In the past, putting superstar athletes on the covers of games has met with mixed results, because money normally earmarked for game development is often used to acquire a high-profile license. Thankfully, Mia Hamm Soccer 64 doesn't fall into this trap. What we have here is a solid title that offers up plenty of in-your-face soccer action with one of today's hottest athletes.
Mia has her own all-star team in the U.S. League portion of the game, and she offers gamers soccer advice from time to time. Her tips range from the technical (such as curving the ball) to the strategic (exactly what kind of defensive formation you should be using when you are in the lead).
Silicon Dreams and Digital Creations Studios developed Mia Hamm Soccer 64. They seem to have borrowed the look from Konami's International Superstar Soccer and some of the touch passing and ball physics from EA Sports' FIFA franchise.
The game has five different modes of play: quick start, exhibition game, season, cup tournament, and practice. In the practice mode, you can shore up your throw-ins, corner kicks (which will allow you to perfect the header), or bicycle kick into the back of the net.
But the biggest gripe here is that the game's artificial intelligence is not up to snuff. Of course, simply playing the game with friends can rectify this, but the fault can be frustrating for the single scorer. But then, just as in a real game of soccer, getting shots on goal and scoring can be challenging.
Mia Hamm Soccer 64 is a great starter game for female gamers who want to see their idol and soccer fans who just want to plug it in and start playing. --Todd Mowatt
Pros:
Solid gameplay that doesn't rely on Mia Hamm's star appeal alone to deliver the goods
A great starter title for soccer fans and girl gamers looking for a sports role model
Average Customer Review:
( 4 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 found the following review helpful:
it's about timeOct 25, 2000
By Sarah Kabala The game has been enhanced a lot since March, 2000. The gameplay is faster and more responsive. It's still not quite as good as FIFA '99, but Mia Hamm 64 is a great soccer video game, no question. On top of that, add the novelty of being the first women's sports video game in history. I think that this ground-breaking game may become a milestone in the industry. USA vs. Norway :)
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Excellent concept, but a failed projectMay 15, 2002
By DeRosset Myers
"DeRo"
I am an avid supporter of female athletes. That is why I decided to give Mia Hamm Soccer 64 a try. Unfortunately, unlike Mia Hamm, this game falls very short in execution: the controls are stiff, the announcer (with all due respect to Wendy) is too repetative, the graphics have a very low polygon count, and every athlete looks the same except for skin color. I admire South Peak Interactive for making what is apparently the second sports video game to star a woman (the first is Jennifer Capriatti Tennis for Sega Genesis), but they should have done more to make this game fun to play. Here's hoping they try again, but this time REALLY TRY.
This Game KicksJan 05, 2001
By Emily This game makes women's soccer better than ever before. This game has great graphics. It's not some dumb game where you preset the plays and basically watch the whole time. It is also good because you can set the controller on one of two levels: regular and pro. You can change the time of day, the weather, the climate, and the stadium you are playing at. There is a HUGE selection of teams, too. It gets all five stars in my book!
19 of 33 found the following review helpful:
this game has good graphics but gets boringMar 05, 2000
This is the maybe 6th best soccer video game I have ever played. It is nothing compared to FIFA '99. The game moves slowly and it becomes very bland.
based on 4 reviews
( 4 customer reviews )
