intended demographic--children--will get a big
kick (sorry about that) out of LEGO Football Mania,
and the combination of simple controls and inventive
playing environments should please even the most cynical
of gamers.
Featuring some of the most user-friendly menus and
tutorials we've seen in a GBA title, this is really
for the under 10-years-old crowd. LEGO Football Mania
cuts out a great deal of the mindless statistics that
seem to dominate other football titles and instead focuses
on the gameplay. On the other hand, the multiplayer
option is incredibly limiting but hey, you can't have
everything. It's not for those types of gamers who are
obsessed with who scored the winning goal at the 2002
World Cup final, but definitely for younger players.
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