Here is my mini review of the game:
Fist off, if you prefers graphics over gameplay this game is NOT for you. The player models are satifactory but NAMCO could do a lot better. If you can get past the fact that Rio Ferninand is the only line judge in the game, then you can appreciate the game.
Though NAMCO proclaimed that the game is a pure simulation, I found it to be a mixture of a simulation and arcade. Not that it is a bad thing. If anything, this adds the FUN factor to the game.
The controls for the game is very similar to WE/PES. So if you have played WE/PES games, it is not hard to play Football Kingdom despite the Japanese texts.
The Positives:
1. The passing and FK system in this game are amazing. The yellow directional cursor on the ground is a very nice feature. This is quite useful when you want to know exactly where you are passing,crossing or shooting the ball to. You can cross or lob a pass into space. So you have total freedom of where to pass, cross and shoot to.
The FK system is very simple and effective. Being endorsed by one of the world best freekick taker (Shunsuke Nakamura), NAMCO really implement this feature well in the game. You can feel how freekick takers like Beckham bent the ball in the goal. KONAMI and EA could learn or implement something similar.
2. Animations are also well done. The running animations are better then WE/PES. The net animations is probably the best out there. But it is really repetative. There should be more variety in the animation.
3. Player's runs are nice. But I found them to be a bit much and unrealistics. Every players seems to be making these kind of runs regardless of what position he plays. Certainly while it is possible that every player in real life can make runs, there are no differentiations between a player who know how to make smart runs and a player who don't. But overall, it is still a nice feature.
3. The penalty kick system is also very well done. Much better than both FIFA and WE/PES.
4. There are limited feints but you can pull off some amazing stuff. Especially when you make a defender look like a clown when he tries to slide tackle you.
5. The diving feature is a really nice touch. While it is there, NAMCO make it hard to pull off. You have to pressed both L1 and L2 at the same time.
The Negatives:
1. The AI in this game is atrocious. Well at least on the default setting since I don't know Japanese. The CPU defenders sometimes would slide tackle you even though you are no where near them. The goalie seems to stay one position, the middle of the box. He never comes to collect a ball in the box even though you are a good few yards away.
2. While the graphics are decent, they could use a lot of improvements. I don't know what graphics engine NAMCO is using but they need to upgrade in this department.
3. More clubs teams and player's faces would help. Seeing Rio Ferninand as line judge cracks me up everytime. I guess it was NAMCO's way of having fun at Rio's expense. He can't play so we will make him a line judge.
4. Guess what? There are no ref on the pitch. I guess it must be a Japanese thing.
Having played about 10 games or so, I would say that Football Kingdom is only second best to WE/PES. It is a great first effort by NAMCO. Being a Japanese developers, NAMCO will put pressures on KONAMI to upgrade WE inefficiencies. FIFA was never that big in Japan and KONAMI does not have many competitors in their own backyard. Football Kingdom will pose a serious threat to KONAMI. Maybe this is the reason why KONAMI is so quiet about WE8. They want to see what Football Kingdom is about first. This is a good thing for us footie fans. I hope both NAMCO and KONAMI will both compete to make real footie games.
What does this tell you about EA's effort for the past few years? They are not in it to make a real simulation game that challenge the gamers. I have no doubts that they have the resources. But EA's philosophy will always be "easy and pickup gameplay" targeting the mass general public. I don't see them changing it any time soon as long as sales are doing well.
I for one am looking to Football Kingdom II.