Soccer Kids Alpha
- June 27, 2023
- Acid Wizard Studio
- 8h median play time
Get on SteamA game about soccer, made by people who suck at playing soccer. Soccer Kids is a tactical, turn-based sports game where you control a teenage mathematical savant, guiding his friends on a quest to win the local street soccer tournament. The game is set in Poland in the 90s - a period where the country transitioned from a socialist republic to a democracy with a free market. It focuses on the lat…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game combines strategic gameplay with a nostalgic theme of kids playing soccer, making it both fun and engaging.
- The mechanics are unique and well-executed, allowing for tactical depth and requiring players to think critically about their moves.
- The graphics and atmosphere capture the essence of childhood sports rivalry, adding charm and humor to the overall experience.
- The game can feel slow and lacks fluidity in gameplay, which may detract from the excitement typically associated with soccer games.
- There are some bugs and optimization issues, such as crashes and high CPU usage, that need to be addressed for a smoother experience.
- The current content is limited, with only a few levels available, which may lead to a lack of replayability until more features are added.
- gameplay53 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by solid mechanics and an innovative blend of turn-based tactics with a sports theme, offering a fun and engaging experience. While the core mechanics are well-received and show potential for depth, some players find the gameplay can feel sluggish and lacks content in its current alpha state. Overall, the game is praised for its unique concept and entertaining interactions, with hopes for further development to enhance fluidity and add more content.
“The gameplay is very interesting, combining turn-based tactics with sports, which is why I'm enjoying it so much.”
“The mechanics feel good, the art style is good, and the banter between the kids is exactly what I would expect from them.”
“I enjoyed the mechanics, and it does feel like there is depth here, especially in considering how your speed gives you advantages, but also limits future options.”
“The gameplay requires some training and getting used to.”
“With that being said, I can't help but feel like the gameplay was a bit sluggish and by the end started to lose my attention.”
“It's hard for me to entirely pin down why it started to lose me towards the end, but I had a commanding lead at the halfway point of the game and my victory felt inevitable, but I had to go through 13 turns of fairly tensionless gameplay.”
- story20 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is currently underdeveloped, with many users noting the alpha version's short narrative and lack of a substantial plot. However, there is a strong sense of potential, as players express hope for a more elaborate storyline, character progression, and immersive world-building in future updates. Overall, while the foundation is promising, the current lack of depth in storytelling leaves much to be desired.
“I'm crossing my fingers that they take that approach, because I believe the developers are fully capable of making any world fascinating with details and elaborate storytelling through its atmosphere, and it would turn this game from decent to a potential masterpiece.”
“I really like the setting in that not only is it a unique approach and perspective, but also tells a story with its environment.”
“The story of the alpha version is pretty short, so it's hard to leave what feels like a full review.”
“There really isn't much else to discuss story-wise as there isn't much of a plot in the alpha, but I can see it going in a neat direction.”
“What's here is great, though I definitely feel like there needs to be more of an overarching storyline with themes and character progression to truly bring the package together, though I imagine that will come as the game moves from an alpha into later stages of development.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charm and artistic style, evoking nostalgia and a strong atmosphere. While the artwork is well-received, some users express dissatisfaction with the character art style, feeling it doesn't fit the game's overall aesthetic. Overall, the graphics show promise, with room for improvement as the game develops further.
“Obviously not the finished product but already very charming graphics and atmosphere.”
“The concept is there, the style is really cool and while there's still room for the game to develop in every direction (graphics, mechanics, story, etc.), this is what an alpha is for.”
“Beautiful artworks, combined with nostalgia and very simple mechanics that are difficult to master!”
“Big big problem...for me at least... the in-game characters' art style is terrible!”
“I'm not saying the artists did a bad job with the illustrations, I'm saying that using that art style for this type of game just doesn't work.”
“I think replacing some of the scenes after the tutorial that were 3D models with some artwork would be better.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming graphics and nostalgic elements, reminiscent of the 80s, which contribute to a unique and engaging experience. Reviewers highlight the developers' ability to create fascinating worlds filled with detail and storytelling, suggesting that the atmospheric design could elevate the game to a masterpiece. Overall, the combination of grungy aesthetics and immersive environments effectively captures the intended mood, making it a standout feature of the game.
“It's either the art, the atmosphere, or the uniqueness of it, but something definitely screams Acid Wizard Studio here.”
“I'm crossing my fingers that they take that approach, because I believe the developers are fully capable of making any world fascinating with details and elaborate storytelling through its atmosphere, and it would turn this game from decent to a potential masterpiece.”
“Sure to be a good game, especially with the wonderful atmosphere that Acid Wizard has consistently demonstrated in their games.”
“The atmosphere feels incomplete and lacks the depth needed to fully immerse players in the game world.”
“While the graphics are charming, the overall atmosphere fails to create a compelling experience.”
“I hope the developers enhance the atmosphere, as it currently feels flat and uninspired, which detracts from the game's potential.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by witty dialogues among children, which not only enhance the gameplay experience but also engage players in the evolving relationships between characters. The blend of funny moments, such as comical mishaps and charming interactions, adds a lighthearted touch to the overall narrative, making it appealing even to those who may not typically enjoy football. Overall, the humor effectively contributes to the game's charm and relatability, creating a fun atmosphere throughout.
“The humorous dialogues between kids flavor the game; it makes me want to continue the campaign to discover how their relationships evolve.”
“Funny dialogues, fun gameplay, and also a very good way to explain to your kids why football is a team sport, and that the team with the best player won’t necessarily win if it doesn’t play as a group.”
“They're fun and quippy, making everyone come across as likable, interesting characters, and there is a lot of charming humor in the situation.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is perceived as poorly optimized, with users noting clunky performance and a lack of detail, despite its promising concept. There are calls for improvements in performance and the addition of multiplayer features to enhance the overall experience.
“I really felt like this game was poorly optimized for what it delivers.”
“Great idea for a game, but it's a little clunky. It needs more detail, better performance, and of course, multiplayer!”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the "kids playing soccer in a backyard" theme for its engaging and manageable gameplay, which avoids the potential tedium of larger team formats. There is a hope that the game will maintain its focus on small teams and allow for character progression through unique abilities, enhancing the overall experience without becoming overwhelming.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be tedious and unfulfilling, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The constant need to grind for resources feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly those who grew up playing soccer in the streets, as it evokes a deep sense of nostalgia. This emotional resonance enhances the overall experience, making it more meaningful for those familiar with the culture.
“If you grew up playing soccer in the streets, the nostalgia factor of the game will truly touch your heart.”
“The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; it resonated with my own experiences.”
“Every moment in the game felt like a journey through my own memories, evoking feelings I didn't expect.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's high replayability due to its diverse mechanics, including individual player skills and various playing fields with unique rules, which encourage multiple playthroughs.
“I love that you have thought of many smaller and bigger differences to make the game highly replayable, such as player individual skills and different types of playing fields with unique rules!”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more; every playthrough feels fresh and exciting!”
“With multiple paths and strategies to explore, I find myself discovering new experiences each time I play.”
