Preview: Pure Futbol

Pure Futbol is Ubisoft’s first foray into the world of soccer games and rather than trying to be a FIFA or PES killer, is trying to remind us of the essence of the game. Pure Futbol focuses on giving the player the experience of actually being on the pitch and giving them the thrill of the beautiful game.

Title: Pure Futbol

Developer: Ubisoft Vancouver

Publisher: Ubisoft

Genre: Sport

Platform: XBox360, PS3

Expected Price: R400

Release Date: 28th – 31st may

The game distances itself from other soccer games by using a 3^rd-person over the shoulder camera as opposed to the conventional sideline camera. This is very similar to the camera you get when playing the ‘Be a Pro’ mode in FIFA. Players will also be able to create and play as their own player who they will be able to play through the game as.It seems that there is a little plot behind the campaign as well. It goes that whichever team you pick gets short-changed during in a big international, possible World Cup, match and then takes it to the streets to get their own back. No refs, no rules, just players and a ball.

As mentioned above, there is a heavy focus on the experience. Your surroundings blur while running, you feel every tackle and collision courtesy of the controller’s vibration and the camera shaking. The game makes use of the familiar five-a-side style of soccer on pitches which appear to be ¼ the size of a standard football pitch; roughly the same size as the pitches in FIFA Street.

There has been no word on the gameplay or even modes for the game but it is safe to assume that it will feature the tried and trusted ‘pick a team and beat everybody else’ system. There has also been no mention of street teams such as those seen in FIFA Street either. There have also been no details released about the multiplayer for the game other than that it will feature online gameplay.

The game is also fully licensed so all your favourite boots and brand balls will be available. Each team’s kit is subsequently accurate as well. While the visuals look quite sleek, early impressions are that the texturing is a little odd and shiny while the physics of the ball are a little odd at times. The ball does not seem to roll but rather just slide awkwardly between players. Many of the player models also look rather innaccurate and poorly done.

Pure Futbol will feature 17 international teams with around 230 players in addition to 17 legendary players. Of these 17 teams, the following have been revealed:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Cameroon
• Côte d’Ivoire
• England
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Spain

The remaining six teams are still being kept under wraps but it would be a safe bet to assume that among those six are USA, Ghana, Mexico and possible Serbia.

With regard to the legends, these too are being kept a secret but there is no doubt that among will be the usual suspects such as Zico, Cantona, Beckenbauer, Revelli, Klinsmann and Sanchez. It would be great to have Maradona and Péle in the team as well. Since the game is not tied to FIFA in any way and subsequently the ’06 World Cup Final, we could even see Zidane make his next-gen debut for virtual football.

The game is not being marketed as a full game though but rather as a mini-game designed to entertain and be a pick-up-and-play kind of title. No fuss, just stick it in and away you go. It has none of the red-tape of acquiring new players or upgrading players or even managing the team efficiently but rather puts all the emphasis on having fun and just playing the beautiful game the way it was meant to be played. Albeit virtually.

[Images: IGN]